Nymph Fishing

Upstream nymph fishing has developed from the minor tactic of G.E.M. Skues into a universally-accepted method wherever fly fishermen fish for brown trout and grayling. The history of nymph fishing is notable for the argument between F.M. Halford, the dry-fly ultrapurist, and Skues, culminating in the debate on the legitimacy of fishing nymphs on chalkstreams and the later fallout between Frank Sawyer and Major Oliver Kite. For the first thirty years of the twentieth century, nymph fishermen were held in contempt and often considered little better than poachers on many chalkstreams. Nymph fishing started and was developed in England and then spread, along with nymph patterns, around the world through the writings of Skues and others and the travels of English anglers. Over the last fifty years, the English method has been adapted and developed to suit local conditions, particularly in the United States.

Best-selling author George Daniel shares expert tactics and techniques for a new generation of nymph anglers. He covers specialized equipment, flies, and presentations, focusing on advanced lessons and tips for anglers with a solid grasp of fundamentals. Important technique sequences and fly patterns are photographed in detail.

This masterful all-color, large format book by one of America's favorite angling writers will teach you what you need to know to fish nymphs effectively, with crisp text and dramatic color photos by Jim Schollmeyer. Color plates and dressings of author's favorite nymphs. All the techniques and methods learned here will guarantee that on the stream or lake your nymph imitation will be fishing right!

Includes a 72-minute DVD demonstrating basic nymph fishing techniques Color photo sequences to teach 11 different nymph fishing methods, including Czech, hinged leader, Leisenring lift, and wet-fly swing Detailed information on imitating mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, true flies, scuds, and sow bugs In nature nothing happens without a reason. The difficulty for the angler is merely that the reason is hidden some way beneath the surface.--G. E. M. Skues During the considerable periods of time trout spend feeding exclusively on underwater food forms, nymph fishing can be the most productive, if not the only way to catch fish. But understanding what occurs below the water's surface can be a challenge for even the most experienced angler. In Nymph-Fishing Rivers and Streams, aquatic entomologist and long-time fly fisherman Rick Hafele shares the information necessary to successfully decipher the mysteries of trout life. He starts by explaining their feeding patterns--where trout feed, when they feed, and what's available for them to eat. Sections on tackle and pattern selection help anglers sort through equipment and imitations to find the best outfit for their needs. The DVD complements the photos in the book that show various methods for nymph fishing. Also included is an angler's field guide to nymphs with details on their habitat, importance to trout, and the most effective patterns and fishing tactics to imitate them.

Devin Olsen explains how the techniques he has used to become a repeat medalist in fly fishing competitions around the world can be adapted to everyday fly fishing situations. He covers strategies, tactics, and flies for rivers, small streams, and still waters, allowing anyone to fish more successfully by applying the approaches taken by competitive anglers.

Advanced tight line nymphing tactics, including Czech, Polish, French, Spanish, and American techniques.

How to Gain a Positively Unfair Advantage on the River - Even if You're Unsure what the MANY Variations of "Euro Nymphing" Actually Involve... INCLUDING Over 2 hours of supporting video material (designed to be worth the price of the book on its own) Hands up who knows what Euro nymphing is? It's incredibly popular and causes many online arguments - yet most anglers show CLEAR GAPS in their skills and knowledge. So if you want to go beyond bobbers and split shot, you'll need to dodge an overwhelming tide of BS online covering "Tight Line Nymphing" and European competition methods. While there are good books available, certain tactics are left out (keeping a number of methods known only to a handful of top anglers) and it is difficult to build a strategy for choosing and using each of the different rigs, methods and flies. The aim of this book is to arm you with the most complete range of tactics possible and give you the confidence to tackle new waters and different conditions. It does this by clearly explaining WHY to choose - as well as HOW to use - each rig & technique. The methods include: Czech nymphing (both the little-known LONG-line variant & the famous SHORT-line tactics) Polish nymphing Ladder Leader Nymphing (so you can quickly alter the spacing between your droppers, which means you're more likely to actually benefit from those "fine-tuning" tweaks) Classic French Nymphing The family of modern "Nymphe au Fil", Pêche a la Sempé and Spanish Nymphing French Leader with Dry Fly French Leader with Streamer Duo and Trio (Euro-style Hopper/Dropper with "everything off the water" up to the dry) Slovakian nymphing ...and even a little "suspension" nymphing so that the typical "Tight-line Euro tactics" don't have it all their own way All this is underpinned by the understanding of a freshwater biologist (and nymph fishing addict) which reveals important secrets of predators and prey behaviour in our rivers - and how to hotwire that system with our artificial flies. Stories from around the world bring the tactics to life - as well as making the take-home messages much more memorable (so you'll actually use them in your own fishing) PLUS: Full color photos of actual flies gifted during major international competition events which let you peek inside boxes of multiple World Championship competitors (including captains and coaches) Multiple Detailed Spotlight Features on: Sighters/indicators ★ Reading the Water ★ Stealth ★ Casting ★ Feeding Biology of Fish ★ Trade Secret Leader Recipes and Chemical Treatments★ A Simplified Set of Fly Patterns ★ Magic Bullet Method (Selecting Rigs, Flies & Fishing Locations) Method in my Madness Carefully layering the information means that there are "quick win" tips you can use right away - while bigger ideas build up and become absorbed naturally over the course of the book. I believe this gives you the best chance of greatly improving your ability to catch fish, to adapt to situations - and perhaps "re-boot" your love of fly fishing in the process! Who SHOULDN'T buy this? This is a practical, paperback manual - not an ornament. Don't buy this book if informal, conversational language or Sans Serif font aren't your things. You can check out the design/layout in Amazon's "Look Inside" preview feature before you purchase.

A look at the development of the sport over the past six centuries. Once limited to trout and salmon, today fly-fishing techniques are used to catch every fish species from minnows to marlin in rivers, lakes and oceans from the Amazon to the Arctic. From the many thousands of fly patterns developed over the centuries, The History of Fly-Fishing in Fifty Flies focuses on fifty iconic flies chosen to represent the evolution not only of fishing flies and fly tying but also the sport itself. Filled with illustrations and photographs of the flies (the fifty are just the starting point—more than 200 flies are mentioned or shown in the book), as well as profiles of key characters, The History of Fly-Fishing in Fifty Flies charts the growth and diversification of this fascinating sport from the fifteenth century to the present day and its spread from Britain, Europe and Japan to North and South America, Australia and New Zealand, and now to every country in the world. The evolution of fly-fishing tackle—rods, reels, lines and hooks—is also covered in a series of essays spread throughout the book. Praise for The History of Fly-Fishing in Fifty Flies “A delightful ramble along the stream of fishing history.” —Star Tribune “This glorious book of lures will get you itching for a new toy, a new boat, a new rod—anything to experience the relaxation of this old hobby.” —Foreword Reviews