Three Ways to Dead Drift -- Critical Nymphing Concepts #4
Feb 4, 2024
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Experienced fly fisherman, Austin Dando, and host discuss three critical nymphing concepts: bottom bouncing, strike zone rides, and tracking flies. Emphasizing the importance of mimicking natural movements to attract trout while dead drifting nymphs. The episode provides valuable insights on rigging techniques, mastering the strike zone, and the art of tracking nymphs to enhance fly fishing success.
Bottom Bouncing simulates natural drift between rocks for a slow, controlled crawl.
Strike Zone Rides focus on optimal gliding in areas where trout forage naturally.
Deep dives
Bottom Bouncing:
Bottom Bouncing involves allowing nymphs to naturally touch down and regain footing on the river bed. The goal is a slow crawl with the river bed's friction controlling the drift speed, providing more control. The approach aims to simulate nymphs bouncing between rocks naturally without getting snagged, leading to a magical drift when executed effectively. Rigging includes drop shot rigs for quick bottom reach or traditional split shots with unweighted flies.
Strike Zone Rides:
Strike Zone Rides focus on letting nymphs glide through the strike zone where trout typically forage, avoiding excessive contact with the river bed. Trout and baitfish spend time in this region, making it a natural path for nymphs. Rigging for strike zone rides involves selecting flies or weights that reach that zone quickly and optimizing the tippet and fly materials for a more natural drop.
Tracking the Flies:
Tracking the Flies emphasizes less direct control over the nymphs, relying more on the river's currents for movement. This method aims for a more extended drop time and maintaining the nymphs in the middle water column to mimic natural drifting behavior. Rigging for tracking includes lighter flies and thinner tippet for a realistic presentation, allowing the river to guide the nymphs.
Skill Development and Adaptation:
Aside from the concepts of bottom bouncing, strike zone rides, and tracking the flies, anglers can develop skills in leading, tracking, and guiding the nymphs. These skills involve understanding when to exert control or allow the river's natural currents to direct the drift. Adaptation to changing water conditions and transitional areas in the river enhances nymphing proficiency, helping anglers refine their techniques and unlock more fishing opportunities.
This episode features what might be the most important concept of nymph fishing. There are three different ways to present a dead drifted nymph to the trout -- three ways to imitate what trout commonly see from the naturals. While trout eat dry flies in one plane (the surface) the complexity of currents underneath introduces more difficulty, simply because trout might be looking for food in multiple ways.
My friend, Austin Dando, and I break down one of my favorite topics in fly fishing -- the three ways to dead drift nymphs: bottom bouncing, strike zone rides and tracking the flies.
All three of these methods are viable. All of them produce. A nymphing angler dedicated to improving should consider what level to focus the presentation and how those nymphs might best look natural within that level.
This is a technical topic that is built on many Troutbitten resources that have come before it . . .