Hello all,

This is my first post, though I've been a silent observer for some time appreciating the wisdom on here.

A simple (and probably fairly daft question): I've just started nymphing on small, relatively slow, medium depth streams (actually mainly for chub, roach and dace, but some brownies before the season closed). I love it - but have a real problem getting 'normal' nymphs to sink (ie. ones without a bead). I've been using various sawyer type PTNs and hare's ears, in sizes 12-18, with a fluoro leader and tippet, off of a 3wt floating line.

Any advice would be very greatly appreciated.

Put a little split shot on your leader. Much better than using a heavy beadhead.

I don't coarse fish but a friend in school does and he says that ovaletine? shot is better for sinking quickly.

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

AL

__________________

Isn't that a tasty bed time beverage ??

__________________
Your fish ----> ><((((º> My fish ----> ><(((((((((º>
__________________

Cheers Danny

Co-Founder of S.S.F.D 2010

Hello Matt, welcome to the forum.

Make sure you have a degreased leader - you can by Fuller's earth or Orvis Mud that helps the leader to sink.

When you have tied on the fly, get it wet (water or saliva), give it a squeeze to make sure there's no air and it should sink.

However, if they are floating, they probably have very little ballast and will sink very slowly - probably too slowly. Fine it the fish are feeding in the top few inches; less so if they are deeper. So the incorporation of a bead / copper wire / lead etc can be very useful.

__________________
Dave Wiltshire

River Fly Box

I don't know that just what he said?

AL

__________________

hi - as already said you could use shot, definately wet the fly thoroughly before you cast. i've tied some pheasant tails and grhe's with lead wound on as a base at the thorax - sink like a stone.
grey

He could mean an olivette, it's like a teardrop shaped weight with a hole through the middle - I'd stick with split shot, easier to put a bigger or smaller one on if needed. You can get oval shaped split shot too, but I can't see it making a massive difference.

Ovaltine as well as making a tasty malty bedtime drink can be sprinkled on maggotts then slightly dampened to make them stick together so you can catpult them further.

If you are using degreased floro then it sinks like a stone!
Problem must be in the way the flies are dressed.
Use nympths with heavier copper wire wraps on bodies, or indeed if you tie your own, lead foil wraps on hook prior to tying body on.
Alternatively 3 dust shot on leader, one at hook eye, one at leader and fly line joint, and one in middle!
This will sink leader and fly at same speed, giving better feel and presentation.
regards
bert.

Hi folks,

Thanks very much for the replies - very useful. I was a bit wary of adding split shot, thinking they'd fly off during the cast (which, in my case, can be a tad messy).

I suspect my problem is probably a combination of un-degreased tippet and bulky flies.

Many thanks,

Matt