The Lift and Lead When Tight Line and Euro Nymphing | Fly Fishing the Mono Rig
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- Опубліковано 4 лют 2025
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The Lift and Lead is a cornerstone concept for advanced tight line nymphing skills.
Lift to allow the fly to fall into place. Lead to stop it from falling and to keep it gliding through the strike zone.
For certain, the lift and lead is an advanced tactic. But if you’re having success on a tight line for a few seasons now, you’re probably already incorporating some of this without knowing it. And by considering both elements, by being deliberate with each part of the lift and lead, control over the course of your flies increases. Efficiency with weight improves.
The path is more predictable. And more trout eat the fly . . .
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Fish hard, friends.
Dom
What about the LINE HAND? I've gotten this question a few times, so I'll pin the answer here:
Yes, we recover slack in three different ways. First, with the line hand. I mentioned this at 7:40 in the video. I prefer what I call a Pulley Retrieve far more than a strip or a hand twist. We absolutely need ALL three ways to recover slack. This video is about the two ways to recover slack with the rod tip: Lift and Lead.
Here are a few more resources:
Troutbitten VIDEO: The Pulley Retrieve
ua-cam.com/video/R38kBRLwrB4/v-deo.htmlsi=nFxBqaiuJ6ixxew2
Troutbitten ARTICLE: Three Ways to Recover Slack
troutbitten.com/2018/05/27/fifty-fly-fishing-tips-43-two-ways-to-recover-slack/
Troutbitten PODCAST: Tight Line Skills #4 Recovering Slack
troutbitten.com/2022/01/31/podcast-recovering-slack-tight-line-skills-series-4/
Fish hard, friends.
Dom
Your camera person did a great job behind your right shoulder. Give em a beer.
Or two
Left shoulder guy was better 😂
Think this video could be explained simply as the flys sink best when there is no line tension on them at all. Get them down to a depth you feel happy with then tension up the line to keep in contact with them. A draw back of a high rod position means a slight breeze will catch the line more? Nice video love your channel. lf it really windy i fish with the rod like 2 foot off the water in some cases. But good job on explaining the difference in terms of speed the flies come back have not seen that before in any video.
Thanks for your comment. Attempts to simplify something like nymphing always fall short for me. I learned that back in 2014 when I started writing articles on the topic. The same holds true with these videos. This one tackles just one topic but still leaves a lot unsaid, relying on the bulk of other Troutbitten resources to fill in those gaps. (Many are linked within the video.)
So the flies do sink best when there is no tension on them. And lifting does that best -- better than pure line hand -- but there is always some influence from our tippet over the fly. Call it tension or something else, but that influence is always there, so we try to minimize it.
I disagree that when we get to depth we want to "tension up" the line. Honestly, sometimes yes and sometimes no. But as I said in the video, I find it works best to simply think about helping them not to drop anymore.
Also, lifting does not mean you'll end up with a high rod position. Sometimes we only need to lift a half foot, and the flies will be down. And you might land with a pretty low rod angle to begin with, then only lift a foot. But I definitely agree that more sail in the air is a bad thing in the wind, and in that case, I'd use more line hand than a lift -- sometimes. :-) Like you said, keeping that rod low in the wind matters a lot, but we can use a small leift too
Ultimately, there are a thousand variables that dictate what works for each situation. That's just another example of the complexity that keeps these things from being simple.
When talking about this stuff, I often mention that nymphing doesn't HAVE to be approached with complexity. We can go out there, make a cast, drift the fly and probably catch some trout. But at its heart, the act of trying to get natural drifts under the surface, with an unseen fly attached to a line in mixed currents is pretty complex. And a lot of us like that challenge too.
Cheers.
Dom
Hi dom thanks for the reply. You right in terms of line tension affecting the fly drift. I have heard of the "effect of lowering the flies" into the river as a concept as well. This lowers French leader tension as the rod tip drops flies drop to the bottom. By the same token have also seen a very agesssive steeped down leader and shorter tippet section. You make agesssive up stream casts stopping the flies instantly shooting them into the water so they sink to the bottom faster. For me this meothod does work but takes practice and time to develop confidence in it. Essentially euro nymphing is get tungsten weighted flies down to the bottom of the river hopefully in a feeding chanel. Then contol the flies under some.... Tension until the flies surface due to river water friction. Suppose the other factor is water dpeth. Water 3 ft or less fish one or 2 flys for water that's 5-9 ft then I fish 3 flies to get down
Dom, this one was really helpful for me. Seeing you doing it was a big difference maker and I can’t wait to apply it tomorrow morning
Glad to hear it
Gotta say Dom, its really refreshing to see a fly fishing video with calm music... so many use music that really doesn't capture the mood of fly fishing for me. Like you've said, its not an extreme sport.
Thanks. That's funny, because I was just talking with Josh about the music selection. He does a great job. And we agree with you.
Dom, I believe I’m watched most, if not all, Euronymphing vids on UA-cam. I believe this is the single best. Thanks
Thanks, man.
Great video!
Cheers
Nice Dom. Caught a fish yesterday that just wouldn't eat, until i got the lift and the consequential strike zone drift just perfect. I was just watching him reject the fly time and again until the drift was juuust right!
I love those experiences.
Fantastic information in every way! The way you explain it, the positioning and angles of the camera are all so helpful and informative.
Freakin awesome stuff Troutbitten crew!
Thanks. Glad it helps you out.. Cheers.
Also, why not pick up the slack with the non casting hand... that way you would maintain a stable rod tip and hit more impact takes. Thanks
The answer to your question is pinned above. :-)
Here is is . . .
What about the LINE HAND? I've gotten this question a few times, so I'll pin the answer here:
Yes, we recover slack in three different ways. First, with the line hand. I mentioned this at 7:40 in the video. I prefer what I call a Pulley Retrieve far more than a strip or a hand twist. We absolutely need ALL three ways to recover slack. This video is about the two ways to recover slack with the rod tip: Lift and Lead.
Here are a few more resources:
Troutbitten VIDEO: The Pulley Retrieve
ua-cam.com/video/R38kBRLwrB4/v-deo.htmlsi=nFxBqaiuJ6ixxew2
Troutbitten ARTICLE: Three Ways to Recover Slack
troutbitten.com/2018/05/27/fifty-fly-fishing-tips-43-two-ways-to-recover-slack/
Troutbitten PODCAST: Tight Line Skills #4 Recovering Slack
troutbitten.com/2022/01/31/podcast-recovering-slack-tight-line-skills-series-4/
Fish hard, friends.
Dom
This is so good. I like how your demonstration of ‘lifting’ does not lead to ‘high sticking’. Well done Dom and Josh.
Cheers. Thank you.
I was skeptical about Euro fishing as most videos were interpreted as weighted nymphs and pulling them downstream. Made it sound too mechanical for me. But, I liked the way you presented "let the weight fall then help lead it through" which is what we do with good line control. Going to try both the drop shot technique and the Euro technique based upon how you explained it. thanks!!!
Glad to hear that. Yeah, I think some anglers and instructors don't acknowledge the complexity of nymphing -- or dry fly fishing and streamers, for that matter. Fishing can be approached very simply. Or you can really dig into the details and approach it technically. Tight line tactics are easily the most complex, simply because we're in control of everything all the way through -- if we want to be. Cheers.
Man, if your articles seemed to deliver the message effortlessly, these videos are just mind blowing. Best fly fishing instruction bar none!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and talent without asking anything in return!
From a long time avid follower and reader of Troutbitten.... Best regards from Portugal!
That's real cool. Thank you.
Damn Josh! This video looks incredible.
he's pretty good
I always enjoy your videos and learn something every time.
Nice. Glad to hear that.
Fantastic explanations. As gifted a writer as you are, you might be even better at demonstrating complex principles with your hands/arms/body. Very very helpful instruction!
My Mom is Italian. So I learned to talk with my hands a lot. :-) Cheers.
Great stuff Dom.
Thank you.
Great camera work! Focusing on the sighter so you can see the path and actually how far away you’re working the fly.
Thanks. That's a tough thing to do, but we're getting better at it.
Extremely helpful
Good stuff
Such helpful nymphing tips and technical insights …many thanks for sharing Dom…I learn something useful and enjoyable from each of your videos
Cheers
Thanks for your content (podcast and articles) as well as the videos. I find myself talking to the podcasts all the time. This was really a good video. The filming was great. I would love to see a video fishing like that. I search for vids that have the perspective of the line so I can see the takes. let's me feel as I am fishing when I am stuck at home. Keep up all the great work.
Right on. And thank you. I think you'll see the line a lot in the Fish Along series that I'm working on. But I will say, for tight line tactics, that is always very hard to pull off. Need the right line and the right light angles.
@@TroutbittenI totally agree. it is tough to pull off. You guys look like you might have the team to do it. Usually, it takes a large screen TV and high resolution to see and then it is hit and miss. thanks again.
Very educational video and well shot. This fixed the misconceptions and errors I had / have while tight line fishing. Great job!
Thanks much
Dom, thank you for taking the time to explain this through video. I've been Euro Nymphing for 4-5 years now, and I feel I have a pretty good grasp on it, but this video was so informative, and I know that it will improve my catch rate. Again, Thank You!!
What wading staff are you using in this video?
Thanks for the kind words. Here's the wading staff video. Can't beat this system..
ua-cam.com/video/sJZ3_UEsf2Y/v-deo.html
@Troutbitten .. Thank you friend!!
Cheers
@@ghice64 Sure thing.
I really enjoy how you explain things! Great tips!
Thanks
Great video, really helped to make sense of things. Thank you.
Nice
Another home run Dom & Josh 👏
Is the 'fish along' video still in the works? 😊
Yes. I'm working into it with the Shorts. Cheers.
Wow this is amazing! After fishing the euro rig the first time last weekend I definitely understand what you’re talking about. Going to get out this weekend and try this again! Thank you!
Do it
@@Troutbitten would you combine the technique of lifting and stripping line to achieve that bed drift as well?
This is great info! And very well presented.
In the podcast, y'all often talk about distances you present flys. One rod over and two rods up for example is what i believe you call the golden rule. It that a true one rod over? So if the fly was allowed to swing past you while using a 10' rod, it would pass your feet 10' away? Or is it a rods lenght of line plus the rod?
Thanks again to you and the crew for all your advice.
Hey, thank you! Yes, we call it a golden ratio. And yes, it would pass you 10 feet away. But I wouldn't do that in most situations, because you'd be spooking trout that close, beside them. Not behind them, though. Basically, I'm not a big believer in swinging it past my position anyway. But if they want to eat that look, then I'll cast outside the golden ratio.
Make sense?
I was looking for a relative distance. Not necessarily presentation. Your answer is exactly what I was looking for. However, I do use the swing through often where I fish. Our local warm waters are deep and fast and not wadeable. We tight line for drum, catfish, spots, and white bass to practice nymphing from the bank. Not ideal for sure but it works. Our closest trout waters are 5.5 to 6.5 hours from here and we only get to go a couple of times a year. I really wish we were closer to you. You're 17 hours from us. Give or take. I'd book a trip in a heartbeat.
For anyone who is within striking distance of you guys, I highly recommend they book a trip with one of you.
Thank you so much for all you do for the sport. It really means a lot to those of us who don't have easy access to your type of waters but wish we did.
Thanks. That's very cool.
Great video. Just one question - surely by not leading the flies straight away you are potentially missing impact takes?
Thank you. No, I'm not missing takes. Remember, by lifting we are recovering slack. If we did not recover slack, then certainly, takes would be missed and slack would take over the drift with drag. Tuck cast to push set the tippet and leader at the angle you choose and allow the fly to fall. That doesn't mean there's slack. Just less tension. Make sense?
Excellent video - thanks for sharing. Lift THEN lead… I think too many times I am just leading and therefore missing some valuable strike-zone time?! BTW, what is your set up here? 🎣
Thank you. Yes, I think we all make that mistake sometimes.
What do you mean by setup?
Rod, reel, line combo?
Outstanding tutorials. What would you suggest to prevent your bottom fly from picking up moss on each drift when fishing a river bed that has a layer of moss covering the rocks and gravel bed?
No doubt . . . Drop shot nymphing on a tight line rig. Perfect solution.
troutbitten.com/2022/04/13/drop-shot-nymphing-on-a-tight-line-rig/
@@Troutbitten Thank you for the article. Unfortunately, in California it's illegal to fish with the weight lower than the flies. Seems the solution is the beaded lower fly just serves as a mossy weight. Impressed with your breadth of advice.
There are MANY times when I fish rivers with moss and algae on the bottom here too. If I still want to touch the bottom, I choose drop shot. But MUCH more often, I prefer to ride a nymph through the strike zone. That's where all the good tings are happening anyway. So the target zone is about six inches to one foot off the bottom and KEEP your nymph there. Sounds tough, right? It is. But it's fun. And on a well designed tight line rig, there are great ways to read the sighter and find that strike zone without ever touching.
Here are important resources:
troutbitten.com/2023/01/11/five-keys-to-reading-the-sighter-with-video/
troutbitten.com/2021/08/15/6-locating-the-strike-zone-nine-essential-skills-for-tight-line-and-euro-nymphing/
troutbitten.com/2022/02/13/podcast-locating-the-strike-zone-tight-line-skills-series-6/
Cheers.
Hi Dom, a timely video for me. I've got a little slack with the lift and was leading too quickly so thanks for the reminder. I've taken on board quite a few of your gear tips, for example, the utility belt - what a winner that is to hang everything off - so I always check out what new gear/setup you have ... possibly I should pay more attention to the point being made in the video. However, what is the tag on your wading stick? Is it a means to be able to lift up the stick and keep it out of the way when you are walking? At times I'd loved to lock my stick into an out-of-the-way position without folding it but still have it ready for quick use. Thanks
Thanks. Glad you connected with the video. I think what you're seeing is just the velcro band on the staff. I will say too, that with the Gear Keeper at the back part of my hip, with NO slack in the connection, it never gets in my way -- and I mean never -- as long as I'm wading upstream, which I do 95 percent of the time.
Cheers.
Hi kindly advise for two seperate fly rod and reels for 1. Euro nymphing 2. General fly fishing. Thanks
Hi there. I'm happy to help. Troutbitten is a DEEP resource, with a ton of info spread across different platforms. I always provide links and companion articles that contain even more applicable links to these videos. The Troutbitten website is the heart of the Troutbitten Project. Two articles you need are here:
troutbitten.com/2021/09/22/the-best-fly-rods-for-the-mono-rig-and-euro-nymphing-my-favorite-rods/
troutbitten.com/2021/09/22/the-best-fly-rods-for-the-mono-rig-and-euro-nymphing-my-favorite-rods/
You'll find that I'm not a big believer in "nymphing" rods. I strongly prefer a rod that does a bunch of things very well. Luckily, there's not much difference in my preferences for what a dry fly rod should do and a tight line nymphing rod. All of that is in the articles.
Have fun out there!
@@Troutbitten thanks man! Really appreciate your kind advice and will read the articles... thanks
What conditions do you choose to use Euro nymphing approach vs nymphs under an indicator?
Thanks for your question. There's a lot to that answer. Here's a full article that I published to help you out.
troutbitten.com/2018/06/26/nymphing-tight-line-vs-indicator/
Thanks for pointing me to the article. It answered my questions and more
Awesome video, awesome channel. Thank you!
I have a question to ask, what is your opinion on 1 nymph vs 2?
Better yet, maybe is a good topic for a video? :)
Hi there. Good timing. Here's a Troutbitten article that I recently published about that topic.
troutbitten.com/2024/05/21/one-nymph-or-two-heres-a-particular-look-that-can-only-happen-with-two/
However, there is not one answer. Sometimes one. Sometimes two. I don't have just one way of doing much of anything out there.
That said, I use two nymphs much more often than one, and for very good reason. There's a lot about it toward the end of that article.
Cheers.
@@Troutbitten i actually already did read that. Thank you.
@@chukolna Nice
I know you recommend nymphing within two rod lengths typically. What methods do you use if you need to get further out?
Good question. Thanks. First, upstream two rod lengths and only over one rod lengths is what we call the Golden Ratio of nymphing If you fish upstream at this angle and not across, you won't need to fish further away. Yes, over even the spookiest trout, you will rarely need more distance if you stay behind the fish.
troutbitten.com/2024/02/20/video-the-golden-ratio-of-nymphing/
BUT . . sometimes we want a little more length even more than we need it. In those cases, I often float the sighter for the first few feet of the drift. There's a lot to that conecpt, and you can find it here:
troutbitten.com/2024/10/02/video-floating-the-sighter/
A better choice is often to add an indicator to the tight line system. We do this a lot. Here's an article:
troutbitten.com/2017/02/14/tight-line-nymphing-with-an-indicator-a-mono-rig-variant/
And then a podcast about the same topic:
troutbitten.com/2021/12/07/podcast-ep-12-nymphing-tight-line-to-the-indicator-style-contact-nymphing-principles-with-an-indy/
Hope that helps.
Enjoy the day.
@@Troutbitten Thanks so much! I'm new to fly fishing and I've been learning so much from your articles, videos, and podcast. Trying to learn good fundamentals so I don't make bad habits. Really appreciate your insight.
What happens to me is I cast upstream and I immediately have 10-15 feet on mono rig laying on the water and I'm already starting far behind and it's difficult for me to get all that line off the water. 99 Percent of my catches happen on the swing or at the end of the run. Is it my casting? Am I at a bad angle? Am I casting too far? Also I am not using a Euro rod, it's your typical 9 ft.
Respectfully, yes, you're doing it wrong. 99 percent of your fish are coming below you because everything is dragging on the way down.
Work on that cast and then STICK THE LANDING. Here's the article for that:
troutbitten.com/2021/07/12/3-sticking-the-landing-nine-essential-skills-for-tight-line-and-euro-nymphing/
There's a podcast too. Sticking the Landing is part of the Nine Essential Skills of Tight Line and Euro Nymphing Series on Troutbitten. If you work through that series, I promise it'll help you out.
Remember that no lone should land on the water at all, let alone 10-15 feet. We use these rigs for the tight line advantage.
ua-cam.com/video/DVIF_YvnH88/v-deo.html
Dig into those resources. You'll get great drifts with just a few adjustments.
Cheers.
@@Troutbitten I did exactly that and it has helped. Thank you I appreciate your response
New t-shirt idea. " Live in the strike zone" trout bitten mono rigs.
Hey Now
I checked on line with no results. Where can I find micro drop shot?
Part Three of the Drop Shot Nymphing on a Tight Line Rig.
troutbitten.com/2022/05/11/the-weights-drop-shot-nymphing-on-a-tight-line-rig-pt-3/
Cheers.
very similar to drift fishing for steelhead (PNW).
Honestly, no. It's not similar at all. This is a much, much lighter rig. 50cg starts to be a little heavy. We're also trying to not touch the bottom. And we're not using an indy. There are dozens of ways to reach fish with an offering that gets low. But what I'm describing with this approach is not very similar to drift fishing for steelhead. That's a great tactic, but for clarity, this is very different.
So to be clear- you don’t lead with your rod tip at all when lifting? And lifting is done by moving your shoulder up, not bending your elbow to a more vertical position.
Thanks for asking. First part yes. But no, I usually lift from the elbow. Sometimes I'll push into it a bit by lifting at the shoulder. I talked about that at the end. I think hanging your arm out straight sucks, though. But however you lift the rod tip, that's up to you and the situation. Cheers.
@@Troutbitten ok thanks. Do you pull the flies toward you when lifting with your elbow?
@@VTBullittNope. That's the point of lifting, so you do not alter the fly. Just lift the slack being sent to you, and don't lead yet. Make sense?
Atta boy dom
Cheers
Hey now.
Hey now
Thought you were using orvis pro boots? Simms I see
That day, yes. I go through a lot of gear.
Dom - What line is that? It's yellow so it's not chameleon.
It's a Troutbitten Standard Mono Rig formula with a HI Viz green butt section because it shows up better on film.
Hey now
Hey. Now.
Fantastic explanation and visuals. I was out yesterday with a two nymph setup (bead headed Pat’s RL as dropper and Non-weighted Pat’s RL as tag point fly).I had good success, but all fish caught were on the upper, non-bead headed Pat’s rubber legs. Next time out, I’m considering using split shot as terminal dropper and two unweighted tag nymphs at about 1 and 2 feet up from there. It seems as though using a fly as the terminal dropper is essentially a wasted opportunity,that just gets beat up on the bottom. I would think this would present two viable options rather than one and some option of he other. Your thoughts on this setup?
I agree with you. And it's kind of sad that people fish split shot less and less. Unweighted flies with split shot absolutely fools more trout in many scenarios. What you described is perfect. Let the shot touch and take the abuse, and the nymphs can ride clean around and above that shot. There's a lot more to it, of course. And many times, the better choice is weighted flies.
Here are a couple Troutbitten resources for you, about my use of split shot:
ARTICLE: Split Shot vs Weighted Flies
troutbitten.com/2017/01/26/split-shot-vs-weighted-flies/
ARTICLE: Are Light Nymphs More Effective? Is Less Weight More Natural?
troutbitten.com/2022/08/17/are-light-nymphs-more-effective-is-less-weight-more-natural/
ARTICLE: Fly Fishing Strategies: No Limits - Fish every type of weight available
troutbitten.com/2018/02/21/fly-fishing-strategies-no-limits-fish-every-type-weight-available/
VIDEO: Don’t Hate Split Shot - Have a System (with VIDEO)
troutbitten.com/2022/07/13/dont-hate-split-shot-have-a-system-with-video/
PODCAST: Weight In Fly Fishing: Beads, Shot, Sinking Lines and More - S5, Ep4
troutbitten.com/2022/10/23/podcast-weight-in-fly-fishing-beads-shot-sinking-lines-and-more-s5-ep4/
Let me know if that helps you out.
Cheers.
Dom
The system you are describing: "using split shot as terminal dropper with nymphs on tags above" is just drop-shot nymphing. Dom has written about it, and Kelly Galloup has a couple of old videos on UA-cam describing it in detail.