A question of presentation

The term “fly fishing” evokes the image of a rising trout or grayling swallowing an insect drifting on the water surface. However, this often depends on hatches and presence of insects surface, while fish feed themselves with more regularity on the bottom (particularly with larvae). Euronymphing is increasingly popular as the best way to target those elusive bottom feeding fish.

La pêche de la truite à la nymphe au fil

Two approaches to euronymphing

We often hear about Czech nymphing, or also Polish, Spanish, etc. nymphing. While Americans talk of “Euronymphing” for any of those nymphing technique. There are as many definitions for each of those “national” subtechnic than people having tried to define them. Each national tradition is constantly evolving anyway. Just for the sake of the anecdote, let's recall the commonly accepted origins of Euronymphing Czech nymphing… The technique has in fact been popularized by Czech competitors. During the on-site preparation to a FIPS World Championship, the Czech team adapted its fishing technic based on how local fishermen were fishing there… and won the Championship. This Championship occurred… in Poland !

Therefore we rather see Euronymping asdivided in 2 main approaches :

  • Upstream nymphing: it is about casting a rather light nymph (in general a tungsten bead of 2 to 3 mm diameter) upstream, and to let it drift towards the fisherman, while gently pulling back the line and/or lifting up the tip of the rod, in order to be close from tensing the line, but without doing it. A small move or stop of the line will most likely correspond to a bite. The fisherman is positioned in the same axis of the fished stream and of the drift of his/her nymph(s), or nearly. Bite detection is mainly perceived by observation of the line.

  • Heavy nymphing: the fisherman is positioned parallel to the drift he/she wants to do. It is about casting heavier nymph (tungsten bead of more than 3 mm diameter) about three fourths upstream, to let it go deep and “catch the bottom”, and to find just the right tension of line to let the nymph “roll” on the bottom of the river, while keeping it in a same current and favouring a drift as natural as possible. It is a “under the rod tip” technic. Bite detection will be achieved by resonance of the rod and by observation of the line.

 

Three blanks matching different approachs:

  1. Rodbuilders’ Republic Lighthouse 1002 : A blank designed on Rodhouse specifications. Precise and accurate, it is a blank perfectly suiting upstream nymphing with its length, but that will also very well go with DT of WF fly line to tackle rising fish with a dry fly in case of a hatch. This blank also works well with a heavy nymph, but its shorter 10-foot length constraints to shorter drifts, and the fisherman should get a little bit closer from the current s(he) intends to fish..
  2. Rainshadow ETEF 1064 : An allrounder for euronymphing, but in particular for heavy nymphs. A bit too long for long overhead casting sessions, the blank works rather well in roll casting. Strong, this blank has not been afraid during our tests by big Slovenian rainbow trouts, nor by big barbels. The blank's relatively soft action does a good job protecting the finest tippets (several barbels of over 70 cm have been caught with this blank, on 0,10 mm / 8x tippet, in less than 15 minutes). A little bit too strong to easily cast on the smallest nymphs, such as a 2 mm tungsten bead, for upstream nymphing, but if there is a little bit of stream or depth to enable fishing with a slightly heavier small nymph, its 10’6 length is of a very good length to go swtitch between upstream and heavy nymphing. Its action makes it also a rather suitable rod for fishing with wet flies, if required.
  3. Rodbuilders’ Republic Lighthouse 1102 : Here again, a blank developed based on Rodhouse specifications. An impressive sensitivity and bite detection! Its 11’ length is ideal for long drifts in heavy nymphing, but the behaviour of its tip also enables upstream fishing, althought its length is less than idea for this application. And yhere's so much power in the butt that fighting a big fish will not be of any challenge for this blank. Don’t be fooled by the 2wt label, it is a 2wt with regard to the weight needed to bend the tip, but it is a workhorse when it comes to fighing fisht!

LightHouse 10'#2 Blank

10'0" #2

Sensitivity
Réserve de puissance
Fish fighting
Upstream nymphing
Heavy nymphing
Dry fly
161,70 € IVA incluido
ETEF 1064-4 CB Blank

10'6  4 pcs soie #4

Sensitivity
Réserve de puissance
Fish fighting
Upstream nymphing
Heavy nymphing
Dry fly
249,80 € IVA incluido
LIGHTHOUSE 11' #2 Blank

11'   4 pcs    soie #2 IP : 80 grs AA : 71°

Sensitivity
Réserve de puissance
Fish fighting
Upstream nymphing
Heavy nymphing
Dry fly
214,50 € IVA incluido