Euro Nymph Line Setups // ESN Quick Tip
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- čas přidán 23. 07. 2024
- Euro nymphing, also known as European nymphing or Czech nymphing, is a specialized fly fishing technique that originated in Europe and has gained popularity worldwide. It involves using heavily weighted nymphs (imitations of aquatic insects in their immature stage) and fishing them close to the riverbed, typically without the use of traditional fly lines and instead using a long, thin leader directly attached to the fly line.
RIO Euro Nymph Fly Line (best option for a dedicated Euro nymphing setup)
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RIO Sighter Material (get a spool of 4X and 3X to start, eventually you may want more variety)
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RIO Euro Nymphing Leader (this is the leader I modified in the video by adding Sighter Material and removing about 30" from the butt section)
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RIO Tippet Rings (small is fishier, but kind of tough to work with. most anglers get the larger size)
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RIO Euro Nymphing Shorty (this can go on the end of an existing fly line to convert it temporarily into a Euro nymphing line)
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0:00 Intro and WHAT is ESN?
1:15 True ESN FIPS Fly Line
2:35 Setup w/ Traditional WF3F Line
3:19 WHY Fly Line Steals Sensitivity
5:20 Pure Mono Rig?
6:25 Euro Nymph Shorty Line
7:58 Leader Setups
9:00 Sighter Materials
9:40 Sighter Mods to Increase Effectiveness
14:50 Overall Leader Length Mods - Sport
Man the 2x to 4x slighter is just brilliant. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for posting! This is a great explination of the different systems. Hope to fish with you guys when this virus thing is all over. Keep up the great videos!
Very clear instructional video, it really helps, can't wait for the rivers to open again.
Joe, your presentations are outstanding. Always enjoy watching -- I feel like we are old friends talking fishing.
Joe,
This is the best explanation I've seen of the diverse euro methods an angler can do. I have been euronymphing for quite a few years now, but some of the alternatives you discuss are eye opening and will give me another slant or two on the basic euro method I've used over these past years. Well done!
Some fantastic advice on your channel . Thx from 🏴
Great information for those starting out. Thanks
Great video! Spot on regarding keeping the connection outside the rod tip……
I would like to see people putting dislike on this video after watching all effort this lovely angler to teach us how to do things properly! Thanks for video! You got like and subscribe!
Best explanation I've seen of this, thanks
Oh thank you! Much appreciated.
Excellent presentation! Covered precisely what I have been wondering about this technique. I am about to jump into euro nymphing with a dedicated 2wt, 10' rod. I am an experienced fly fisherman and my plan is to euro nymph the San Juan in New Mexico next week. Cheers.
I'm an experienced euronympher from . . . Europe and tried euro nymphing the San Juan last summer but ended up going back to the old fly line and indicator. While it works OK in some of the stronger currents, there were two major difficulties. A lot of the SJ fish feed in relatively slow water so there wasn't enough current to get a good drift in a lot of places. In addition, the gunk that grows all over the bottom of the SJ fowls any fly that bumps off the bottom, so any anchor nymph that was heavy enough to maintain tension in the leader was also too heavy to avoid the crud on the bottom. Give it a try - maybe you'll figure it out better than I did. I'd recommend looking for current, and making sure you can go back to a traditional fly line and indicator if you need to. I always keep the two different spools on me.
Thank you for your excellent euro fishing instructional videos. I followed your instructions to build a dedicated euro nymphing reel. Tried it out pocket fishing at the Gore River in Vail, CO. Traditional indicator fishing cannot effectively navigate the fast water among the tight rocks. Caught 2 brown trout first time out. I am a believer that Euro fishing offers clear benefits on these technical rivers.
Absolutely! The whirlpools, swirls, boils, and varying seamlines make for chaotic drifts with a strike indicator rig!
Great video (as always), thank you!
{In case it confused anyone else, when he holds us the SA product at 18:00, that's not leader, it's tippet.}
Great video as usual!
I’m really glad you talked about shortening the butt section. I took my new euro outfit out and immediately noticed the loop to loop getting stuck in the eyes and I did also think if I hook a nice one it’s gonna catch and break my tippet. I cut off a couple feet but then thought I was doing something “wrong” so glad you validated me!
Excellent thinking. There are basically (2) ways to go. Keep the entire leader outside the rod tip, or work a long enough leader that it runs out through the reel and you have enough mono that knots aren't an issue. Could be 30' ish. There are other options like needle-knots, etc. I see new anglers have the most success with a skinny Euro specific fly line and keeping their leader completely outside the rod tip.
Live the knowledge thanks for sharing
Superb instruction!
Glad to hear it, thanks so much.
Good stuff 🍻👍🏼
Watched this again as I was having trouble with out of the box leader to fly line loop snagging on my eyelets, really disrupted the drift…. I’m going to shorten the leader and keep outside rod tip as you suggest…..Thx!
Nice job, very helpful…
Thank you! I'm glad it makes sense.
Awesome dude! Thank you!
You bet, hope this helps!
I have been euro nymphing for about a year and absolutely love it. From my experience, these tips and recommendations are spot on. Outstanding video for somebody starting out.
Thanks, it can be a bit overwhelming.
If you flipped the weight forward line around so the weight of the line was way less, that would help right?
Can presenting a dry fly at short trout distances on a designated euro nymph fly line work at all?
Great video! I have a quick question - why a perfection loop at the end of the leader rather than a surgeons loop knot? A mentor told me to use the surgeons because it is stronger
The perfection loop is more modular. You could swap out leaders (let's say from Euro to Dry Fly) without cutting anything up. In addition, unless your knot is horrible, that will be the last spot you break off. Even if the perfection knot is weaker it's a mute point in the big scheme of things since your snap offs will happen mostly at the tippet.
I've been euro nymphing for three years now any my system is just a 12lb level line out the top eyelet, I don't want knots going through the guides. Then I have 3 feet of different colored indicator, a tippet ring, then 5X or 6X to the files, with the heaviest fly furthest out. Rarely does my hands touch the .022 diameter fly line.
Thanks for another great video. But one thing. I just don’t get what a tippet ring does for the setup. Why not just a blood knot or other to your sighter and avoid that ring which I’m sure creates more drag than the knot? Or is that little bit of weight beneficial in some way?
Just faster and provides a consistent point to cut and retie as things get haggered.
Joe the Legend ! Question for ya : Whats your leader formula coming off the Euro specific fly line ? I'm currently running a tapered maxima setup but curious how you would recommend?
Tight lines !
I cut the RIO leader back about 30" off the butt section and modify the sighter with lighter sighter material. Same as in the video. It's an easy starting point for me.
Really enjoy your vids ! but here in Europe we mostly use 30ft euro/french leader+sighter+tipet that connected to mono or a dry line! having 30ft leader connected to dry line and even getting a bigger fish (+10 pounder) with 5-6x tippet never seen a tippet brake....maybe been just been lucky?
Thinner is always better for cutting through current. We have really big swift current where I fish, it is pretty common for fish to break off towing fly line up and across current.
Hmm, I’m going to get a tight line nymphing rig in the near future, but after watching this, I’m more convinced that I want to try the moon rig first.
I hate the idea of rigging up, feeling depth, trimming the leader, then clipping off the flies and tippet, re-attaching the leader, then re-attaching the flies and tippet.
Especially if the spots you plan to hit have different depths.
At the very least I’d probably attach the leader after cutting it in a more efficient way. You could thread through the loop connection on the euronymph line with a nonslip loop knot and just tie on the loop-to-loop handshake.
You bet, try mono. You'll probably wind up there eventually but having a leader that allows you to cast well is a great starting point as you'll be more accurate with less tangles and the line is a bit easier to handle.
Are the nymphs in a straight line or separate?
If your using euro line do you also need to use backing? How much backing if you do? Thanks
Do you attach backing to the reel
Joe good information. But I am a beginner euro nymph fishing guy. So I need to start at the beginning. Here is my question, when loading euro fly line on my reel do I need backing material? If so do I use mono or can I use the same fly line backing material I use on my traditional fly rods? I was raised in Colorado and have fly fished my entire life. Now I am in Prosser WA and trying this new style of fishing. Thank you for your help.
Hi George, you will want to use backing just like on a normal fly reel. You may need more of it, as a Euro Fly Lines are very thin and don't take up nearly the volume of a traditional floating fly line. If you have a reel you need spooled up, bring it in and we can spin the backing on our machine and get just the right amount for you. Since you live nearby this is pretty easy to do.
Set up for our last trip, building all out of mono. Leader system worked well, but found that it tends to wrap around the pole at ANY opportunity. Any advice on mono that does not do that? Did not have that issue with the RIO pre-made leader…
Helicopter cast under constant pressure. Mono does tangle if the butt section is super light.
Maybe im missing something. In the first part of the video you said that you do not want the heavier traditional line on the rod because it puts too much stress on the fly rod. If the loop to loop knot is just outside the rod wont the traditional line weigh the rod down? Did I miss something? Or should the shorty be on the traditional line?
You can go either way. A "true" fly line will preload the rod and reduce sensitivity but it is also versatile for other strategies. The "shorty" simply extends your existing fly line.
new to fly fishing, is it ok when fighting a fish for the loop to loop connection to go inside the rod to land fish
Yes, obtrusive ones will by annoying bu the little Euro line ones slide through easy.
If I wanted to go the route of attaching the 20 feet or so of mono to my regular fly line - which would presumably put my line-to-mono connection inside my reel - how would I go about connecting the mono to my fly line? My worries are (1) preserving my fly line loop so I can change back to dries easier, and (2) protecting my guides in case a big guy pulls the line. Thank you.
Great question. A "needle knot" would be the slickest, but that is a PIA to tie. You could spend a week trying to get it right haha. I like an Albright Knot with a bit of Loon Knot Sense to smooth it out, but you can also just go "loop to loop".
Very informative re: the various rigs. But I don't understand why the need to shorten the Euro nymph leader butt and have the loop to loop connection with the fly line outside the tip top. That would place the heavier fly line outside the tip, thus creating drag and negating the reason for the slimmer leader in the first place. Also, wouldn't you need the entire leader length if you had to cast a few feet further out and not directly under your rod tip?
Agreed, I have the same question. My guide told me to keep the end of the butt section about halfway down the rod and never outside the rod tip.
@@bondaley I think you'll want it half way down or outside. Going in and out of the rod tip drives me mad under any situation, be it dry or nymphing.
Thanks. Good info.
A $60+ Euronymph 'fly line'? Can't you get a spool of running line and use that instead? Very thin, yet still coated for comfortable handling and it floats when needed.
Sure you bet you can. I think having very tiny welded loops on both ends has some value though. Allows you to use both ends after one side gets trashed and makes for quick swaps on leaders with the durable loops (which are also bright orange helping you identify the end of the line).
As you said so correctly the weight of the fly line in the guides needs to be as low (or light) as possible. A thin (20 lbs) running line is probably a very economic alternative to a 'real' Euro nymph fly line. SA running line is around $35 while RIo sells at $50(!). Any unknown brand running line should do I guess.
You can make your own welded loop using a heat shrink tubing and a lighter. Check here on CZcams how to do it correctly.
Thanks Joe for sharing!
ibookje ... any 20# running line will be thicker than a good euro line. 0.8-1.2 mm diameter for the running line while most euro lines are 0.5-0.6 mm in diameter. That makes a big difference in sensitivity. Also end loops in euro lines are garbage. A loop knot in your leader and the Loop to Loop connection are a pain when they go through the small euro rod guides. A nail knot is smaller and smoother with a dab of epoxy. Loop connections are great in Spey fishing where rods are longer and the connection does not end up in the guides. Rio euro leaders that need to be cut to avoid the above issue are a disaster in design. Too short to fish by themselves, too long to fish with an euro line. It sucks to pay 10 bucks on a rio euro leader to have to chop it in half when you fish it.
@@ionphone12345 Good tips! Thx
Since I won't be casting very much could I just use a #3 level fly line? I could add a nail knot to the end and add a piece of 20# Maxima, with a Perfection loop, about 8" long and then loop to loop my Euro leader to that little piece of 20#.
Of course, there are lots of ways to configure your setup. You can even make your own Euro Shorty out of the running line of an old line (not the head which is thicker). The level part as you described would work and using Loon Knot Sense and a nail knot tool you can even produce your own loops.
@@redsflyshop Thanks. I've been using Knot Sense on my nail knots for quite a few years. When my Bondic UV resrvoir gets used up I refill it with Knot Sense.
I know this video is a couple of years old now, but would the FIPS fly line still be a good solution for a 1 or 2wt euro rod?
Absolutely. Very good line. I have the FIPS on a couple of my reels.
For Euro fishing (LOL) boil Maxima for a few minutes!! That is what we do in Europe!
Holy crap I'm not that freaking serious haha. Yet....
@@redsflyshop Boiling MAXIMA it will transform it in a "no memory line", like "AMNESIA", but softer.
I'm going to copy your leader design but I'm having trouble with what I currently have. 20lb backing, Euro Nymph kit & 13.5 foot 2x leader. on a 9-6 3wt rod. I tied a 4x tippet maybe 4 feet, with a small bh nymph and casting...all i get is a pile of string piled up in front of me.....
Try a heavier fly to help load that up, 9'6" is on the short end for most Euro rods. Also, try casting a shorter line and stopping short on your forward stroke to kick that fly over get it to land first.
Yo Red, I'm not sure if it was this video or another one of yours on Euro nymphing but you mentioned your favorite fly combination was a heavy bead head fly to get your rig down and a soft hackle dropper. Is the soft hackle tied dropper style or tied at the bend of the bead head? I'm going to try some serious euro fishing with my 12' tenkara on the Madison in a few weeks and I love to fish soft hackles in general so adding them to my euro setup sounds like a winner. Keep up the great work on the videos!
I tie it up the line on a Triple Surgeon's junction. I think for what you are describing, tieing on the bend of the hook in tandem would be best. Good luck on the Mad!
@@redsflyshop Thanks so much. I just finished loading a separate "euro" box with bead head jig flies on one side and soft hackles of all shapes and sizes on the other!
If you have a Euro Nymph line, what is your preferred set up from there leader wise?
he just explained it...
@@maximiliansadchikov393 aren’t you helpful.
would a 5/6 fly line work on a euro nymphing setup
Oh sure, what you might do is run a super long leader so that the heavy weight of that line doesn't cause the rod tip to sag which reduces touch and feel. If you just "happen to have" that line. You can put it on backwards and use the skinny running line as a Euro line. That works too.
Would you be my dad? He didn't fly fish so no one ever told me these things. Great video.
Hi everybody! What do you think about using the running sction of an old floating fly line?
You can do that yea, but you would want it to be like a 3 weight. Thinner is better. You can make "shortys" doing that as well and loop it to the end of your existing fly line.
@@redsflyshop thanks for your answer! Great, so instead of having a spare spool loaded with this running you tell me to make a shortie and attatch the shortie to the leader (in one side) and to my fly line (on the other) so I don't have to switch the full rig!! Great tip!!
@@manuellombardi4087 Yes exactly, keep in mind that it isn't as nice as a purely dedicated euro line, as that loop to loop connection will come into play when a fish takes line or you throw a longer cast. Good luck and have fun!
Looking to give this a try next trip before getting a dedicated rod. What is the heaviest rod you would use for Euro? Living in Fla. and fishing for big fish, I go up to 13Wt., but with limited Western fishing, I think my lightest rod is a 9ft,5wt. Would that me feasible? Thanks in advance.
It's tough with a 9' 5 weight to learn the nuance. I feel like the learning curve is 3X with 9' 5er than an ultralight 2 or 3 weight. It can be done, it's just much tougher. Going from a 9' - 10' rod really extends your reach and touch more than you realize.
@@redsflyshop Roger that, Thanks! I'm a tall guy, with long arms, so I have more "reach" than most to begin with a 79" wingspan. But I understand the lighter rod feedback. I'll see if I can't pick up a 10footer before my trip.
@@Bwanar1 You have some reach dude, that helps! Another thing to keep in mind is the tip on a 9' 5 weight is incredibly powerful, designed to cast tight loops at high velocity. That same energy is a disadvantage for ESN because as your flies tick bottom and "bind" or "stall" the powerful tip will catapult them off the bottom up in the water column where as a super soft tip won't load up and keeps them down in the column and not jumping up and down. I spent quite a bit of time trying to get good at contact nymphing using my conventional fly rods with little success. The day I picked up a 10' 2 weight it was a huge difference.
@@redsflyshop Very good information...who knew! Thanks so much for the great input.
I just put all backing on my reel with the scientific angler euro shorty and euro leader since the line really isn’t used
Yes you can sure do that, it's a lot of backing though right!
Have you switched entirely to euro nymphing?
No not at all, but really enjoy it when fishing on foot. Guiding wise, I use New Zealand style indicators 90% of the time for my nymph rigs.
This is the way 🎣🤨👍
I use 65-80 lb braid bass fishing line for a nymph line. Zero stretch, way more feel than mono and rio nymph line. Attach an indicator leader and the feel is unreal. Does anyone else use this setup? Thanks!!
Ok, so you run that down to your sighter or are you running mono off the end of that? I am having a hard time seeing that being stiff enough to run out to the sighter.
@@redsflyshop I use the braid as the main line in place of rio nymph line, just as an example. I then tie on the leader which consists of sighter line in my leader. Then tippet. It’s very sensitive. It may not be for everyone. It takes getting use to. Thanks again!!!
Why bother with a floating line? What would be the down side to just using a nymphing line for everything and just change out leaders to fit the occasion?
Versatility, it's nice to be able to throw a dry dropper or dry fly if there is a hatch.
Why do some guys have 25 foot leader?
(2) main reasons. Both are good. First, so that you can have a lighter and more sensitive rig. This is very helpful when fishing small flies, cold water, or any time an ultra surgical presentation is advantegous. The next, is simply so that you can run a reel with a traditional WF Floating line, but not really "use" it so to speak unless a fish took off running a long ways which on some fisheries simply doesn't happen. I personally like to use my euro line and like handling a thin fly line over a mono leader. Some anglers far more advanced in this technique than me prefer mono, so there are pro's and con's. If you are somewhat new to this, start with a 12' leader and a nice Euro line like the RIO Fips. Get some skills for a while, then evaluate. I see the most success with that methodology.
So just buy the Euro nymphying line.
Whelp, I see where it all went wrong for me. Leader was way too long and nearly impossible to cast. When I did cast I created a new unsolvable knot. 🤦🏼🤣
oooh, a pro tip right there. ffs
I'd suggest not to use a line, you can just use thick mono.
Yea I've done that, it can provide better feel but I tend to get it wrapped around the fighting butt and reel handle a bit more often. It is "touchier" though for sure. I think if I was fishing competitively I would pursue using the longest legal leader.
I thought this was how to set up a euro fly line …. Not …. Instead of euro fishing with traditional euro line …. Let use a 5-6 weight line …. Which as you state isn’t as good . Your euro line isn’t even on a reel ! Geeez!!
You don't need a sighter or tag ends to see your line. You need better glasses or LASIK eye surgery. You're never going to cast your line that far in a Euro/Czech rig that you can't see what's going on. All this other crap is marketing product surplus to requirements. You're basically tossing a long leader, forget casting in the traditional fly fishing sense. Euro/Czech nymphing is tossing a leader with the thinnest material you can get away with and the least amount of crap between your floating line and your fly. It's all about gaining sensitivity in the line. Cut the welded loops and glue your leader into your line with a Tiemco Leader Splicer. Make sure your weighted fly or split-shot is at the end of the line so as not to interfere with the fish touching your unweighted flies. You don't want the fish having to pull through the weight before you feel the touch. Keep it simple and think about what's going on between your finger on the line... and the fish having a touch.