Wet flies/nymphs

[Tater]

What are the advantages of wet flies and nymphs? When do they come in handy? How about different types of line - sinking, weighted tip, etc? All of my fly fishing to this point has been with dries on a floating line. I know wets and nymphs can get down to where the fish are hanging out but I really have no idea how and when to use them. Dries are easy but these others are still a bit of a mystery. Thanks.

[Jack]

Tater, wet flies and nymphs are actually imitating the same thing- the insect in it's underwater stage, before it rises to the surface and hatches. In appearance, wets tend to have hackles or wings like a dry, nymphs don't (that's a generalization and there are exceptions).
For most stream fishing, you don't need a sinking line to fish a nymph- just leave the floatant off your leader and/or add a bit of weight. Generally in streams, you aren't trying to get that deep (another generalization).
Sinking lines and sinking tips are for trying to fish deep water- say deeper than 10 feet. You will also find that weighted lines are a PIA to cast. Unlike dry fly fishing, you generally have to bring a weighted line all the way in each time, then get the line all the way out again. Frankly (my opinion), any time a weighted line is called for to get really deep, it's time to go to a spinning rod.
When to use nymphs? Any time you're fishing. Remember, those dries you're imitating were nymphs five minutes ago. IME, unless there's a real strong hatch on, there are more nymphs being taken than dry flies, at any given time. JMO.
You can usually use a bit heavier tippet when you're fishing nymphs- and often a shorter leader. The bad news is, it's harder to tell when the fish strikes. Get your Polaroids out, and look for the fish to roll- that roll is the fish taking your nymph and returning to his lie. A strike indicator can help you, too.
The real advantage to nymphs is that you can put the fly right by the fishes nose- not 4 feet above him. That is often too much temptation for a fish- even if he isn't actively feeding.

[Tater]

Wow, not nearly as mysterious as I though. Thanks Jack. Usually, when I take my fly rod out, I see guys on the river with thermometers, barometers and lots of other 'ometers measuring all kinds of stuff. Always seemed like it took most of the fun out of the trip. I have a couple of beadheads in my fly box I may try out tomorrow if my dries don't work too good. Tomorrow is supposed to be pretty warm so the fish may be holding deep during the day and the nymphs may come in handy. Thanks again.

[Jack]

Tater, I see those guys with thermometers, too- and little nets to catch a fly on the surface and examine it. Some of those guys can give you the Latin name of the insect....
JMO here, after fly fishing for a few years (ok, a few decades ): don't let all that 'baffle 'em with BS' stuff worry you. Fly fishing is actually very simple: put a fly that looks like something natural to that body of water near a fish that wants to eat, you catch fish.
I think there's more extraneous BS attached to fly fishing than any other kind of fishing, especially since fly fishing became the Yuppy religion.
Beadheads work well, as they have a little weight to make them sink. Another good source of weight to get a nymph down is the foil that comes off wine bottles (the kind with corks) . Cut that metal foil into thin strips and wrap it around your leader- if you put the foil just above a knot, it'll stay in place nicely.

[Tater]

Yeah, like I said I see those guys too. I also see guys like my GF's Dad whose only fly fished-never even picked up a spinning rod-and he catches fish the same way you and I do: throw out something that's looks tasty and be patient. I actually outfished him 2 days out of 3 and I've only been doing it for a couple months. I also outfished 2 other guys I saw on the river last Thursday who'd be doin it for years and had all sorts of high-tech "yuppie gear". Just goes to show that it's a waste of money for the most part. It may give you a bit of an edge but, at the end of the day, all that matters is that you had a good time. I can fish for a week straight, never catch a single fish and still have the time of my life. To me, that's what fishing is about-having a good time and enjoying your time in nature maybe with a friend or two. I'm headed up tomorrow to drown a couple flies and I already know I'm going to have a great time. I'll try and get some pics.

[BILLY D.]

Tater

I'm kinda a half fast fly fisherman.

What advice Jack gave you is great. However you can be very versitile with a fly rod and a little Afro Engineering, as we used to call it in The AF.

By using slip bobbers and adding split shot to your line you can fish for Pan fish for Crappie, Bluegills and Perch. Fly Rods aren't just for Trout anymore.

Here in North Dakota there are verry few trout streams and they are usually Dam Tailraces. But they provide some humungous Cutthroat trout. What makes them so big is they feed on ground up smelt that the Dams grind up.

So don't get bent out of shape if you are fishing and only have a "fly rod" available. You can do a lot of fishing with a fly rod.

Use your imagination.

Best wishes, Bill

[skeet]

I just learned me another thang. They is wine bottles what come wif CORKS??? Heck my ol ripple and Boone's Farm hav screw of'n tops. Makes it real easy to close her up for overnight. Unscrew her in the mawnin and jest tilt her up..then when ya git outta bed you kin go down to the fridge and git a fresh one. Bananer moonpies goes real good with them dark red wines. Corse if'n ya want the real brekfast of champeens..you gotta have a little Southern Comfort..some pepsi and a bananer Specally after that ol hit of wine ya left next to the bed

[Jack]

Lol, yeah, Skeet, it's hell having to buy the foil top wine just to get sinkers...
Pepsi???? With Moon pies?
I heard you could get tarred and feathered for eating Moon pies with anything but RC cola or Dr Pepper.

[RagingBullPa]

in the salmon river , ny , i see a trend for many of the salmon anglers switching to the nymphs especially the wooly bugger brown or black, or even estac flies , some glittery thing that resembles a christmas hersey kiss wrapper, but they work , lots of hook ups, rod of choice is an ugly stick fly rod 9 weight or larger, some guys use a regular fly reel setup some guys use mooching reel improvise, hey whatever works, myself i only fly fish for bluegills and bonefish, or permit