Finally, and somewhat less effectively, you can cast your nymph directly upstream from your fishing boat. The reason this is less effective is because your boat just went over fish – thus potentially spooking fish. The trout will also see your fly line (one reason downstream method is so lethal is because trout sees fly FIRST, not fly line and leader first). However, this method does have one advantage – like wade angler using direct upstream method, you can simulate a rising nymph by very gradually pulling in line and raising rod tip, which will bring nymph off bottom of river and closer to surface.

Small Weights for Nymph Fishing

The second thing you’ll need for many rivers will be some small weights to add to your fly line or leader. In many, if not most nymph fly fishing situations, a floating line is still used. However, to get fly down to depth you want it to go will require weighting it (at least in faster water).

This is best done with newer “twist on” non-toxic weights that are now available. Using these types of weights, an angler can put on as much or as little weight as needed to bring fly down to depth, while at same time preventing fish from inhaling toxic lead (which can kill them).

Should you plan on fishing in really deep or fast rivers where even a weighted leader will not get fly down to depth fast enough, then you will also want to look at investing in a sink-tip fly line. Sink-tip fly lines have tip of fly line weighted to sink, thus allowing it to sink nymph fly more quickly.

Fly Fishing Sunglasses for Nymph Fishing

Another item of heavy importance is a good pair of polarized sunglasses. It’s absolutely imperative that you be able to see strike indicator, and polarized sunglasses are very effective for this.