So, what’s wrong with this beginner method? A number of things, actually. First, only point this method is likely to draw any strikes is right at point where your nymph begins to lift off from depths of river. This greatly narrows scope of effectiveness of this fly fishing method; since vast majority of float of nymph is “wasted” (trout are unlikely to take a nymph that is careening at weird angles across a river).

Secondly, since point of strike will occur directly below you, you need to make sure that you are able to be directly upstream of this point. If, for some reason (and there are lots of potential reasons) you can’t get directly upstream of this point, you’re unlikely to get your fly there.

And, lastly, this method won’t work from a boat very well. This beginner method is mainly designed for angler who is fly fishing with nymphs from shore.

This page covered "beginners nymphing method", for lack of better terminology. While this method is an excellent way for beginner to get started in nymph fly fishing, there are better methods available.

So, let's look more closely at advanced nymphing techniques, particularly Dead Drift Method for Nymph Fishing.

The method listed above is an excellent method for beginner anglers to use when fly fishing with wet flies. However, there are a modifications of this basic method that will improve your fly fishing productivity and are not much more difficult to learn how to do. This page discusses several of these methods.

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.