First things first, I’m not a writer. People like me are why apps such as Grammarly exist- it’s a great tool by the way. My background is Industrial Design, far from the art of creative writing- and I’ve always been more of a listener than a talker. But I created this blog because I think my own fly fishing journey can help you on yours, whether you’re a novice fly angler or just new to Euro-nymphing. We’ll discuss techniques, fishing tactics, fly tying, gear and whatever else will help you advance your skills to better enjoy your time on the water. I don’t know it all, no one does, but I’ll discuss things I struggled with. Things I wish someone would have explained to me. I’d like this blog to be a road map to a better fly angling experience for you.
Well, I’ve previously discussed my tippet section with some winter tips, and I’ve also shared more than I know about euro-nymph fly line and how it differs from traditional line. The only thing left is to discuss the leader butt section- the monofilament section from the fly line to the tippet. It’s pretty basic but it changes from time to time.
Thanksgiving presented an unexpected fishing opportunity this year. Our plans for outdoor festivities with friends were upended by bitingly cold wind and a friend's positive covid test, which left me with a few free hours in the middle of Thanksgiving day to check out the river. Stepping out of my truck on a sunny sage brush flat, the wind sliced straight through my puffy and cotton t-shirt. Cursing the lack of forethought, I rummaged for another layer of clothing without luck. Feeling stupid and a little desperate, I exhumed a buff matted with dog hair and crumbs from under the driver’s seat. With a shake, on it went.
If you’re new to ESN (European Style Nymphing) fly fishing you probably have lots of questions regarding tippet line. There’s very little information out there because tippet setup is specific to types of water, fish, conditions, etc. Here’s how I rig my tippet and why.
First the basics. Tippet is the thin clear portion of the leader that attaches the fly. It’s thin to cut through the current and minimize drag, and clear to not spook the fish. In Euro-nymphing tippet takes much more abuse because it makes frequent contact with rocks and gravel down at the bottom, so fluorocarbon is used because it is more abrasion resistant than nylon. And because fluorocarbon it tougher I can use thinner tippet than Nylon.