"Rolling" The Czech Nymph - The method

[Old Smoothound]

Hi Miles,

From what you have described I would say you are "Dead Drifting" , the problem with the method is that the speed of the flies down river is faster than the speed of flow on the bottom. Vis a Vi you get "turnover of water" flow, and that makes the surface water flow faster than on the bottom.

With the "Rolled" or "Czech Nymph" method the flies are down deep straight away and they fish at the speed of the flow on the bottom.... there is no "sight Bob" to drag them faster down river.

I will try and explain the "method".....

If fishing two or three flies, the heaviest fly MUST be the top dropper fly. Medium weight next then the lightest fly on the point. The weight of the fly helps slow down the rate at which it rolls along the bottom.


In essence the fly line is only 3-4 feet out of the rod top, and it is allowed to lie on the surface. To make it work properly, use a floatant on the line for the first 3-4 feet.

THIS IS YOU BITE INDICATOR

Ideal water is from the end of a "riffle" that runs into a deeper "glide", but fish can be caught in the riffle as well, using this method.

So when standing in the river, roll or flick the flies at 45 degrees upstream away from you. Then allow time for them to sink to the bottom, follow the line on the top of the water with the tip of the rod, keeping the rod high as the flies come back towards you...but not moving the line, then lowering it when they are in front of you and up again when they go past you. Let the flies "dangle" at the end of the run through. N.B. this is when you are more than likely to get a take.

When you have finished the run down..."roll" the flies and line in a sweeping motion back to 45 degrees in front of you. and repeat...this is a deadly method to "search" the Water.

A take is registered by the "darting" forward or "stopping" of the fly line on the surface. Strike at any variation to the way in which the flies trundle down stream. It may be the bottom or more than likely its a fish.

Make a few run downs by "fan" casting or "rolling the line away from you. Sometimes take a few steps to one side and upstream or downstream. Its better to work your way upstream as the vision of fish is least when approached quietly from behind them.

When I have used this method on Chalkstreams and mighty Welsh Dee, I have been able to extract as many as 20 plus Grayling from one “glide”, taking the back of the shoal first, as this is less likely to “spook” them. I have also used it on the River Teviot in the borders of Scotland and taken 4 x 2lb plus fish in as many casts.

So on its day it is, in my opinion, THE most deadly method for catching Grayling and Browns on rivers.

But as in most things new “Practice makes Perfect”

I hope you try "The Method" and have success.

[Miles]

Great explanation, thanks Smoothy.

I tend to fish a small river for coarse fish (with fly kit and not much success) and a couple of small stillwaters near here for rainbows (with only slightly more success), but one day I'll venture forth for 'proper' wild trout.

I'd not thought about the strata of water flow, despite having been told about it several times in the past and then also being recommended to use a 'bung' on moving water, which, when fishing at the bottom, I can imagine isn't going to help things look natural.

With a heavy bug on the top dropper, I'm guessing this is then designed to run along the bottom, dragged by the lighter flies above ? Do you get many takes on the heavy fly when the team is drifting, or is it just to do with the lift up at the end of the drift ?

Or, I'm wondering if a couple of large split shot on the leader might do the same thing, with some foam bodied bugs coming up from the weight ?

[Old Smoothound]

Originally Posted by Miles

Great explanation, thanks Smoothy.

I tend to fish a small river for coarse fish (with fly kit and not much success) and a couple of small stillwaters near here for rainbows (with only slightly more success), but one day I'll venture forth for 'proper' wild trout.

I'd not thought about the strata of water flow, despite having been told about it several times in the past and then also being recommended to use a 'bung' on moving water, which, when fishing at the bottom, I can imagine isn't going to help things look natural.

With a heavy bug on the top dropper, I'm guessing this is then designed to run along the bottom, dragged by the lighter flies above ? Do you get many takes on the heavy fly when the team is drifting, or is it just to do with the lift up at the end of the drift ?

Or, I'm wondering if a couple of large split shot on the leader might do the same thing, with some foam bodied bugs coming up from the weight ?

Hi Miles,

The heavy Bug gets the flies down deep quickly, then they slow the rig down a fraction as they are "bumping" along the bottom, and the lighter flies "flow" behind it. You will get mostr of your takes from the heavier bug most of the time. But if the fish are just up off the bottom then the reverse will happen. It depends where they are feeding. 95% will be on the heavier fly in my experience.

Nice idea about the foam bodied bugs and split shot. But the problem I see is that the foam bugs will not look or act naturally in the water, but hey give it a try and let me know if it works, I am always looking to learn about new methods.

[Miles]

Thanks for the info on this technique Smoothy.

I'm interested to know if using foam and weight is considered okay in fly fishing ?

The tradition seems to be floating lines and wet flies fishing in the top foot or so of water. There then seems to be the boobies, washing lines and other techniques on sinking lines, which tend to get frowned on a bit I think. Point is, when you go out fishing, you want to catch fish ! (even if you put them back). I've fished boobies (tend to do a New Zealand rig, 'cause that gives me fewer tangles) off a sinker and have caught when those around me ripping lures or trad wets haven't. But there must be more to bouyany flies off sinking lines I'm wondering.

So, the floating fly/lure/bug technique, using foam, is of interest when I fish stillwaters and there's not really any surface action. I guess what I'm thinking about the 'rolling' technique is whether the other flies in the 'team' lift up enough away from the heavy bug on the top dropper ? I could also see that something too bouyant (such as with foam) would possibly present 'upside down' and maybe lift too much.

Problem is I've not got any experience of fishing on faster moving brownie or grayling water and am trying to imagine how the rig works rather than actually doing it, which would be the answer ........ one day !!

Its been an interesting one though and has got me thinking about other tactics, for which I'm very grateful. Thanks.

[Old Smoothound]

Originally Posted by Miles

Thanks for the info on this technique Smoothy.

I'm interested to know if using foam and weight is considered okay in fly fishing ?

Not really Miles, it is frowned upon at most still waters and you could get "banned" for using it.

Originally Posted by Miles

The tradition seems to be floating lines and wet flies fishing in the top foot or so of water. There then seems to be the boobies, washing lines and other techniques on sinking lines, which tend to get frowned on a bit I think.

Most of these are "ligitamate" methods that match fishermen use, so although "frowned upon" you can still use them. I use the washing line method a lot and fish 4 flies. Booby on the point....2 nymphs....then another booby on the dropper. Great fish catching method, as you can "search" the water column.

Originally Posted by Miles

Point is, when you go out fishing, you want to catch fish ! (even if you put them back). I've fished boobies (tend to do a New Zealand rig, 'cause that gives me fewer tangles) off a sinker and have caught when those around me ripping lures or trad wets haven't. But there must be more to bouyany flies off sinking lines I'm wondering.

Definately, I fish up to 4 Boobies at a time in deep water, each spaced 3-4 feet apart and use differrent colours and swap them around until i find the right "killing" combination.

Rate of retrieve has a lot to do with catching or not catching, sometimes very very slow, and others a bit faster. The thing is that the faster you retrieve a Booby the deeper it fishes as you are forcing it down towards the bottom.

Try using a longish dropper length and "trim" the eyes round so they don't spin and twist your line, and tie your own. Its easy! Then you have the flies that you want and not the "old" flies that someone wants to sell to you. A case in point is the "new" fulling Mill blue and yellow Booby. I created this fly with a friend of mine some 8 years ago, when fishing a competition. Now they are selling it. Get my drift.......

Originally Posted by Miles

So, the floating fly/lure/bug technique, using foam, is of interest when I fish stillwaters and there's not really any surface action. I guess what I'm thinking about the 'rolling' technique is whether the other flies in the 'team' lift up enough away from the heavy bug on the top dropper ?

They definately will on faster and powerful rivers such as the Wye and Welsh Dee, take it from me they do

Originally Posted by Miles

I could also see that something too bouyant (such as with foam) would possibly present 'upside down' and maybe lift too much.

More than likely, but if you never try you will never find out. So give it a try. ITs refreshing to hear a fly fisherman "experimenting" with new methods, its what fishing is all about.

Originally Posted by Miles

Problem is I've not got any experience of fishing on faster moving brownie or grayling water and am trying to imagine how the rig works rather than actually doing it, which would be the answer ........ one day !!

Its been an interesting one though and has got me thinking about other tactics, for which I'm very grateful. Thanks.

My pleasure Miles.....

[eljeffo]

Hello, I'm new here and live in Pennsylvania U.S.A. and I must say that I have used this method very successfully in our trout streams. (Pine creek) I must visit your country and try out these Chalk Streams. sound very impressive indeed! Thank you!!
P.S. I was born in Munich Germany.

[tat]

Re fishing with boobies,most of the waters i fish,and they are only private stillwaters or waterboard reservoirs,ban this type of fishing.I wonder if your boobies and my boobies are the same type of fly,as i have found names can vary for types of fly.