Articles in the Category Nymphing

Building the Troutbitten Mono Rig – Reels, Lines, Materials, Connections and Knots (VIDEO)

For over a decade, I’ve written and talked about fishing a Mono Rig for all underwater presentations — nymphs with and without an indicator, with and without split shot, dry dropper, streamers of all shapes and sizes and even pure dry flies.

I’ve detailed the formulas for my favorite leaders in many places, but I’ve never put everything together from the ground up. This video answers the most frequent questions about reels, fly lines, leader connections, materials and knots. No matter what tight line leader you choose to build, the principles shown here apply.

Fishing With Visible Flies — Learning From What You Can See (VIDEO)

Seeing the fly is one of the most enjoyable aspects of fishing. But there’s a world of education inherent, too. Watch the fly dance and fall as it mixes with the currents. Notice how it responds to rod tip animation and line strips. Then see a trout materialize around the fly and judge its reaction. Visible flies are teachers. Whether dries, wets, nymphs or streamers, watching the fly helps us refine the techniques that catch fish.

Fishing the Edges (VIDEO)

Here are specific strategies for targeting edge water, with footage from two trips — one on small water and one on a larger river. I fish nymphs and streamers, changing frequently to suit the conditions.

How to Fish One Fly Rod for Everything — Dries, Streamers, Nymphs and Wets (VIDEO)

I use one fly rod for everything. It doesn’t matter if I’m fishing dry flies, nymphs, wet flies or streamers, the rod I leave the truck with is the rod I’m using all day. If you’re locked into the mindset that you need a bunch of fly rods to fish different tactics and flies, think again. I promise, there’s an easy, efficient, effective way to use one rod for everything.

PODCAST: The Big Lie of Dry Dropper, S19 – Ep3 (VIDEO and AUDIO)

May 4, 2026 | Announcements, Dry Fly Fishing, Nymphing, The Troutbitten Podcast

Dry dropper is great. Just put a nymph under that dry fly and get the best of both worlds. Right? Not so fast . . . The idea that you can have your cake and eat it too — that you’ll get perfect drifts on the dry fly and the nymph — and that you somehow double your chances by dropping a nymph under the dry is not true. This is the big lie of dry dropper fishing.

Here’s the problem: In most cases, neither fly ends up with a great drift. Instead, both flies are compromised and their natural drift is altered.

Where’s My Fly?

Apr 26, 2026 | Dry Fly Fishing, Nymphing, Tactics

Understanding the fly’s position — where it is and where it’s going — is the key challenge in fly fishing. And aside from basic casting skills, an awareness of the fly in the current is the most essential skill.

(VIDEO) Sighter Angles While Tight Line and Euro Nymphing

Apr 16, 2026 | Nymphing, Videos

At what angle should we set the sighter? Should it be vertical? Should it be at a 45? Should it be flatter? And should it stay the same throughout the drift or should it change? While tight line or euro nymphing, you can get excellent dead drifts with any sighter angle if you’re attentive to the details and understand the strengths of all angles. There is no better leading angle. It’s a choice based on preference, skill, objectives and river conditions.

Drifting Light Nymphs

Apr 5, 2026 | Nymphing, Tactics

Never forget that it’s all about contact — not all the time, and not so much that you’re moving the nymphs. Perfect tracking is just barely out of contact. And throwing a pile of slack into the water only works when you get lucky.

(VIDEO) Troutbitten Fly Box: Fur Nymphs – Walt’s Worm as a Platform, Blending Dubbing and More

Mar 12, 2026 | Nymphing, Troutbitten Fly Box, Videos

Buggy flies, guide flies, confidence flies: Fur nymphs are all of that. A fur nymph looks alive, and it’s not overdone. It’s just fur on a hook. These flies aren’t very exciting to look at. The material list is slim. And there’s not much to know about tying them. Anglers may be bored with the spartan form, but trout respond to the simplicity. And there’s a lot of inherent attraction in a fur nymph, with very little to turn a trout off.

Troutbitten Shop Early Winter Sale ’25 — All Leaders, Hats, Stickers and Apparel In Stock On Monday, Dec 1st

Nov 29, 2025 | Announcements, Nymphing, Streamers, The Mono Rig | 0 Comments

The Troutbitten Shop Early Winter Sale ’25 is here, with all leaders, hats, stickers and apparel back in stock.

Troutbitten On the Orvis Fly Fishing Podcast — Talking About Split Shot

Nov 18, 2025 | Announcements, Nymphing | 0 Comments

It was a pleasure to once again be a guest with Tom Rosenbauer on the Orvis Fly Fishing Podcast. This time, Tom and I talked about split shot.

Fish and Film – Skinny Water Nymphing (VIDEO)

Oct 29, 2025 | Drop Shot Nymphing, Nymphing, Tactics, Videos | 4 Comments

Fishing is a story . . . During some of the lowest water I’ve seen in our area, I chose to nymph the skinny stuff on a tight line. But instead of fishing fine and far off, I started with a drop shot of medium weight. Later, I mixed in a tracking approach with a single, light nymph. A couple hours in, I streamer fished a long flat, to test the trout’s response. And I finished the morning with some nice trout that responded to nymphs in the strike zone . . .

Fish and Film – Home Base (VIDEO)

Sep 24, 2025 | Nymphing, Tactics, Videos | 6 Comments

Fishing is a story . . . I’ve fished all of my favorite rivers from their mouths to their headwaters. And within those mile of opportunity, my favored spots keep calling me back. I fish these places for a hard reset, for a return to home base — for getting back to the familiar by seeing what has changed.

Mono Rig Styles for Tight Line to the Indicator Nymphing

Sep 3, 2025 | Nymphing, Tactics, The Mono Rig | 8 Comments

You can fish tight line to the indicator style with a Micro Mono Rig instead of a Standard, but here’s what you’ll be giving up. Here’s what you’re losing . . .

. . . It all starts with a good understanding of the Mono Rig as a HYBRID system. The Standard Mono Rig casts and mends like a fly line, so we use the most unique advantage of fly fishing, introducing slack in the best places . . .

Fish and Film – Tight Line to the Indicator Nymphing – Broken Hand Suspenders (VIDEO)

Aug 28, 2025 | Nymphing, Tactics, The Mono Rig, Videos | 5 Comments

Late summer trout fishing in the Northeast can be challenging. But I’ve had good mornings by choosing cold water and staying open minded to the trout’s patterns and habits. Surprisingly, the best fishing has been found in deep, slow water that still has flow. The dry fly bite has been off, but the nymph fishing has been excellent.