2010 News Magazine
Euro Fishing
Wallace Westfeldt
If I said I was tying up a nymph named "Bottom Roller," needed some kneepads, a day-glo French thingie, and I had to keep a low-profile, most folks would assume I was going to Vegas. But I am just going fishing. The style of fishing I am talking about is generally called "Czech Nymphing." It is actually a combination of rigs and presentations popular in Europe. These rigs have been developed in part because of the numerous European competitions and in part because of waters available to certain countries.
There are at least three reasons why you might want to learn about Czech Nymphing:
1. You may already be using some aspects of this style such as high sticking, short-lining.
2. It will improve your own presentation of sub-surface flies, no matter what style you use.
3. You have watched Rob Kolanda vacuum fish from the water using this technique.
This month's article explains the fundamentals of Czech Nymphing and then we will ask the Hoover himself some embarrassing questions.
RULES
The rigging rules of international competition are part of the reason that this style was developed. The rules include:
* No supplemental weight (splitshot, etc)
* No flotation indicator
* No more than three flies
* No hook to eye connections between flies (first and second flies must be tag rigged)
* At least 20 inches between each fly.
ANCHOR FLY
It has often been said that the difference between a good fisherman and a great fisherman is one splitshot. Another way to say this is, "If you get the fly in front of the trout's face, he would rather eat it." Since you can't use splitshot in competition a key component of this rig is the Czech nymph. The heaviest fly (usually the first in a two-fly rig or the middle in a three-fly rig) is called the Anchor Fly. These nymphs are comparatively heavy and look like scuds. This Czech Nymph is called a Bottom Roller and has been shown to be an effective pattern regardless of the rig.
The weight of the anchor fly is critical for success. Therefore, you must be willing to change the anchor fly to match the conditions of the river you are fishing at any time. Taking the time to re-rig is part of this style of fishing.
APPROACH/PRESENTATION
Your approach plan and keeping a low profile is key. Before your first cast, plan where you will stand, and how you are going to work the water.
Because no indicator is allowed, little to no slack is required in presenting the flies. Rather than dead drifting flies are actively dragged downstream along the current line (not sideways). Strike detection can be visual by watching fly line hesitation or trout movement in clear water. However, frequently strike detection is by feel from the no-slack line. The goal is to keep in contact with the flies. This kind of drifting requires constant concentration.
I have been Czeching successfully using a 4 weight 9 foot Z-axis. However, it is clear that this style benefits from a longer rod. In the pictures above Rob is using a 10 foot, three weight from Grey's. Hmmm ... at $300 I might have to add that to my arsenal. Please, no one tell my wife. See, it takes some planning to maintain a low profile; not to mention additional equipment. Check out the kneepad!
THE FRENCH THINGIE
The competition rules say no flotation indicators and no add-on indicators. Of course, if you're not competing and you put some Bio-Strike on your leader so you can see your drift and strikes more easily, it is unlikely you will be reported. On the other hand, if you want to use one of coolest indicators I've seen, you will need the following:
1. plastic tubing (~diameter of BIC pen)
2. colored mono
3. boiling water
4. freezer.
I'm not kidding. You see the rules will allow you to use colored leader material as long it's an integral part of your tapered leader. It is called a "sight" not an indicator and the French anglers have come up with a "sight" that is very easy to see and particularly good in still or slack water which they have a lot of.
Take two different colored lengths of brightly colored monofilament (Amensia #10 or #15 will do) and attached with a Blood Knot. Then wrap tightly around the plastic tube. Leave plenty of length beyond the coils. Tie a rubber band around the coil ends to hold the wraps. Then, put in boiling water for five minutes. Then, put it in the freezer. When ready to fish, insert this colored coiled tippet into your leader above your anchor fly using Blood Knots. Use twice the depth rule for the distance (approximately 7 to 8 feet between sight and anchor fly) Remove the rubber bands and plastic tube and you're ready to fish.
This "sight" is highly visible and will give you an immediate indication on the location of your line, flies, and the nature of your drift. If you are in slack water, the coil will actually bounce to indicate a strike.
TAGS
Pieces of tippet coming off the primary leader are called tags. One of the easiest ways to set up a tag rig is to leave the tag end of a Water Knot long for the upper nymphs. A Water Knot is the same thing as a Surgeon's Knot with three or four turns. By the way, I have asked many surgeon's in my class if they use the namesake knot, and they have all said, "No."
Be sure use the tag that comes down from the leader or upper tippet section. Tags allow the flies to move quite freely in the water. In fact, they move so freely you can use thicker tippet for a given fly. For example, my upper tag is usually 4X and I often put a #18 Jujubaetis on it.
SIMPLE CZECH RIG RECIPE
1. 7.5 to 9 foot 4X tapered leader
2. 20 inches of 4X tied with 4 turn water knot, leaving 6 to 8 inches of the tag from leader
3. Tie #18 Jujubaetis to tag (substitute emerger of choice, Pandemic, Barr's Emerger, etc.)
4. 20 inches of 5X tied with 4 turn water knot, leaving 6 to 8 inches of the 4X tag
5. Tie #12 Bottom Roller to second tag (substitute heavy fly of choice, i.e. Girdle Bug)
6. Tie small fly to end of 5X (#20 Blue Tung, Midge Larva, Soft Hackle Sowbug, etc)
AVEC "SIGHT" FRANCAISE
1. Three to four feet of tapered leader (2X) to foot French Sight (Sight should be 6 to 18 inches total length)
2. Sight is attached with Blood Knot
3. Build rest of leader with tippet sections following plan listed in "Simple Czech Recipe"
INTERVIEW
Many
of you know Rob Kolanda from Front Range Anglers and as a rep for rods
and reels from Hardy and Grey's. He is a member of the US National Fly
Fishing Team, a local Czech expert, has a Czech name, and apparently
knows a few choice words in Czech.Czech Nymphing style was first seen in European fly-fishing competition in 1984. The Poles were using it. In 1985, during the World Championships on a Polish river, the Czechs used this style to take second place ... behind the Poles. In 1986, the Czechs took the gold and since then it has been known as Czech Nymphing. Word to the wise ... if you are in Poland, don't call it Czech Nymphing.
1. Is it true that after 1986 championships you changed your name from Kowalski?
a. Me vynechte (vulgar for "Oh spare me.")
2. Do you use a three or four turn water knot?
a. 4X and smaller use 4 turns.
3. Since you've been Czeching, how many times have you gone swimming?
a. Ty nouma (you're a jerk)
4. How long are your tags?
a. Approximately 6 inches. You don't want them so long that they are continually wrapping, but on the other hand you might want to be able to change flies a couple of times. Learn your knots and take time to re-rig.
5. Do you use the same triple beam balance scale for weighing your nymphs that you used in the 60's for other things?
a. Of course.
6. How long is your rod?
a. Longer than yours.
7. How long is your fishing rod?
a. Oh ... I am using a ten-footer. Size makes a difference.
8. How important is a low profile?
a. I think it's critical. In fact, the whole concept of approach before your first cast needs to be considered. Generally I break up a standard fishing section in to two or three smaller ones and fish every potential lie.
9. I meant in Vegas.
a. So, same thing. Just make sure your using a throw away cell-phone.
10. How fast do you lead the flies in the relation to the current?
a. Just enough to maintain contact with the flies. Once you cast, even though the flies must drop into the feeding zone, you need to get contact with the flies as soon as possible.
11. Can you Czech riffles, pools, slicks?
a. Yes, the approach and the weight will be the keys.
12. Where can't you Czech?
a. In Poland.
13. What is drift control and how does it CZN style compared with indicator style?
a. With and indicator you are concerned about mending/line drag and it is visually focused. With CZN there is a visual element but feel is a frequent indicator of the strike and drift as you are actually imparting motion to the flies.
14. How many pairs of kneepads do you have and what are the pink ones for?
a. Hovno (S**t, F***, Bugger-all, Merde, pick one)