Fly Fishing with Chris Dore

Consider each and every drift when nymphing. Pick two targets: where you think the fish will be, and where you need to land your nymph to get down to that target, without dragging through it. In pocket water this will mean a shorter drift so land your fly closer and use more weight as required to get immediately down. In smoother water you’ll want to cast further upstream and employ a longer drift with a fly which wont snag up or drag your indicator under too soon.

Regardless, using level tippet between the indicator and fly will allow lighter flies to sink with less resistance, and more direct contact to the indi without the progressively thicker taper of a leader to hold up in the column and bow.