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Nymph start on wire
I fish more and more with line nymphs at the beginning of the season because it's a very efficient technique, and at the same time it allows me to continue learning new things and therefore perfecting my skills. For my own pleasure, but also to be able to improve my skills for future trainees. Practice is the best way of continuing to learn and then being able to pass on.
I set up a nymph to start with on this small river course, as the use of two flies is not really necessary, in my opinion. Perhaps later, when the fish are more inclined to move more openly in the water layer. The strikes are well marked and the fishing more precise.
The wind is cold and the temperatures not very pleasant. But then, I don't have much time and I'm too keen to spend some quality time by the water. I've got to check out my favorite spots. This river runs right by my house and it's my favorite playground. I go as often as I can or when I'm short of time.
When nymphing with a line, wind is a very disturbing factor, making it difficult to fish well. It pulls in the streamer and either prevents the nymphs from sinking and fishing properly, or it works against the current and prevents you from staying taut enough to see the bites. It doesn't mix well with this technique.
Change of technique and immediate results
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I arrive in an area that's not too fast, nor too deep, so I decide to dry-nymphe with my Sage ESN rod in 10-foot silk 2, and my pink fluo line (line body).
I tie a 2.5 fly and a two-wing duck-bottom fly. It's a fly-tying technique that Stéphane, a guide from the Ariège region of France, introduced to me two weeks ago during a course we organized together.
Soon, the first trout is tempted by a hare's ear with a small orange tag in front of the log. Then a second, a little bigger. Brilliant!
The rig seems to please and, despite the wind, I manage to cast my two flies at a decent distance, which allows me to fish.
The current picks up and I switch to a 2.8 model, still with the same dry, which hasn't brought any trout up yet, but that's not really the point today. The dry is used to see if it dives or slows down abnormally. Another pretty trout, this time even bigger, is in a nice bowl. It's just under 30 cm and for this sector it's a beautiful fish. I'm delighted.
Trout galore!
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I'm going to alternate between 2.5 and 2.8 balls, then change flies several times. I'll take a few on a black reddish-bottom, but it's the hare's ear that seems to please the trout in this superb little South Finisterian river. One trout after another gives me great pleasure. Each beautiful spot is crowned with a touch. I land another beautiful one that jumps more than a metre out of the water! Real devils!
Then, to my delight, a smaller one took over the dryer. The first of the year on the surface.
By judiciously alternating the weights and the distance between the two flies (between 50 and 80 cm), I found a good fifteen trout, all more beautiful than the others, with magnificent coats!
What a pleasure to see these wild farios again, especially after the repeated floods we had this winter. They've survived and seem to have even benefited, as they're plump and combative. Some of them will have bent the carbon of my rod, which is a real pleasure to use on these small and medium-sized rivers. This model is light and incredibly accurate.
It's time to head back even though the trout are still active despite the late hour. I never thought I'd see activity at this time of year between 6 and 8 pm!
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I can't wait to get back to the river and spend some time alone in the middle of nature, where you can recharge your batteries and take the time to contemplate your surroundings.
