Why not use split-shot in the anchor fly position, and use flies with the correct size and shape to catch trout?
I believe the real estate slogan “location, location, and location” also applies for nymphing presentations. Trout will not buy into your fly if you don’t offer it in the right location. The right location (aka position in the water column) is what nymph fishers always strive for, and the drop-shot approach can position your nymphs in prime real estate.
For nymph fishers, the goal is to present your flies within the strike zone. You can’t be a one-trick pony when nymphing a dynamic range of water types and depths.
Trout spend an overwhelming majority of their lives feeding near the stream bottom. In many cases, the use of a dense, European-style beadhead nymph is all the weight you need to achieve the correct depth. These sleek flies coupled with a thin line/leader held above the water allow the patterns to drop quickly into the strike zone. Compared to split-shot rigs, Euro systems tend to tangle less, provide greater connection with nymphs, and are easier to cast. This is why I spend the bulk of my time using European nymphing tactics.
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‘Ō ‘IO
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Wild & Scenic Chattooga
Wilderness trout fishing at the south end of the Appalachian Mountains.
Changing the Nymph Game
Designing multi-articulated flies to imitate mayflies, stoneflies, and other aquatic trout foods.
Dams Out on the Kinni
Three decades of effort by Gary Horvath and the Kiap-TU-Wish chapter are paying off.
