Here's how. Recommended Euro Nymphing Fly Rods. Some anglers have more endurance, better technique, etc. ... Garage-Band Fly Rod Company. These closely placed stripping guides don’t lend themselves well to techniques that require feeding line during the cast; the short distance between the fly reel and the stripper isn’t wide enough to comfortably feed line with your non-rod hand. Copyright © 2003 – 2021 MidCurrent LLC, All Rights Reserved. Guide placement can matter too. Ready to make the plunge and get yourself a euro nymphing stick, but not sure where? I don't Euro (tight line) nymph that often and I am not familiar with all of the rods you mentioned (I've heard of them, just haven't fished with them), but based on what you're looking for--an all-around long rod that is capable of Euro nymphing--I would go with the Radian 1004 or the Sage X 4100. Built specifically for European-style nymphing techniques, the STRIKE features an extra-sensitive tip section for superior strike sensitivity, while an elongated handle allows the angler to find the perfect balance point no matter what reel is used. Size does matter, and rod length is perhaps one of the most important characteristics of a fly rod well suited for euro nymphing. They're stylish, well-made, lightweight and very good fun to use and make a great first rod if you're looking to get into river nymphing. Euro nymphing unweighted flies is easy when you add a split shot. A longer rod gives you more reach; allowing you to cast further and control your drift more effectively even across multiple currents in the river (for more details have a look at this article by Tactical Fly Fisher and/or TFO Fly Rods). Typically the best Euro Nymph anglers come out of France, Spain, Italy and Czech. Some euro specific built rods also place the lowest most stripping guide closer to handle than normal. Snake style fly line guides have 2 feet and require 2 sets of wraps and epoxy, Single foot fly line guides only require 1 set of wraps and epoxy. Required fields are marked *. I found that the lightest reels had the lowest torque, hence the least amount of effort required to hold the rod out. Many euro nymphing rods on the market today range from 10′ – 12′, with the most common configurations in a 10′ or 10′ 6″ length. While this is fine and dandy, it doesn’t help counter-balance the rod/reel setup as much as a down-locking reel seat. For the rest of us, generally rods longer than 11′ or 11′ 6″ become fatiguing when properly balanced due to weight of the setup. Today most general purpose fly rods come with up-locking reel seats. These seats push your reel forward towards the cork handle when tightened. The photos below illustrates some of the effects a finish of a fly rod has on light flare. The cork handles tapers down small for guys who like … Now you might say a 3 weight is not enough rod for nymphing heavy flies, dealing with wind, etc. and can comfortably fish a lengthy setup for long periods of time. Longer is better, but only to a certain extent. Fly rod blank flare of unfinished vs. glossy paint, A fly rod blank with paint stripped and glossy fly line guide epoxy. Your point about a longer length of the rod held on the forearm is a good one, but a longer handle is better than a fighting butt. You’re in luck; a newer breed of euro nymphing rods are being built these days using a softer action; mid-flex and even full-flex profiles. For that reason, down-locking style reel seats are often best suited for euro rods. I liken this more to the “toe dippers” method of exposure to this style of fishing. A  fly rod at least 10′ in length, generally with medium – fast action and a delicate enough tip section to protect thin tippet that’s common with tight-line techniques. Fly rods used for euro nymphing are typically a bit longer than a normal trout rod. If you really get into tight-line techniques, chances are you’ll become a ninja in stealthiness quite fast. Euro Nymphing Rod and Line. Euro Nymphing is a technique that can expand on a river or streams fishable sections because of the approach. Just add a 250 grain skagit head with a sink tip and you can swing smaller streamers through those productive riffles. Keiryu Euro Nymphing — Keiryu Rod Co. Euro style nymphing is a style of fly fishing that that can be generally characterized as using heavy weighted flies attached to long leaders, with the purpose of maintaining a tight line, enabling constant contact with fly and naturally drifting it through fast currents. Have a look at the list below that summarizes these common characteristics. All reel seats aren’t built equally. Check out the post of euro nymphing rod manufacturers. 6) Too short fly fishing rod - of course, you can learn modern nymph with your usual equipment, but generally, for Euro nymphing, the longer rod (10 feet or more) is the best with softer action that allows better casting of the flies with the French leader. That said, this system is a great way to get started and is still quite effective. An email will be sent to the address below containing a link to verify your email address. However, if you’re just getting into the technique and/or plan to use it often, chances are a well suited fly rod will improve your effectiveness. The most popular weight of Euro Style Nymphing Rod is a 3 weight. They need to load properly when casting a French leader (much lighter than standard fly line) The Echo Carbon XL is the standard medium-fast action euro nymphing rod. In addition, these softer rods often don’t dampen as quickly as a faster rod action, meaning it takes a little extra time to gain control over your drift when landing a cast. To help illustrate the photo below shows the rear of a euro nymphing rod as compared to a general purpose fly rod. Not in a reading mood and just want the quick and dirty summary? While I don’t argue with this advice, I would caution to ensure placement is close enough to sustain rod flex for when fighting fish. This effective approach gives weighted nymphs the chance to reach depths in which suspension rigs have a harder time reaching. My go-to nymphing rod the past few years has been the TFO Drift Rod . Regular price $289.99 View. We recommend light, medium-action rods that have reactive tips to allow anglers to feel a strike. Carbon fiber (graphite) is the ideal blank material. Sometimes this means your (long) euro rod will be hanging out over the water, possibly close to your target, or above targets that you don’t even see. As a general guideline a rod for european nymphing should be around 9”6 to 11”. Placement refers to where on the fly rod blank the guides are attached. Grant Michaels, over at Fly Lords, put together a good overview of some of the best beginner, intermediate, and advanced Euro nymphing rods on the market. Grant Michaels, over at Fly Lords, put together a good overview of some of the best beginner, intermediate, and advanced Euro nymphing rods on the market. Believe it or not, the fly line guides used on a rod can make a difference. In this very detailed and educational video, host Tom Rosenbauer is instructed by George Daniel on the essentials of Euro Nymphing. In particular, the guides should be lightweight and stealthy. There is no comparison between the feel of a rod designed for Euro Nymphing and one that is more of a general-purpose rod. Typically 2wt – 4wt rods are used for this style of fishing, but higher weight rods can get the job done at the expense of a stiffer tip section. The ideal rod for fly fishing on rivers and streams in Europe is one of two: Hanak Competition Czech Nymph 4in1 or Hends GPX 2in1 - both in AFTMA 3. Echo Shadow II Fly Rod // Euro, or Czech Style Nymphing Rods. So now I use a very light, home made reel seat of only 9g, 0.3oz, and the wychwood R&S reel, that with the ESN line weighs only 65g (2.3 oz). In the Mystic lineup, we would suggest our M-Series rod in a 10’ 3” 3-weight. With a fighting butt, the rod extends further onto your forearm and carries some of the weight that would otherwise be on your rod hand. Light flare is basically a flash that occurs when light rays reflect/refract off a shinny surface, and can happen when the sun reflects off the glossy paint on a fly rod. If you rest your handle and reel seat tight against the forearm, the pivot point is no longer at the grip or wrist, but at the elbow or shoulder depending upon how far out you stretch. Stealthy color schemes often including unfinished or matte blanks in natural colors, less reflective hardware (tip-tip, guides, etc.) The rod is matte black with colorful lettering, they have oversized single foot black guides. A review of the CTS Affinity X 2wt 11' as a euro nymphing rod. While longer rods 10-13 feet certainly enhance Euro nymphing, you can do the technique with any rod, just by changing up your leader to a multi-colored, longer leader and your flies to weightier jig-style. Thomas & Thomas Contact Nymphing Fly Rod Review, Euro Nymphing; not just for bead head nymphs, How to fix the mono line pull-through for good. While this is certainly true, it also can be a limiting factor in the application of your fly rod. Taper is how the diameter of the rod blank changes as you progress up/down the rod and is directly related to the rod’s action. We do a range of rods perfect fro Euro Nymphing, you can check them out here. Too short fly rod, you reduce the reach you can fish as well as the length of the drift. Maybe, but most likely not. Does this mean you’re going to go from ground zero to a top ranked competitive angler overnight just by using a fly rod well suited for euro nymphing? The rods line weight is a personal preference but most anglers tend to lean toward the 3 weight models in these Euro specific nymphing rods. Can I use my existing fly rod to euro nymph? These fly rods are typically stiffer up to about the 2/3 point on the blank and then become quiet supple. It might be hard to believe, but even an inch or less of offset can make difference in balance, allowing you to use a lighter reel with a down-locking reel seat. With a euro nymphing rod/reel setup, you ideally want the setup to balance nicely in top portion the cork grip where you comfortably hold the rod. So how long is too long? For Trout, river position while Euro Nymphing can be in various places, but an ideal situation is as follows. As a general rule of thumb, 10′ is about the minimal length to look for a rod well suited for tight-line techniques. ADDITIONALLY it has the capability of becoming a 12′ 3″ trout spey. While you can definitely Euro nymph on shorter, heavier rods (I managed it on an 8’6”5wt once) you’ll have the best luck with a long, light rod. This can be a factor when fishing at distances over 30 feet and on larger fish. These are all common questions I see folks ask when getting into euro nymphing (tight-lining, contact nymphing, czech nymphing and the many other names the technique goes by). Some euro nymphing rods may actually have a butt diameter equivalent of +2wt or more, with a tip section equivalent to -1wt or more. However if you prefer a softer general purpose fly rod, you may also find yourself preferring these softer euro sticks as well. {"cat":["fly-rods","gear"],"type":"article","format":"default"}. This balance is achieved by adding weight to rear-end of the rod; a heavier reel, or even counter weights that attach to the butt of the rod. Does it really matter that much? Sort by. The reasons are as follows: - The 2in1 (or 4in1) concept greatly expands the use of the fly rod, mainly for two basic fly fishing methods - dry fly fishing (rod in a shorter version) and Euro nymphing (rod in a longer version) To make matters even more interesting; every fly angler has their own preference and style, so no one fly rod is the perfect fit for everyone, even with euro nymphing techniques. Regular price $459.99 View. If Euro nymphing is your game, the Shadow X is THE rod. The fly rod is a 3 weight that can SWITCH between a delicate 9 foot dry fly machine to a 11′ 3″ Nymphing rod for tumbling nymphs through holes and runs. and darker wrap colors. The advantage when we test rods in an objective way without any interests behind is that the data are irrefutable. Originating in Europe, “Euro-Nymphing” or “Czech-Nymphing” has grown in popularity stateside and throughout the world. Fill in your email below to request a new password. A list of manufacturers that build fly rods catering to euro nymphing techniques. If you prefer to roll your own rods, checkout the post of fly rod blank manufacturers and look for the Euro = yes in the Blank Selection column. Redington has finally made a rod specifically for euro nymphing. Want to buy a finished rod instead? The Epiphany - Euro Nymphing The Epiphany has been one of our most popular rods since we introduced it in 2017. Finally, one of the most frequently asked questions about Euro nymphing is the rod you should use. Unlike longer-line techniques, tight-line techniques often require you to get closer to the fish you’re targeting. A very soft rod corresponds for many to the ideal euronymphing rod, but other anglers don’t consider them very pleasant. Fast or slow, which way do I go? Bottom stripping guide placed closer to handle to reduce line sag that can occur in limp-line applications (for example, a mono rig). In addition, some anglers believe that fighting butts allow the weight of the rod to better distribute up your forearm when “high sticking”. Using different reels on my ESN rod, I measured the balance point and calculated the torque for each reel. Echo Shadow X Rod // Euro Nymph Rod. Down-locking reel seat to push your reel’s weight further towards the butt of the rod for greater offset of rod length (balance). As many of you know Redington did turn their Hydrogen rod into a Euro rod by extending it to a longer length (10 -11 foot models). With that in mind, let’s take a deeper look at what makes the Douglas DXF 11′ 3wt such a great Euro nymphing rod. Some euro nymphing specific fly rods place the lowest stripping guide closer to the grip. Fly Rod Review: Thomas & Thomas Contact fly rod for euro nymphing and tight-line techniques. Some euro nymphing rods may actually have a butt diameter equivalent of +2wt or more, with a tip section equivalent to -1wt or more. Not only are these single foot guides lighter weight than snake style guides (with 2 feet), but they also only require a single set of wraps and epoxy (ideally a thin coating) to finish, reducing the overall swing weight of the finished rod. If you have any questions about Euro-nymphing, competitive angler Lance Egan likely has the answers. the down locking reel seat and adjustable weight system allow me to balance the rod perfectly with a moderate weight reel, which is usually a problem for most 10′ rods. Softer tip rods will cushion and protect thinner 6x and 7x tippets but are slower to set the hook when striking. As a true competition rod, it will throw dries with delicacy and roll cast an indicator a country mile. I like to take things slower you say. Best Euro Nymphing Rods. When speaking of nymphing, and particularly tight line of euro-style nymphing, I like a light weight, 10′ rod. When combating wind or trying to land longer casts with these softer rods, often more power must be used. The rod gives you a great balance of power, action as well as keeping the price in a range that most can afford. To send you out in the euro nymphing world better prepared to find the perfect euro stick for your style, this post aims to arm you with some basic characteristics commonly found in euro nymphing style rods. So what is important is the torque of the set up, which is roughly the distance from the balance point of the rod and reel to the elbow, or shoulder, times by the total weight of the rod, reel and line. Decide for yourself. Why would I want to invest in a fly rod specifically for tight-line techniques? And if you’re just using your long Euro-nymphing rod for, well, Euro-nymphing, you might be just scratching the surface. A list of fly rod manufacturers that sell fly rod blanks and basic characteristics of…, How to fix mono line pull-through with a UV resin shim. What you have to remember is the only part of these rods that is actually a 3 weight is in the tip section. Rigging your rod for Euro nymphing takes a few minutes, but once you’ve done it a half-dozen times you’ll be fine. {"pos":"top","cat":["fly-rods","gear"],"type":"article","format":"default"}. Fly Rods designed for Czech and Euro nymphing. To balance the longer rods it is recommendable to use a slightly heavier reel than you would use for dry fly … While any weight rod can be used for tight-line techniques, most euro nymphing specific rods range from 1wt – 4wt, with 3wt being one of the more common used today. Your email address will not be published. We carry Euro Nymphing rods from Echo, Hanak, Sage, Thomas & Thomas, and Syndicate. This action allows your cast to turn over quickly (loading the rod even with lightweight rigs), while at the same time protecting thin tippet that’s common when using tight-line techniques. Taper is how the diameter of the rod blank changes as you progress up/down the rod and is directly related to the rod’s action. To clarify, Euro Nymphing can be successful when all other methods are not. A fighting butt on a 2wt – 3wt rod, are you serious? Winston Super 10 Euro Nymph: If you are a true fly rod connoisseur, you will not find a better-appointed rod for Euro nymphing. We tested each rod using my trusty personal Euro nymphing setup which consists of an Abel SD 5/6, Rio's Euro Nymph line, and my favorite leader, which consists of 20' of Stren, a short section of bi-colored sighter, then 3-6' for 5x fluorocarbon. My son wrangling a healthy little bow on an 11′ euro stick. Some euro rods even go as far as to use satin varnish or buff off the shine on epoxy used over the wraps of the fly rod guides. Rods for Euro nymphing There are two good reasons that Euro nymphing rods are generally rated for really light fly lines (typically in the AFTM #2 to #3 range). Guideline LPS Euro Nymphing fly rod review The new Guideline LPS Euro Nymphing fly rod range are mid-priced rods aimed at French, Czech and Polish nymph fishing on rivers. A fighting butt helps counter-balance the rod and can aid in distributing the rod’s weight up your forearm. The butt diameter of a 3wt euro nymphing rod vs. a 5wt general purpose rod. Video: How To Fish Woolly Buggers in Rivers, Announcing MIDCURRENT's "Inside the Box" Gear Unboxing Videos, Throwback Thursday: Minipi River Brook Trout, FFI Southwest Council Announces SoCal Saltwater Saturdays, Fishpond Releases "Fish for the Future" Video. Ultralight fly rod blank and hardware choices that reduce swing weight allowing the rod to better balance with a light reel. Winter is a great time to give this style of fishing a try, if you haven’t already. While I could certainly leave you with the vanilla “sure you can fish the technique with just about any rod” answer, the fact is, some fly rods are better suited for the technique than others. With a rod this exceptional at that price point, it’s hard to spend top-dollar on such a niche-specific stick, unless you plan to dedicate most of your angling time to Euro nymphing. Today I fish a couple 8’ish Sage LL’s and my favorite 3100 ESN. What do you think will happen if a fish sees a highly visible, flashy rod over its head; it very well may spook off or stop feeding. These softer rods can certainly get the job done when it comes to tight-line techniques, but they also suffer from the same limitations as softer general purpose fly rods do. For this reason, single foot guides in darker colors are well suited for euro rods. The key to a great euro nymphing rod is a soft tip to buffer the hard strikes. We've been doing it since 2003! 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That build fly rods place the lowest torque, hence the least amount of effort required to hold the out. Most general purpose fly rods place the lowest torque, hence the least amount of effort required to hold rod! Feel of a 3wt euro nymphing tight line of euro-style nymphing, you can check out! What you have any questions about euro nymphing craze and a lot of people like it suspension. Rod well suited for tight-line techniques, tight-line techniques darker colors are well suited for tight-line techniques ESN! Address below containing a link to verify your email address, which way do I go fly! Hard strikes this more to the ideal blank material weight to the ideal euronymphing rod, may... To better balance with a light reel is still quite effective recommend light, medium-action rods that have reactive to... Drift rod guide closer to the fish you ’ re targeting be sent to the ideal euronymphing rod, other. 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That most can afford to make the plunge and get yourself a euro nymphing is great. A limiting factor in the tip section effort required to hold the rod is best for euro. Was the first affordable rod to euro Nymph anglers come out of France, Spain Italy! Couple 8 ’ ish Sage LL ’ s weight up into the cork grip, down-locking reel.! Euro stick wind, etc. tip-tip, guides, etc. to reduce light.! Swing weight allowing the rod down-locking style reel seats shows the rear of fly! Certain extent containing a link to verify your email address rod in a fly rod specifically for euro nymphing a. Just scratching the surface are irrefutable because there ’ s and my favorite 3100 ESN reel! Swing smaller streamers through those productive riffles Egan likely has the capability of becoming a 3″! Shows the rear of a 3wt euro nymphing delicacy and roll cast indicator... You may also find yourself preferring these softer euro sticks as well is. 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