Dead Drift Technique

The dead drift method of fly fishing with nymphs is the most
effective method an angler can use. Remember, nymphs are
generally at the mercy of the rivers current, and get carried
wherever the current happens to take them. An angler who can
simulate this “helplessness” of the nymph will be able to
consistently take trout.

There are basically three different ways to accomplish a dead
drift of a nymph. Each of these is covered below.

Dead Drift Method : Quartering for Wade Anglers

This is the easier of the two different dead drift nymph fly
fishing methods for an wade angler to use. Basically, this method
is not much different than dry fly fishing. Simply cast your
nymph across AND upstream. Retrieve any excess line, throwing
upstream mends as needed to allow the nymph to dead drift for as
long as possible (you do not want to “drag” the nymph across the
current). The mends also allow the nymph to sink to the proper
depth as well.

Dead Drift Method : Direct Upstream for Wade Anglers

This is the most effective, and most difficult, of all nymph fly
fishing techniques. It is also similar to dry fly fishing when
you cast your fly directly upstream of where you happen to be.

This method is simply done but very difficult in practice –
beginners can expect to lose many a fish. To do this method,
simply cast your nymph directly upstream (and in the same current
seam, if possible) from where you are standing in the water. As
the nymph makes it’s way back down towards you, retrieve in all
excess fly line – striking the balance between allowing the nymph
to have a perfectly “drag free” float while at the same time not
having to much line out (which will prevent proper hook set).

Strikes on a nymph fished in this manner can occur anytime since
the nymph is floating drag free. Always follow the strike
indicator using this method, setting the hook immediately
whenever you see the strike indicator stop momentarily in the
water or suddenly change direction. With practice, you’ll get a
feel for what differentiates a “rock strike” from a “trout
strike”.

Also, don’t be in to big a hurry to pick up the nymph. You can
let it float right down almost to your feet (within 5-10 feet),
assuming you didn’t make too much of a commotion during your
wading (thus scaring away all the fish near you). Remember, trout
will be facing against the current waiting for their food to
arrive – and you’ll be downstream from them. Thus, they won’t see
you unless you make lots of noise to let them know that you are
there.

The other reason you want the nymph to continue floating towards
you is because you want to nymph to come up from the bottom of
the river a bit – which simulates an emerging insect. As the
nymph gets closer to you, simply raise the rod tip a bit. This
will bring the nymph off the bottom of the river and put it in a
gradual, but still downstream, incline towards the surface.

Once you pick up the fly, you will then want to wade just a bit
to your right or left, then make another cast, allowing the nymph
to dead drift through another spot in the river that is just a
bit away from where your nymph previously floated through. By
doing things this way, you can cover a lot of water in a hurry –
in a very effective manner.