Nymph Under Dry Fly

Bascic techniques that will bring results

Casey Pfeiffer

Nymph under dry or dry-dropper is not only an effective fish-catching technique, but it is also an extremely pleasant way to spend a day fishing. Although it is a relatively simple technique, there are many ways to tweak your nymph under dry fishing to produce the best result. This technique works in any river, on almost any day so it is a must-have in any fly anglers arsenal.

Why a nymph under a dry fly?

While all trout anglers I know would like to see a fish sip their dry off the surface every time, the reality is that trout do a majority of their feeding subsurface, so by fishing a single dry you limit your opportunities. Nymph under dry offers the best of both worlds, allowing you to catch fish on either fly. It also works in water types that often a single dry does not, broadening your range and making more water fishable to you. Most anglers don’t have the luxury of waiting for the perfect conditions for an insect hatch and need to take the opportunity to fish when work a family allow, and this technique gives them a far greater chance at catching a fish when conditions are not ideal.

Rod and reel

Rod choice really comes down to personal preference, but a good all-around option for nymph under dry in Australian and New Zealand rivers is a 9ft 3wt or 4wt with a medium action. This is a great option because it is light enough to cast comfortably all day long but heavy enough to land most fish you will encounter in a lot of waterways. If you are fishing in tight, overgrown creeks regularly you may want to opt for a shorter rod, but a 9ft is still versatile enough to fish even these. Any reel with a smooth drag for fighting fish will do for Nymph under Dry.

Line and leader

A 3wt floating line is ideal for fishing nymph under dry in a lot of circumstances. I like to remove the welded loop and create a much smaller loop by doubling over just the braid core of the line, so a non-stretch braided core line is a must for me. At the end of this, I like to use a 3x 9ft tapered leader, but I remove 30cm from the butt end of the leader. Once tied on with a clinch knot this connection is far slimmer than a loop to loop connection, which makes it easier to land fish should you need to pull the leader into the top guides of the rod. On the end of the tapered leader, I like to use a 2mm micro ring. This saves your leader from becoming shorter each time you need to change your tippet and saves you time and money in the long run. Make sure you buy a quality tippet ring from a reputable brand, as cheaper options tend to have a sharp edge and have the potential to cut your tippet.

Tippet selection

Fluorocarbon Tippet is a great option for nymph under dry, as you want the nymph to sink to depth quickly whilst fishing a relatively light nymph. The size of the tippet will always depend on the average size of the fish in the waterway you are fishing, but I like to have the option of sizes from 0.10mm to 0.20mm on me so that I am prepared for anything. My preference is to fish the lightest tippet possible to get the most natural drifts, while still giving myself a very high chance of landing any fish I hook. Tippet length depends on the depth and speed of the water you are targeting. An average rule of thumb is 1.5 times the depth of the water you are fishing. This can be altered to allow for the speed of the water, particularly in slower waters where the nymph will reach depth quickly and potentially get caught up on the bottom if you don’t shorten the tippet slightly. Trial and error is the fastest way to learn, so don’t be afraid to tie a new tippet section and add or remove some length.

Nymph under dry on a Euro-line and leader

If you already own a euro nymphing set up it is worth trying nymph under dry on your euro rig. Keep the same coloured leader set up and just alter the tippet section to suit the depth of water. This technique (sometimes called duo) is a good option when the wind makes keeping contact with one or two nymphs difficult, in very tight waters where a low water cast is necessary, and even when the fish are finicky and want the most natural drift possible. Because your leader remains completely off the water there is no drag on the dry fly or on the nymph which can often tempt fussy feeders in pressured water.

Where to fish nymph under dry

Although you can fish nymph under dry in most water types, some areas are more suitable than others. In slower moving water like the back half of a run, nymph under dry is always a good option. In this water, I like to choose a smaller dry fly with a good chance of getting eaten, that way you cover both surface and subsurface feeders, effectively doubling your chances of getting an eat. Nymph under dry is also suitable for fishing glides and shallow runs where the water moves a little faster. Here you may want to change to a nymph with a little more weight so that it sinks faster. In this kind of water, I like to pick a dry with better visibility, whether that is from being a slightly larger size, or from having some sort of high vis post. Nymph under dry is also ideal for fishing in complicated water like tight quarters or under/between tree branches. You can make short casts using either a water loaded cast with a rod angle parallel to the water, or a bow and arrow cast. I highly recommend practising these techniques in more open spaces before attempting them in difficult areas to avoid losing too many flies to the trees.

Fly selection

Dry Flies - As an angler with an impaired vision I often need to fish a larger fly, a fly with a high vis post, or at the very least a fly with an upright wing. They also need to float well enough to hold up a weighted nymph. Although you can use patterns like large stimulators and hoppers my preference is to use a dry fly more likely to get eaten. My top three patterns are a size 16 Tabanas with an orange high vis post, a size 14 CDC Sedge and a size 16 CDC Split wing. Once CDC fibres are flooded they sink, so if you intend on fishing CDC a fly kerchief is a must. It’s a little like a chamois cloth and almost instantly brings a fly back to its original condition after being drowned. It not only works on CDC but hackled flies too.

Nymphs - You can use any weighted nymph to fish nymph under dry, however by using a tungsten beaded nymph you know exactly what size/weight you are fishing, which makes it easier to change flies to suit the conditions. Brass beaded nymphs are ok for very shallow water, but tungsten is a far better option. Every angler has confidence flies that they prefer to fish, but my top three are a silver beaded pheasant tail, pink beaded hare and partridge and a copper beaded orange tag. I like to keep these in a range of sizes so I can change the weight as required.

Making the most of all water types

Fly fishing in rivers can require many different techniques to get the most from each section of water. Nymph under dry is the perfect option for getting extra fish into the net where other tactics may struggle. If you haven’t tried nymph under dry yet, I can strongly suggest giving it a go as the results can be pretty amazing in the right water!

Casey Pfeiffer