On May 16th we covered the value of dead drift nymph fishing for the bass that feed in and just below the riffles. Since strike detection is difficult with dead drift nymph fishing here is a method we teach in our smallmouth schools for beginning anglers. I call it “Swing Nymphing”. “Swing Nymphing” has two great advantages: First it enables you to quickly feel the strike of the bass which assures you of a high percentage of hooked fish. Second it helps you fish your nymphs deeper than you can get them with any other method. I use this tactic where the current from the riffle dumps into the deep water in the upper end of the large pool downstream. Water which is from 4 to 8 feet deep can be fished very effective by Swing Nymphing. My favorite flies here are the Mr. Rapidan Brown Soft Hackle 6, Mr. Rapidan Olive Soft Hackle 6 and Olive Marauder 6. To use this method wade into the side of the river right beside the deep water you plan to fish. Your first cast is 20 feet long up and across stream at a 45 degree angle. The fly is allowed to sink on a slack line. Once the fly is close to the stream bottom the fly rod is extended up and out over the river at a 45 degree angle and the slack is removed with your line hand. Now the rod is swung downstream at the same rate the fly is drifting which quickly lets you feel the strike and hook the bass. Successive casts are made two feet longer until you are covering all of the deep water out to 30 feet. Wading downstream to pause every 10 feet to repeat this method until you have covered all of the deep water will help you catch many large bass. We use this with great success in our personal fishing, schools and guide trips.
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