Winter Fishing with Euro Nymphs

I finally had the opportunity to get to the river and see if I could remember how to fish. It’s been a while. I blame it on all the snow we had and a couple of “bugs” I came down with. We stopped at the river on the way home from the 2019 NW Fly Tying & Fly Fishing Expo and low and behold, saw a few fish rising. I’ve been looking forward to winter fishing with Euro nymphs. We didn’t have our rods, but we vowed to return very soon.

Metolius in March 2019 | www.johnkreft.com

Yes, I fish with dry flies a lot. But I fish with nymphs periodically in the winter when hatches are known to be short in duration.

I was anxious to try a few Euro nymphs my friend Jeff Perin taught at a recent Central Oregon Flyfisher’s Winter Fly Tying class. He taught three of his favorite Euro nymphs – a Pheasant Tail Perdigon, Olive Perdigon, and Rainbow Warrior Perdigon.

Pheasant Tail Perdigon Nymphs | www.johnkreft.com
Pheasant Tail Perdigon Nymphs
Rainbow Warrior Perdigon Nymphs | www.johnkreft.com
Rainbow Warrior Perdigon Nymphs

I rigged up with my variant of the Pheasant Tail Perdigon (body of Veevus Body Quill) on the bottom, or point, and a Rainbow Warrior Perdigon about 15 inches above it.

All I can say is…they work!

Metolius River Rainbow | www.johnkreft.com

I hope to find myself on the banks of the river again in the not to distant future.

If you’d like more information about Euro nymphs, be sure to read my previous posts – More Euro Nymphs.

Enjoy…go fish!

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4 Comments

    1. #14 – 16 Pheasant Tail Perdigon depending on the depth and water speed as well as I use heavier bead for the #14. #16 for the others. Sizes are listed in the fly pattern sheets.

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