Traditional winter nymphing set-ups for running rainbows tend to employ a heavy bomb fly with nymph or globug truck ’n’ trailer style to get down to the fish, in conjunction with a floating line and large yarn indicator. This approach certainly catches fish, but Euro nymphing with smaller flies and split shot opens up new possibilities. Split shot can be changed easily, is cheap to lose if snagged and facilitates the use of small or lightweight flies. Oval shaped split shot tend to ride more smoothly over gravel with less tendency to catch than round shot. The quick removal shot with small wings are more versatile and easy to remove but have greater tendency to catch in the stones during a drift.
Understanding respective weights of beads and shot gives the angler more control. A 4mm tungsten bead and a BB shot weigh about 0.4 to 0.5 grams while a 4.6mm bead and a AAA shot weigh around 0.8 grams. Although I typically use 4mm beads on the point with a 3mm on the dropper, I find that to get the flies down in strong current, replacing the point fly with a AAA size split shot on the point depending on the depth and flow of the river and fishing a single fly on a small dropper about eight inches up gives superior presentation. The shot functions to minimise drag on the leader as well as getting the fly down. For deeper water, an SSG shot (1.6 grams) may be required to get the depth. Although two droppers are tempting, there is a tendency to tangle. My best catches have been when using a single fly for the simple reason I get more casts in that are not possible if faffing around retying tippets.
I find egg flies or globugs fish well on the point with the spilt shot either on a short dropper or just against the dropper knot about six to eight inches above the fly. Sometimes, I find the globug presents better when it is tied with a small 2.5mm tungsten bead to help it stay down near the river bed. In coloured water, 5mm to 6mm egg flies can be hugely productive while in clear water, I have found that high numbers of fish come to a single #14 Pheasant Tail or Caddis nymph with a 3mm bead. Knowing when to switch can be important. If takes are few, change flies and weight to find what triggers most bites.
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