Euro Nymphing Leaders: Euro Leader Design and How to Build Your Own
If there is one critical, defining piece of Euro specific nymphing equipment, it is unequivocally the leader. By definition, Euro nymphing requires the use of flies in which all of the weight is built within. True Euro nymphing disallows the use of split shot or strike indicators of any kind. This is why designing exceptionally heavy flies using tungsten beads and lead underbodies is crucial.
Additionally, Euro nymphing styles, French, Czech and Polish, are the results of regulations set in competitive fly fishing events in which these tackle items are not permitted. Don’t get me wrong, attaching split shot and indicators to a Euro rig is an effective technique in many fishing situations. However, by the strictest, and limiting definition of the term, Euro nymphing requires only flies to be attached to and fished on the leader.
Contact nymphing is closely related to Euro nymphing and has been around, or at least publicized, for far longer. As a matter of fact, fishing legends such as Edward Hewett, George Harvey and Joe Humpheys used these approaches decades ago. Now, don’t too worked up, but your grandfather fishing live bait, red worms and maggots upstream on a tight line dead-drift using conventional spinning gear was essentially contact nymphing, too.
Contact nymphing is simply presenting one or more nymphs up and/or across stream on a tight line. Contact nymphers often cast some fly line, but never rest it on the water, and only inches of the material passes through the tip-top of the fishing rod. The approach is far more forgiving and less restrictive than Euro nymphing as strike indicators and split shot are commonplace.
Semantics and definitions aside, one thing that Euro nymphing and contact nymphing approaches share is that the nymphs are most often presented on a tight line in which the angler is, ideally, in complete contact with the flies.
The other distinction, as far as I am concerned, between Euro nymphing and contact nymphing approaches is the leader. The Euro leader has been designed to provide the angler the ability to present nymphs to trout on a tight line while eliminating friction-inducing drag.
Constructed of monofilament and fluorocarbon line materials, the Euro nymphing leader is long, averaging 20-30 feet. When I first learned this fact, my initial thought became, “How in the heck can I cast and control a 25-foot leader when I can barely manage a 12-foot leader using a conventional fly fishing suspension (indicator) rig?” However, when Euro nymphing, unlike standard fly fishing approaches, the leader in its entirety is not fished. Typically, only a few inches to a few feet of the leader, not counting the sighter and tippet, are beyond the tip-top when fishing. The majority of the mono leader remains on the reel, in the angler’s reel hand and through the rod guides.
A word of caution using exceptionally long Euro nymphing leaders: be sure to check your local fly fishing regulations and ethically choose to remain within these confines. For example, in Pennsylvania, fly fishers were limited to an eighteen foot maximum leader length in stream sections designated catch-and-release fly fishing only. Nonetheless, this regulation was reconsidered and amended to remove the 18-foot leader restriction. Be sure to check other state regulations for waters you plan to Euro nymph.
Euro Leader Design
There are a lot of ways to build a Euro nymphing leader, so many so that it can be overwhelming. To add to the confusion, all of the world class competition and Euro nymphing anglers out there seemingly have their own, proprietary formula with plenty of merit on why their design is superior. Finding the leader that fits your preferences and styles is largely trial and error coupled with experience. Begin by researching several different formulas and the anglers that developed them. Build or purchase several and try them out. Finding the one that best suits you at that time will become clear, but this does not mean that your preferences will not change and you find yourself switching to a new leader formula after a few years of experience.
Leader Construction
For simplicity purposes as well as what I understand, prefer and use, a basic Euro nymphing leader formula is as follows. The Euro nymphing leader begins with a 12- 15-foot butt section built from monofilament that attaches to the fly line. A loop-to-loop or nail knot can be used to create this attachment point. From what I have read and seen, this is far and away the most popular material for building the butt section of a Euro nymphing leader.
Maxima Chameleon is often used for the butt section because it’s a very stiff material that can be cast and turned over not too unlike fly lines. I am not claiming that I can throw a long loop rolling out beautifully overhead using a straight mono system. Maybe there are anglers out there that can. But when using a well-executed tuck cast or sidearm cast or water-load cast, Maxima Chameleon hits the marks accurately. Chameleon is also an extremely strong and durable material even in small diameters. It is also nearly invisible because of the color, hence the name.
The number one reason that Maxima Chameleon is a superior material is because it possesses very low memory. This is such a crucial quality for a Euro nymphing leader because it is easy to straighten and will not sag as much between the guides as more supple materials will. A leader that is looped, curled, and sagging will not permit the angler to achieve contact with the flies, detect takes, or hookset effectively.
The next component of the Euro nymphing leader, attached using a blood knot, is a 3-foot transition material between the ultra-stiff Maxima to the far thinner sighter. This transition is needed to bridge the gap between the dramatically different diameters of the butt section and sighter section. For this, Sunset Amnesia mono in green or red is my preferred choice. Amnesia mono is memory-free, meaning that it will not hold on to kinks, twists, and loops after briefly stretching and straightening the leader before a fishing session.
The other reason that Amnesia is used as the transition material is because the colors green and red are visible and bright. This stuff literally glows! The green is more of a chartreuse or fluorescent yellow and the red appears like neon orange to me. I love the Amnesia transition mono because it acts as a longer, more visible sighter on my leaders.
After the transition component in the leader comes the 18 inches of Cortland Indicator Mono, attached with a blood knot and ending in a 1, 2 or 3 mm tippet ring. This sighter material is available in white, bi-color (yellow/red) and straight yellow. I have only used the bi-color variety but I understand that the white is very effective when fishing clear water over cagey fish. The Cortland sighter material is stiff enough to turn over when casting and plenty visible in nearly all light conditions. It does fade and very occasionally snaps off or tangles, so I carry a spool with me on the water in the event I need a new sighter. Many anglers also clip the tags about 1 inch after tying their sighter material on because it provides a bit more material to watch when detecting subtle takes.
To round out the leader, attach 3-7 feet of tippet material onto the tippet ring in 4X-7X. The diameter and length of the tippet is largely dictated by fishing conditions and water types.
Fluorocarbon is far and away the best tippet material because of its increased tensile strength in tiny diameters and it’s less visible to fish. Tippet diameter in Euro nymphing is critical because less surface area means decreased friction and drag while moving with the current. The coveted drag-free drift is the concept that makes Euro nymphing so effective!
Most fly fishing line companies have their own brand of fluorocarbon tippet material. I prefer the Orvis Mirage tippet the most. Orvis Mirage has always treated me very well. I have fishing partners that prefer Cortland fluorocarbon and their standard fluoro is a great product. Nevertheless, the Ultra-Premium fluoro by Cortland has the greatest tensile strength to diameter rating I have ever seen.
Build Your Own Euro Nymphing Leaders
Standard, Thin, or Micro Leaders for Euro Nymphing
The basic Euro nymphing leader is often constructed in three sizes: standard, thin, and micro. Each has advantages and disadvantages. These, as well as the materials to construct your own, are available on Dark Skies Fly Fishing and Precision Fly and Tackle for purchase. Below is a brief description of each.
Standard
- Butt: 12-15 feet of 20-pound Maxima Chameleon
- Transition: 3 feet of 12-pound Sunset Amnesia
- Sighter: 18 inches of 0.013-inch Cortland Indicator Mono
- 1, 2 or 3 mm tippet ring
The standard Euro nymphing leader is excellent for up and across stream presentations using an overhead tuck cast. It is best suited for very heavy nymphs, tandem rigs, light indicators, small streamers and dry/droppers as it turns over more indicative of fly line. It is also stiffer and thicker to provide more power when casting heavier or wind resistant flies and tackle. This is the best choice for novice Euro nymphers because it is easiest to cast, mend, and control. However, at distance or when using very light nymphs, it will sag more through the guides and out of the tip-top than leaders with less diameter.
Thin
- Butt: 12-15-feet of 10- or 15-pound Maxima Chameleon
- Transition: 3 feet of 10-pound Sunset Amnesia
- Sighter: 18 inches of 0.012-inch Cortland Indicator Mono
- 1, 2 or 3 mm tippet ring
This is the most versatile ESN leader that can be used for up and across stream presentations. It is also a good choice when fishing further across or downstream when crossing multiple current speeds. This leader works well when using a tuck, sidearm or water load cast. Because the side-arm and water load casts are lower to the water surface than the overhead tuck, the thinner leader can help the angler establish contact and control more easily. The thinner leader can handle lighter flies but still have enough power to fish tandem rigs, light yarn indicators and micro-streamers. The disadvantages are that it is a bit harder to cast for those used to fishing with fly line and will sag more than the micro leader.
Micro
- Butt: 12-15-feet of 5- or 6-pound Maxima Chameleon
- Transition: 3 feet of 5-pound Sunset Amnesia
- Sighter: 18 inches of 0.012-inch Cortland Indicator Mono
- 1, 2 or 3 mm tippet ring
The micro leader is best when fishing shallow water with light flies. Because of the light butt section, this leader sags the least between the guides as well as out of the tip-top. This is especially noticeable when fishing across stream and current speeds. Upstream tuck casts, side-arm and water-load casts are all possible. The micro leader is also the best tool for the job when establishing immediate contact and a dead-drift.
However, the micro leader is pretty specialized to Euro nymphing when using only one or two lighter flies in water 10-36 inches deep. This leader is not the best for heavy fly rigs, indicators, dry/dropper or streamer presentations. It is also the most challenging to cast. The micro leader can be overhead tuck cast, but this will take some practice because it does not transfer energy well and will fall more easily without generating proper line speed.
Choosing A Euro Leader
Choosing the proper leader formula, fly weights, and tippet length are among the most challenging concepts to grasp in the Euro nymphing approach. Do not over-complicate these things. There are loads of articles and books to read, podcasts to listen to and YouTube videos to watch that deliver instruction mastering these concepts and skills.
The best way to learn which leader to use, fly weights to fish, and tippet lengths to choose is through trial and error combined with experience on the water. Every session on the water is unique. Trout streams are an ever-changing environment, and fish behaviors are dictated by these constantly changing conditions.
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