Nymph Rig Basics

In this post I will discuss the basic fundamentals of a nymph rig for catching trout in not only the Guadalupe, but also any tailwater and freestone river that holds trout.  You can take this rig anywhere, make a few fly adjustments to match the local bugs, and expect to be successful.  This is all due to that a trout’s diet is primarily sub-surface, consuming nymphal forms of mayflies, caddis, midges, and numerous other aquatic insects.  Occasionally the fish will rise to the surface during a hatch or spinner fall, but to continue feeding in between hatches the fish must also take advantage of what is right in front of it.  

Being that this is the Guadalupe, and a tail-water, and coming from a guide standpoint, the nymph fishing will tend to be the most productive.  I can hear the roar of the streamer crowd now, and yes, streamers will work on the Guad. I will discuss streamer fishing for trout in a future post.  Dry flies occasionally work too, in the right conditions.  But again my experience tells me that nymph fishing is the most effective throughout the day.  To cast this nymph rig you do not need a giant heavy rod.  A 4 or 5-weight rod with a matched floating, weight forward or double taper line is all you will need.  I recommend at least 9-10 foot length rods to help with mending line at a distance. 

First thing first, start with a fresh leader.  There are usually some big fish in the river and it would be a shame to lose your fish and all your hard work put into your rig on an old, weak leader.  With the flows possibly being higher this season I will pick a 9’ tapered leader, but choose your length according to the overall depth of the area you will be fishing.   Depending on flow rate and clarity I will choose between a 3x-5x tippet strength.  If the water is higher and a little off color then I can get away with the heavier 3x and when it is low and clear I will use smaller tippets like 5x.  Carry extra tippet material in those same sizes to extend your leader back to length after fly changes or snags.

Weight and depth are the next two important things and having the right amount can be very critical sometimes.  You need just enough weight to get your flies into the strike area quickly, but no too much that you are snagging on the bottom.  This will change with the speed of the current and how quick we need the flies to get down.  In fast water I will use more weight just to get down quickly in the swifter flows, even if the water is shallow.  In slower water use less weight so you’re not dragging an anchor.  Carry an assortment of split shot sizes so you can adjust to different conditions. Depth of the river and the depth of the fish will also play a role in your weight selection, too. If you are using a strike indicator then this is an easy adjustment by sliding your indicator up and down your leader to get the right depth.  Then adjust weights to make sure your flies are near the strike zone, but not snagging on bottom.  If you are not using an indicator then this is done more by feel and experience. With all this being said, depth and weight are two things that I adjust first, and often, before I change fly patterns. On my guide trips I tend to use smaller weights, like size 6 shot, and add and subtract those small amounts to fine tune my speed of getting down.

Fly selection is the next step to rigging, and again, here we are talking about nymph fishing.  Most often on the Guadalupe we use a tandem nymph rig, which involves two flies; an attractor and a natural.   These two, or more, flies are spaced apart about 15-20” apart in a standard nymph rig. The attractor does exactly what the name implies, attracts attention.  I want the fish to definitely see this fly first.  It doesn’t always have to be flashy or brightly colored, just enough to get the fish’s attention.  The fish may not eat this fly, but now that its eye is looking in our fly’s direction, then along comes the natural fly behind.  The natural is the fly we’ve matched to the hatch, or know the fish are eating, and this is also the fly I change most often.  The natural is usually smaller than the attractor, and tends to be more bug-like.  I also catch more of my fish on a well-matched natural.  I could go on and on about exact flies, but that is the challenge of our sport.  Besides, local fly shops, like Action Angler, will have the most up to date flies and current bug activity on the river.  Asking a few questions and buying a few flies at the local fly shop can go a long way to your success!

This has been a basic overview of a nymph rig for the Guadalupe.  There are many other resources out there that dive deeper into the nymph rig with specific knots, indicator preferences, fly selections, and construction, and to become a well-rounded trout angler you should become familiar with all.  Nymph fishing may not be as glamorous as a rising fish to a well-placed dry fly, but it can be effective and have its’ own cult following.  After all you are still attempting to “match the hatch” and what’s available to the fish.

Getting ready for the Guad

As I began writing these articles the upper Colorado/Llano River Basins were devastated with slow, steady rain on already saturated grounds that funneled into the Llano and Colorado Rivers.  Homes, boats, docks, and all manner of property was destroyed.  The river raged through the Highland Lakes chain and into Austin, where water shortages were becoming rampant.  Lake Travis filled to over 150% capacity overnight, beginning at a deficit of 85%.  But such is life in the Texas Hill Country.  As I have said many times before, it is feast or famine with the rain in the Hill Country.  Floods break droughts, and the droughts give the flooding a pause.  The loss of life and property can be unimaginable and heartbreaking.   With the increase of population wanting to live on the waterfront and development too close to the watershed sometimes it can be devastating.  The Highland Lakes dams were built to control the damaging and deadly floods caused by rain events such as these.  The dams got a good workout last month, and so far have seemed to be doing their job well!  It is hard to imagine what would have happened to cities like Austin, Marble Falls, or even Kingsland, had the dams to control the rampant flooding not been there.

So what does the upper Colorado basin flooding have to do with Guadalupe trout season?  Nothing.  However, the same steady rains that flooded the Llano and Highland Lakes also fell in the upper Guadalupe watershed.  Although the rainfall totals were less than they were a few miles north, they were steady and are slowly bringing up the level of Canyon Lake.  The lake was only a couple feet below the 909’msl conservation pool level.  Although not as much rain fell as did on the Llano, the Guad caught enough to bring this level up slow and steady enough to not disturb the thermocline (bottom layer of the lake where our cold water is discharged for the lower river).  It has been several years since we have seen a nice steady flow rate going into our stocking period and “trout season” here on the Guad.  This year is shaping up to be another higher than average flow year, and that in turn means better fishing all the way down to the lower stretches of the stocked zones.  It’s time to dig out the waders, brush off the 5 weight, and get your nymphing game on point.  It’s Trout Time in Texas, y’all!

Before we go any further any further, I would be derelict to not mention anything about safety in the river with these possibly higher flows.  GRTU, our local Trout Unlimited chapter’s website sums it up best so I have attached it here.

Wading Guidelines for the Guadalupe River

Wading in any moving body of water depends on the Experience, Knowledge and Judgment of the individual and the Risk that person is willing to assume.  

Remember to wear and utilize safety gear such as: felt or studded wading boots, wading staff, wading belt drawn tight at the waist for waders, and inflatable pfd’s. 

The general guidelines apply:

• Flows below 100 cubic feet per second (cfs) have slow current and the river is accessible to most anglers.

• Flows below 200 cfs have moderate current. A few areas may create fall down potential.

 • Flows between 200 to 300 cfs can be undertaken by most experienced waders. There are still areas that may be too swift or deep to wade. Inexperienced waders will have to be aware.

• Flows between 300 to 550 cfs should be undertaken by only those who have experience wading swift water conditions. Preferably, you will have knowledge of the river bottom and would have local knowledge of the river previously. Much of the river will still be too swift and too deep to wade safely. The potential for being swept off your feet is high.

 • Flows above 550 cfs are unsafe to wade.

Remember the Guadalupe is a fast flowing river. A fast current can be very deceiving and carry you down river. 

Always be cautious and wise about the river and its hazards. 

Stockings of trout have happened and more will continue in the next few months.  Over the next few weeks I will be putting out more of these blog posts discussing several things you should know about fishing the Guadalupe.  In my next article I will get down to rigging, and will start with basic nymphing. Future articles will be generalized and include topics of other trout catching rigs, fish fighting and handling tactics, river access and etiquette on a crowded river such as the Guad. In the meantime, know the flows, carry a wading staff, be safe and go catch some fish!