Using Titanium wire for Czech Nymphing

by Mike Wong
(mwong00@gmail.com)

Chris, I really like your idea of using a Titanium line and a short tippet for Czech Nymphing. Like you mentioned, the Titanium line sinks faster, therefore you won't need a heavily weighted fly, making it more pleasurable to cast.

But I see 2 other advantages :
1. Since the line is not drooping or coiled, any subtle strike will be more quickly transmitted to your hand.
2. Since the wire is so thin, there is less drag. I use a Western fly rod using 36" Jan Siman bicolored indicator and short fly line for fishing local tail waters. I have noticed the currents underwater twirls the Jan Siman line around. Clearly, I did not always have a tight line underwater, even if I had a tight line above water. The titanium line is stiffer, and will not twirl around as much. I do not mind the 30" of tippet twirling around, as this is natural movement anyway.

Now, I have not gotten very good at Czech nymphing yet because I tend to hang up on the bottom more often than I care to admit. But I believe that trout will hit at flies CLOSE to the bottom. If I can estimate how deep a pool is, I can keep my flies close to the bottom without hanging up as often. So.... if I have depth indicators at the 2', 3' and 4' marks, that should handle most situations. The indicators can be the 2 small lillian of orange and chartreuse for the markers, cut into 2" pieces placed right next to each other. To make things even easier, I plan on going with orange/chartreuse. Then chartreuse/orange. Then back to orange/chartreuse. After I feel the original bump from the bottom, I will have a reasonably good idea of how deep the pool is, and adjust accordingly.

I don't know how this will work on water. But since I am getting cabin fever with this cold spell, I am just getting stoked about trying out these ideas when the weather gets warmer.

“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten” - Benjamin Franklin

"Be sure in casting, that your fly fall first into the water, for if the line fall first, it scares or frightens the fish..." -
Col. Robert Venables 1662

As age slows my pace, I will become more like the heron.