Product Description

No other form of fly fishing has broader application on so many types of water for both active and inactive trout. So argues Osthoff, who challenges the long-held notion that nymphing involves little more than dead drifting with the current. Osthoff advocates an active strategy of moving the nymph, applying effective casting and creative presentation techniques that will attract the most elusive trout. With comprehensive advice on rigging and prospecting, practice tips for a wide variety of casts, and strategies for precise control to bring your nymph to life, this is your guide to becoming a truly versatile angler.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #145673 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 178 pages

About the Author
Rich Osthoff ties his fly designs commercially and guides trout anglers near his home in western Wisconsin. He has also written Fly-Fishing the Rocky Mountain Backcountry (0-8117-2766-1) and No Hatch to Match (0-8117-3152-9).

Customer Reviews

Best and most complete book on nymphing
Rich Osthoff grew up fishing the driftless area of southwest Wisconsin. He spent many years backbacking the alpine lakes and streams of the Rocky Mountain backcountry. He is as consumate a fly fisherman as there is writing today. In this book Osthoff gives the most relavant and complete account of nymphing as a true sport that I've read. He relates how to rig a fly line for the various strategies an angler can employ. He advises on how much weight to use in a given situation,how to apply weight,how to position weight,remove weight, which leaders,tippet, indicators,line tapers,rods and reels to use. All this in the first chapter. In subsequent chapters Rich edifies on casting,moving the nymph,downstream strategies,upstream strategies and other practical applications. Osthoff also argues the long standing confict over whether nymphing should be considered true fly fishing. I regard "Active Nymphing" as the best and most complete book on nymphing to date.

Innovative nymphing explained
I enjoyed Osthoffs comprehensive treatment of agressive nymphing in this book. Osthoff deals with every aspect of his technique from tying to rigging to casting and presentation to fighting and landing fish. The overall organization of the book was fine, but at times it progressed counterintuitively. In any case I got really excited about trying out some the techniques. I think the most valuable idea here is the concept of prospecting - strategizing and moving (yourself as well as the nymph) to maximize opportunities to trigger aggression in fish. Osthoff does an excellent job in explaining his ideas and the illustrations are very effective. If you are like me and spend most of your time dead drifting nymphs and want to expand your repertoire into active nymphing this is a great book at a great price.

Active Nymphing
Outstanding book for those interested in advanced nymphing techniques; for the kind of fisherman who mostly nymphs and is interested in all phases of emergence and freshwater environments.