Tight Line Nymphing for Steelhead with Jeff Parks - Calmwaters Fly Fishing, The New Fly Fisher

#714 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/714

Presented By:  TroutRoutes, Grand Teton Fly Fishing, Four Wheel Campers

Jeff Parks, Ontario fly guide and New Fly Fisher host, will break down tight line nymphing for steelhead. We'll discuss his setup and how he guides the fly to fish. Plus, he'll share his four most important tips for tight line nymphing for steelhead. 

You'll learn how to find fish in holding water and his views on fishing pressure. He actually likes pressure and will explain why his techniques work better with more people. Let's get into it with Jeff Parks from Calmwaters Fly Fishing. 

Show Notes with Jeff Parks on Tight Line Nymphing for Steelhead.  

When Jeff was 18, he found an old fly rod at his family’s cottage on Puslinch Lake. He had no clue how it worked, but he tossed it off the dock anyway, and a big largemouth bass crushed his fly. And just like that, he was hooked. From there, he taught himself through books and trial and error.

Years later, after a frustrating trip with a Colorado guide who wouldn’t stop talking about himself, Jeff realized he could do a better job. That experience pushed him to start his own guiding business. 

Jeff focused his business on the corporate world, pitching fly fishing as a unique alternative to golf outings. Companies loved it because their clients learned something new instead of just another "forgettable" round of golf.  

https://www.youtube.com/live/vbBUAL4f15Y?si=W0pytH8YKt3msoaR

The New Fly Fisher

Jeff’s journey with The New Fly Fisher started about five years ago. Mark Melynk contacted him about doing a show on Calmwaters Fly Fishing. He teamed up with Bill Spicer to film an episode on Small River Euro Nymphing. 

After the show, Jeff connected with Colin and did some technical work with the team. He remembers Colin fondly as an amazing person. Check out our episode with Colin.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ttqo0zniczo

Tight Line Nymphing  

Jeff uses a setup tailored for steelhead and fast-moving rivers for tight line nymphing. Here's the breakdown of the gear he uses:

Rod - Jeff prefers using a 9-foot, 7-weight rod for tight line nymphing, like the TFO Axiom II-X. While many people go for longer rods, Jeff finds that a shorter rod helps bring fish in faster, especially in faster rivers. 

With steelhead and big fish, you need some serious pulling power, and the extra muscle in the butt section of his rod makes a big difference. Jeff says it’s similar to fishing for smallmouth bass. Sometimes, even an 8-foot rod is easier to work with.

Fly Line - The fly line is buried, and Jeff uses 12-pound Maxima Chameleon for about 30 to 34 feet, helping to get the fly line out of the way.

Cider Tippet - Jeff uses 4 to 5 feet of cider tippet, with a 0X size, typically in 10-pound test.

Tippet - Jeff finishes with about 2.5 feet of tippet, which he uses in 3X, 4X, or even 6-pound tests, depending on the situation.

Split Shot - While some Euro nymphers avoid split shots, Jeff uses it to get the fly down quickly to steelhead. He says steelheads are focused on moving upstream and often aren’t looking for bugs. Jeff uses a split shot to force-feed the fish to get the fly in their zone.

How Do You Catch Steelhead in Fast Water?

Jeff enjoys fishing in fast, shallow water, especially after other anglers have disturbed the fish. He explains that when steelheads get spooked out of a pool, they often head upriver into faster water. 

He teaches his customers to analyze the water and look for places where fish might stop, like a pocket or a small channel. Most of the time, the depth is around 3 feet. Jeff advises staying in one spot for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Top Flies for Tight Line Nymphing

Jeff shares his go-to nymph flies for steelhead tight-line nymphing. He likes using a few different colors and styles. Here’s what works for him:

A purple thread-wrapped size 14 caddis curved hook with a purple bead head and maybe a pink collar.

A green caddis nymph.

Larvae patterns with a purple head.

Sometimes, he’ll go for a gunmetal head to avoid any shine that could spook the fish.

How to Fish Shallow Water Runs 

Jeff gets pretty close to the fish when fishing in shallow water, like a three-foot run. He’ll stand about 5 to 6 feet from a boulder and start working the water above it. 

Jeff’s main tip is to keep your line straight up and down because if the line isn’t straight, your fly won’t get to the bottom. He tells his students to think of the line like a hot wire cutting through butter. He also leads with the rod tip, pulling the fly slightly faster to keep it in the right spot.

Tight Line Nymphing Steelhead vs. Trout Fishing

Tight line nymphing for steelhead is a bit different from trout fishing. Jeff uses larger gear and often adds split shots to get the fly down deeper in the water. With brown trout, the water's usually smaller, and they tend to look up for bugs, so you don’t need as much weight. 

The key to success is reading the water and finding boulders, as they are perfect spots for fish to hide. Jeff also recommends not slowing the fly down too much. Instead, use a downward mend to make the fly rip through the current, which can trigger even a lazy steelhead to bite.

Tips for Tight Line Nymphing for Steelhead

Read the water

Get eight to nine out of 10 perfect drifts

Set the hook on everything

Add more split shots if you’re not hitting the bottom   Show Notes:  https://wetflyswing.com/714