Dynamic Nymphing: Tactics, Techniques, and Flies from Around the World

Not that this needs another positive review, but I just blasted another nymphing book while recommending this one, so I figured I'd write it up.George is not only a superb angler, he is a superb educator as well. Modern nymphing is not a light topic by any extent of the imagination. There are so many ways to do it and so many fine details to be adjusted that anyone, no matter their angling ability is going to struggle to pass on their understanding. George simply does not seem to struggle with this and wrote what I consider to be the definitive work on the subject.What I don't like about this book is what I came to love about it. At first, it just doesn't make sense. It seems like it's out of order and a lot of the information irrelevant. George does such a good job describing the minutia of the techniques that you get totally lost in it's contents. So you muscle your way through it, because you know full well this guy knows what he's talking about just from the presentation, you tie up a leader, some nymphs and hit the water. You proceed to fail completely miserably for the next few outings till you finally go back and re-read certain sections that just aren't making sense. But now, with the context of trying it, some of the other stuff is starting to make sense. What seemed like minutia before is now a concrete concept in your head, so the even finer details now stand out. From what I can tell, you basically repeat this process till you...I don't know die I guess.Which brings me to why this book is great. One of the things I love about hunting and fishing is all this equipment we buy takes US on adventures rather than it being vice versa. Would we have driven 3 hours to the mountain if the fly rod didn't take us there? Most of us don't need encouragement to go fishing, but this book, if you allow it to be, can be an absolute life experience. Sure you were gonna go throw Royal Wulff's for the six time this month, but instead, you maybe wanna try such and such leader on such and such water. There are so many things to try in this book that just experimenting with the concepts could lead you down a lifetime of experimentation. As soon as you feel confident that you've totally mastered the nymphing game, you'll hit some water and have no idea how to fish it. So back to the book you go...If fly fishing is an art, this book is the ultimate inspiration.You can feel that George wants you to get better. So many angling writers are busy writing silly anecdotes or impressing you with their own angling skill that it can feel overwhelming. The topic of fly fishing can be super intimidating intellectually if you allow it to be and it seems to me that many writers are just trying to bombard you so that you buy more of their books. You just don't get that attitude from George. George isn't some good old boy that screams "BIGGUN!" everytime he hooks a fish. You get the feeling that George really is some kind of an authority on the subject. That he's actually sharing a science with you that he's discovered rather than something he's accomplished with his great talent. His humility on the topic is both forgiving of your own nature to fail on the stream and thus encouraging when you're having a hard day. I think we all know how frustrating a day of fly fishing can be and a writer full of sound and fury rarely talks about how many flies he puts in trees, but George does. He simply makes it okay to fail, because you get the feeling that's how he learned all this. Good old fashion learning the hard way.Where this book really shines is how encompassing it is. It would be very easy for George, like other current experts on the topic, to pick one single method and try to extend the information out enough to fill a book. Instead, this book covers literally every single nymphing method that I know of in existence. It covers the different tight lining methods plus the where and whens of how to use bobbers. Again, this can freak you out at first because it's so much, but the utility of this is the exact reason you must use this book.The reason I think we call this game an art is because you learn the basic techniques and then make it your own. No two guys are going to nymph the exact same way. There's going to be all these little subtle variations between what they are doing. What's awesome about this book is it helps you develop those tastes. For example, I started off with the bobber till I understood surface drag. I didn't feel like dealing with those crazy knotted leaders, so I did the tight line, Joe Humphrey's method written up. But then I noticed the drag of the heavy fly line, so I tried the french method. I didn't like the way it cast so I tried the Czech. By doing this, I found a style that kind of uses bits and pieces from all of these. I customized the game to fit my tastes. But in doing so I gained tons of experience in other methods. So now, when I hit the water, I have my primary method, but if it's not working there's no mystery to what adjustments I'm going to make.My only gripe is that I wished George explained his flies a little more. I think the topic of actual Euronymphs is a topic yet to be fully delved. George spends a chapter explaining the flies a lot, but it will leave you with more questions than you started with. Considering that reading this book is already like taking a sledge hammer to the brain, I think we can overlook this minor detail. It's literally the only thing I don't like.So yes, this is my favorite fly fishing book ever written. It took my game to the next level and I continue to reference this work multiple times a week throughout the year. George is a master of his craft and he somehow actually captured that in the written form. Combine this with the Modern Nymphing DVD that's out there and you're totally in the game. This is a utility that simply can't be skipped.

I just received this book this week and have read a couple of chapters and skimmed thru the rest for now. I can tell this is going to be a go to book to reference over and over. Daniels touches on just about every topic in fly fishing one might think of. He writes in a fashion where you feel like he's in a conversation with you, like a humble guy who knows his stuff (and admits he has more to learn) and wants to share it with you. Granted I've only been fly fishing for 3 years now, but I really can't wait to read it more and apply the ideas in it once things thaw a little here in New England. Thanks George Daniels!Now, as far as the supplier goes, Book Depository, US, I don't know why it took them just under a month to have this arrive to my home. Yes, we are in a pandemic currently, so I will give them some leeway because of that, but even then I think that was a bit too long. Also, as I flip thru the pages there feels like a slight dust or dirt between the pages. Maybe the 'Depository' needs to be cleaned a little more often? I will say it was packaged well for shipping as it hung on my mailbox for an evening with some flurries that night with no damage from that.

A definitive work on "european" style nymph fishing techniques. In contrast to the more familiar and imitative patterns commonly tied and used by most nymph fishermen in the US,the flies are virtually ALL bead heads;often with additional weight. They are designed to plummet to the bottom where they are fished like artificial bait, bumped along the bottom and fished below the rod tip for the most part. Overall the book is narrow in scope but that is by intention and the author does an excellent job advocating and explaining his preferred method. The technique is similar to the "outrigger" high rod technique developed by Chuck Fothergill on the Roaring Fork near Aspen, Colorado. Fothergill used multiple weights (wrap- around lead spaced along the leader)whereas the fly or flies are weighted in the European (Czech,Polish,French,and UK )techniques. Unfortunately,the author fails to even mention Fothergill,s name or to give him any credit for a similar approach, -one as equally innovative in it's day- as the so-called "Czech" technique presently the rage.Charles Brooks also used a similarmethod fishing in heavily weighted stonefly nymphs on the big waters in Montana. Again,no mention or credit to Brooks for his contribution to nymph fishing techniques.I could not find either man's name in the index.There is a lot of reference made to angling competition amongst teams from the US and other countries,a practice with which I have a philosophical problem. I do not think that formal competitions are appropriate in fly fishing nor are they good for the sport but that is just my view. Others may feel differently of course.I found a lot of good and useful information in the book,even though I do not buyinto the whole package advocated by the author. I suggest that readers exercise discretion in selecting tackle and methods to apply to their own nymph fishing. I would give it a B+ rating. It is a good buy for those wanting to learn more and to broaden their knowledge of fly fishing techniques.

Do you want to become a better river fisherman?....are you struggling learning how to fish rivers?...Does it all seems like a dark art that no-one can tell you about ? George Daniel can..if you want to improve your fishing of sub surface nymph patterns for trout or grayling or indeed anything that swims George is the man to show you. This book is COMPREHENSIVE , very well explained by an enormously talented angler who is also blessed with the talents of being a great teacher. He comes from a competitive background but do not let that put you off, also if you are a UK resident do not let the fact that it is from the USA put you off in any way shape or form..EVERYTHING he talks about is applicable to us..from leader construction for any nymphing style..French/Czech..standard indicator fishing etc..how to read water/ flies etc This book I can honestly say has improved my ability to catch fish by a very large margin and is the very best one I have seen or heard about and I cannot find another angling author who comes close to this book. Most are too flowery and want to talk about their past successes as comp anglers..George doesn't..George wants to teach you how. He has also brought a book out on streamer fishing which I've bought but not had time to read and digest yet. This is a book which you will constantly be going back too again and again. It's the nymphing equivalent of Hugh Falkus's Salmon Fishing imho. If George Daniel brought out a book on dry fly techniques I'd buy it straight away. The bottom line is ...if you can read then he can teach you...I just cannot say enough good things about this book and I'm jealous that the USA has such excellent angling authors to explain clearly the modern methods and I wish the UK had the same.Buy it now!

If you want to learn anything about euro nymph fishing then this book pretty much gives you all the information you’re likely to need. An excellent purchase.

There's lots of information, but notice the author does two pages telling us of the advantages of indicator nymphing, over euro, and nothing on why euro could be better than indicator! So left thinking, what's the point then? So its just a fad? If as author says, indicator nymphing is easier, more relaxing, get longer drifts and safer, why try European style??

Very good book, probably the best book written about Euro-nymphing techniques.

Simply written, guides you through the modern ways of fly nymphing. Also includes several fly pattern photos, used all over the world and many photos of how to cast and how to fish different river parts. In all, very saitsfied. Good job George, thank you.