When to Swing vs. Nymph

There is a host of techniques used in fly fishing, two notable methods are the traditional swing and nymph fishing. First off, let me be ...

There is a host of techniques used in fly fishing, two notable methods are the traditional swing and nymph fishing. First off, let me be very clear that this article is not indented to be a debate on which method is better. Some people prefer one over the other and that’s great, to each their own. However, each method has it’s own strengths & weaknesses. If you are an angler who is not concerned with what method is the most traditional, and would simply like to use the most effective method for a given scenario, then please, read on.

To aid in this explanation of when a swung fly will be more effective over nymphing, and visa-versa we’ll need to break down a typical river into sections. For the most part, all rivers and streams can be broken down into 4 distinct categories; Riffle, Run, Pool and Tailout.

The Riffle. Moderate depth (1-3 ft) with flows over larger rock and cobble. This flow over relatively large rock results in the riffle effect on the top of the water. Due to the good oxygen and light penetration that these riffles provide, vegetation grows and in turn phytoplankton, this yields a prime area for fish as their food sources thrive here.

The Run. A run is deeper than the riffle, 3-5 ft, and typically slower flows due to the deeper depth. Runs typically have a less obstructed bottom in contrast to a Riffle and provide great staging area for fish.

The Pool. A pool is the deepest area of the river, 6ft+, and flows here are very slow.  Due to a lack of light penetration, plant life and insect life is less; however large fish typically hold in these pools feeding on baitfish.

The Tailout. The Tailout is where the pool transitions back into a Riffle. The surface is generally flat and smooth and has a slight gradient with a depth of 3 feet or less. These can be prime areas for feeding fish.

The Swing

Fishing a swung fly is extremely effective with waters where fish could be lying anywhere. By that I am referring to water that has a consistent, shallower depth. Referring back to our river categories; in general, the Tailout and Run is where the swing is most effective.

Because a Tailout and Run generally have fairly consistent depth, fishing a swung fly through either of these can prove to be very effective. Swinging a fly covers a lot of water, very efficiently. Fishing a nymph through a tailout can be done, however the amount of time it will take to cover all the water in an entire tailout can be drastically decreased by changing to a swinging technique. 

A very common and effective type of fly used for swinging are Tube Flies. For a video guide on the how & why of swinging tube flies, check out this video: Tube Flies 101.

Nymphing

Nymphing is often best suited for confined areas where you are confident fish lie. That is perhaps one of the most appealing reasons for nymph fishing; you can be very accurate with where you are presenting your fly. Because you are able to target specific areas effectively; fishing Riffles and Pools by nymphing will often be the most productive means.

Through the use of weighted flies or split shots, an angler can very quickly target a specific region within a Riffle or Pool. Fishing seams, or areas where water currents meet, is a favored location for fisherman. This transition area for currents is where fish often feed and is an excellent area to target with a nymph set up. For a quick video on how to rig-up your fly rod for nymph fishing with a Bead, checkout this video: Bead Fishing 101.

In summary, there is a time & place for both of these methods. Oftentimes it is preferred to bring two fly rods on the river; one set up for swinging, the other for nymphing. This allows an angler to be versatile in their tactic selection and saves a lot of time from having to change between set-ups.