Czech Nymphing: Inside Jiri Klima’s Fly Box PLUS On-stream Videos

What Is Czech Nymphing?

Both Czech and Polish Methods have a strong association with caddis-grub shaped nymph patterns, tied over a lead wire underbody. Today, many anglers also use tungsten bead-head flies.

But it is actually much more diverse than that…

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Jiri developed this style with a relatively short rod (typically around 8ft) and very light fly line (ideally AFTM #2, double taper floating line). I’ll be working from my handwritten masterclass notes to create clear video and written breakdowns of his specific leader construction and applied techniques – so watch out for our various nymphing products and publications in future.

Here he is, captured on Robert Borrenberg’s home video camera in 2007, demonstrating the method:

The reason Jiri likes the fly line/short tippet rig so much is that it is universal – it works on small/shallow/spooky rivers as well as deeper rivers where you can approach the fish closely without spooking them.
This rig can – and is – fished short. However, it is also designed to create separation between the angler and the fish for shallower/spookier river fishing situations. In fact – the exact same challenges that French Nymphing was designed to overcome.

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Jiri’s Long-Line Downstream Nymphing

Although beyond the scope of this article to explore completely, downstream presentations offer a greater efficiency for searching featureless water – as well as more control of the drift in fast water. There is also an advantage in having fish see your fly before any other part of your rig.

Here’s Jiri demonstrating in fast, clear water – resulting in the capture of a little wild trout:

On particular days, the downstream approach is also extremely effective for grayling. Anglers are often amazed that it’s possible to catch grayling from fast water like this. Jiri is equally happy to use this presentation in slower water as well.

Karel Krivanec’s book contains descriptions of Jiri’s style of Czech nymphing – as well as some very interesting descriptions of Milan Janus’ “wetfly” style of nymphing too. It is certainly worth getting hold of a copy if you are able to.

Fly Tying for Czech nymphing

There is a long line of “prototypical” nymphs over the course of Czech nymphing’s development (including some extremely simple dubbed bodies – and not much else). Among some of the more interesting examples are the nymphs with their “shellback” made from soaked onion skin. I remember years ago Howard Croston showing me some beautiful ones he had obtained – I think – from Poland (Howard was demonstrating Czech nymphing at the Chatsworth Angling Fair on the River Derwent in Derbyshire, England).

Other inventive materials for shellbacks include salami skin – so here is a nymph tied simply with hare’s fur (some soft cream fur from the mask for the abdomen and some spiky/dyed olive fur for the thorax), fishing line rib and salami skin shellback:

In this early recipe, you can see the blueprint and the character for the flies that most people now recognise as typical Czech nymph design (see notes on "Bobeš" below). 

Here is a peak into the flybox of Jan Siman to see some examples of the modern nymphs descended from those patterns. There is an extensive selection of flies, materials and hooks on Jan’s site at https://shop.siman.cz

Jiri Klima tying a “Reverse” Czech Nymph

There are many ways you can combine even the few materials that go into a Czech nymph. Two great tricks that I learned from Jiri (and use extensively to this day) are his dubbing technique and the “Reverse” style of tying in a shellback. Watch also (below) how he creates the dubbing “spindle” as he takes the material out of the packet. Notice that he traps the tip of that spindle under a thread wrap to prevent it spinning around the tying silk:

Below is a higher definition photo of a  fly tied in the Bobeš (pronounced bobesh) style that is typical of many Czech nymphs. This pattern happens to have a tinsel under-rib and mono over-rib - although not all Bobeš patterns have that. The fly pictured was a gift from a Czech World Team member's personal collection to Stuart Crofts during the 2000 World Championships held in Czech Republic (now "Czechia").

The barb means that this would not be used in competition - but was from the competitor's personal fishing fly box (possibly to catch fish to eat from time to time).

Klima Products “Micro nymphs”

I should make it clear that we make no financial gains by featuring Jiri’s products or the Czech Nymphing Masterclass. However, it is important to give credit to our source of this information (and the achievements of the Czech Fly Fishing Team under Jiri’s management).

Jiri’s tying style is entirely geared around creating effective fishing tools. He ties quickly and creates impressionistic, “buggy” flies that all have specific functional properties. Whether it is a trigger point hot-spot, where and how the hook is weighted or some other performance factor – the only approval he cares about is from the fish!

Because development never stops, it is really interesting to see other lines of experimentation that he has included in his fishing. One thing that I’m surprised hasn’t had more attention is the micronymph pre-weighted/painted jungle cock thorax design. Here are two simple and effective patterns that Jiri demonstrated during my trip: