When nymph fly fishing, the angler is imitating the juvenile stage of aquatic insects. As such, all fly fishing is done underwater, not on top of it. Thus, unlike when dry fly fishing, an angler will not see a rise or the fish itself pop through the surface when gulping in a fly.

Additionally, unlike dry fly fishing, when using nymphs an angler will usually not be able to see the actual fly itself. Not being able to see the fly itself is probably what gives anglers new to fly fishing with nymphs the most problems, as it needless to say makes it more difficult to detect strikes and set the hook.

Yet another challenge of nymph fly fishing is that the nymphs are frequently floated along or just near the river bottom. As such, the nymph will constantly be