Fly Fishing With a World Champion: Howard Croston on River Nymphing

When it comes to nymphing for trout, few people have more experience than Howard Croston. Through his time on the English International Team, he's traveled the world fishing for trout and grayling in rivers. As such, he's refined his tactics, setup, approach and flies to nymphing rivers. In this video, Howard breaks down a run on a river in low water conditions on a hot and sunny summer day. Whether you're a beginner or expert at nymph fishing, Howard has tips and tricks for everyone.

00:00 Introduction
00:32 Approaching the river
01:45 Howard's nymphing rods
03:26 Howard's nymphing leader
04:47 Howard's trout fly patterns
05:40 Starting in the river
08:01 Assessing depth and fly weight
08:27 Find a reason to strike/set
09:23 Changing flies
12:15 Seeing through the water
13:21 Playing a fish
14:54 Dealing with wind
17:23 Don't wade where you haven't cast
19:28 Don't fish too close
21:03 Fishing a single nymph
26:16 A competition trick

Howard Croston is a World Fly Fishing Champion (2019) and member of the English International Fly Fishing team. He’s also the Global Brand and Product Manager at Hardy. As one of our Signature Tiers Howard is constantly innovating new flies, and has many proven trout fly patterns in our collection.

To purchase Howard's patterns, head to our website.

Video by @patricktillard

[billurban]

As always Howard Croston delivers an outstanding video. Not only how to, but his reasoning behind why.

[kennyv.]

As a novice fly angler, I just learned more with one video than almost everything to date that I've watched. So many questions that I had, were answered concisely. Cheers, Mr. Croston

[millso]

Howard has such a great teaching delivery style. Always incredibly informative and one has the sense you are stood with him in the river. Save yourself the cost of a few hours with a guide and watch his videos!

[raulmontanari]

The fact that HC catches few trout (in a relative way) gives to this video an extra-taste of real, concrete, instructive river fishing.

[StanJankowski]

Superb no bragging, just good advice, from a proper sportsman

[colmogaora]

Such good advice and a really clear, simple video - skinny water, upstream breeze, lost nymphs, a tangle, snags and a good few fish - a typical hardworking nymphing session and nice to see everything working so well together - plus Piscari protectors put to good use at the end. Thanks for video!

[wvlongshooter]

I got so excited when I saw I received a Howard Croston video !! Brest content and fishing!! Thanks a bunch, more videos please!!!!

[komando]

Lots of respect for Howard, keep it up brother! Thanks for doing this video.

[nicolasmaier]

So good to see, there are more of our species! Life is much more fun, when its ok to get excited about small fish 😇

[Tjk]

Thanks for sharing your straightforward setups and reasoned explanations from your competition experience ...very helpful for my pleasure fishing on rivers for wild brownies and grayling ...appreciate it

[quantumXkyle]

Awesome video. Really appreciate all the detail and the aerial shots are great

[davidwillacy]

Thanks Howard, that was one hell of an instructive video. It’s really good to see one of the worlds best plying their trade. Keep them coming please!! Cheers

[SHH_Fishing]

Just picked up some of y'all's grizzly buggers today !!! 🔥🔥🔥
Stay Motivated !
Keep It Tight !
Cpl. Hood 🦈🦈🦈

[tonysobina]

Excellant video and Howard has a real talent in communicating to all of us who are trying to learn..
The one tip that I liked in this video is how Mr. Croston would make lots of casts into a defined area, and saying that each drift goes through a bit differently, really covering the water thoroughly! Great advice! Thank You!

[malcolmbrown]

A very well-presented and informative video

[peterwelsh]

Just excellent, good description of tackle and technique.

[Pwrcritter]

Nice, u caught more fish than I did in my last 2.5 day fishing trip.

[neilmason]

Cracking film. Perdigon fly any particular colours I.e for northern rivers Ure, Wear & Tyne

[emilleum]

That video was so incredible and helpful, it is so clear that there is much that I can learn from you. I do have one question, when I first started researching how to fish with a French Leader, the books each have all these leader formulas for constructing your own, but you are using a level leader, my question is whether a commercial French Level is better than one tied from these various formulas? Can you please give me some guidance in this area. What commercial leaders will do the same job or better? I am 30 yrs., USArmy, ret., and combat disabled, so many things that would require a lot of hand dexterity are difficult, as an example, even tying on small flies is a challenge. What are the best level leaders for French Nymphing that you would recommend?,
MSG Leum

[TassieTroutGuy]

Thanks for the very informative video. A couple of questions. 1. Do you use the same rod/reel combo in comps? 2. Do you find the 2nd rod in your waist holder acts like a tangle magnet?