Blanks for Euro Nymphing

Euro nymphing has established itself over the past twenty years as the most productive technique for catching salmonids in rivers. While the idea is certainly very old, it has seen a spectacular revival driven by top-level competitors. In a great many scenarios, winning comes down to Euro nymphing. This technique first and foremost targets fish that are not feeding on the surface (which is the case the vast majority of the time). It allows for a systematic exploration of current seams, with unmatched control over drift and depth. It’s a technical, subtle way to fish, but extremely productive once mastered.

In this style of fishing, the choice of rod is particularly important. It’s the rod that propels the nymphs—more or less easily and precisely—into the right current seams, and it’s also the rod that supports and guides the line during the drift. Finally—and this is one of Euro nymphing’s specific features—it must transmit the information coming back up the line: bottom contact and takes.

In what follows, we’ll start by reviewing the key elements that should guide your choice of blank. Then it will be time to dream a little in front of the jewels of the Rodbuilders Republic range. The Rodhouse team worked hard to present a very comprehensive series of blanks that, in our view, covers all the needs of European anglers.

Choosing a nymphing rod

Choosing the right blank for nymphing essentially means answering two simple questions.

1/ What length?

Nymphing rods are longer than usual rods. As the expression “Euro nymphing” suggests, you don’t use a fly line in this method, so you only rely on the weight of the nymphs for casting. A longer rod naturally increases casting reach. Even more importantly, a long rod allows better control of the drift at distance. So the search for the right length is a compromise: as long as possible while remaining manageable and effective in the given environment.

2/ What power?

The right blank is the one that lets you cast, efficiently, the nymphs you need for the spots you’re approaching. Sometimes you have to fish very light (a single weighted nymph with a 2.2 mm bead, possibly accompanied by an unweighted Pheasant Tail) on shallow riffles, for example. But when you need to get down into deep holes cut by strong current, you may turn to heavy tandems (a 5 mm bead on the point with a 3.5 mm—or larger—above).

At the crossroads of these two answers lies the right blank—the precision instrument needed for this highly technical fishing.

The Rodbuilders Republic range

All the nymphing blanks in the Rodbuilders Republic range share a common spirit, the same priorities, and they inherit the Rodhouse philosophy: make the highest level of industrial production accessible to as many anglers as possible. The choice of carbons and geometries was guided by this idea: offer blanks that are as light and responsive as possible—rods that feel lively in hand, transmit clearly, and remain pleasant even after long hours of fishing. A top priority in the brief was to respect the tactile nature of this technique. We therefore sought extreme sensitivity: blanks that deliver rich feedback, directly usable to gauge running depth, any dragging, or a take.

Our nymphing blanks are finished in matte carbon with raw tape. We’ve long embraced Gary Loomis’s motto: weight always comes at the expense of performance—and this is even truer for long, fine blanks. It was unthinkable to add a useless coat of paint and dampen the natural action of our carbons. Matte carbon is also discreet, which matters in a technique often fished at short range. Raw tape is the state of the blank as it comes out of the oven, when the cellophane wrap used during the resin’s hot cure is removed. At this stage, the blank’s surface still bears the spiral mark of the wrap: it’s ridged. Keeping this finish reduces line stick to the blank—an important advantage in the rain.

The agile ones: LH 1002 and 1003

A modest river—almost a stream—with abundant riparian cover and overhanging branches: that’s the kind of setting where a 10' is immediately relevant. Long enough to provide good reach, yet short enough to stay agile in tight quarters. A 10' is also an excellent choice when you strongly expect to change strategy and switch to fly line to pick off risers on dries. You can of course cast with longer rods, but 10' is undeniably the most comfortable—and the most effective.

Lighthouse 1002-4

The finesse choice when the river never requires heavy setups and, on the contrary, rewards probing small current seams with very light nymphs. A 2.2 mm bead is probably this blank’s lower limit; at the upper end it will handle beads up to 4 mm. The blank’s lightness and snap allow precise casts and taut, straight-line control.

When you need to switch to dries, a true 3-weight fly line (the Fly Patrol Line ST3 is an excellent example) suits it perfectly, especially between 6 and 12 m. It offers ultra-light casting qualities that will please anglers who can meter their stroke and who appreciate finesse in the fight.

Lighthouse 1003-4

This blank, a clear step up in power from the 1002, is ideal for narrow but faster reaches where 2.8 to 4 mm beads are often the rule. Precise and lively, it’s a true extension of the angler’s arm. A healthy power reserve in the butt allows you to take control in the fight when needed; the rod is very stable under load.

When switching to dries, the 1003 shines with a (true) 4-weight fly line. Strong directionality makes loop control easy, enables excellent mends, and—above all—lets you enjoy anchored casts (rolls, etc.). Being on the river with the 1003 during a hatch is a recipe for a memorable session.

The all-rounder: 1062-4

A reference tool for river nymphing on medium water, the 1062 is the most versatile blank in our range. Extensively tested under competition conditions, the 1062 excels thanks to its blend of smoothness and liveliness in line control. Its core business is 2.8 to 3.5 mm nymphs—the sizes most often used on current seams of average depth and speed. The supple tip propels these relatively light nymphs with ease—and therefore with precision. The 10'6" length combines reach and maneuverability for modest-range casts and/or relatively tight spots.

It’s the ideal compromise between lightness and liveliness on the one hand—which ensures very clear, directly usable feedback—and, on the other hand, a welcome roundness that protects the finest tippets and limits fish coming unbuttoned.

Of course, the 1062 can cast a fly line when conditions call for a switch to dries. In that case, choose a #3 and cast it with a touch of delicacy. The blank’s length and softness show best with a smooth stroke.

Long reach: 1102 and 1104

At 11' you enter the realm of long rods, which dominate contemporary competition. Used correctly—and provided you’re on fairly wide rivers—a long rod often delivers a decisive advantage in effective reach, both for precise nymph placement and—especially—for line control.

But the longer the blanks, the less they tolerate mediocrity. Offering an 11' therefore means meeting a very demanding spec: in-hand balance; enough stiffness for good tip control—but not so much that it prevents casting light nymphs or increases unhooks—while keeping the imperative of low weight in mind… Our 1102 and 1104 are blanks we’re proud of. Tested by competitors and for competition, they give everyone the opportunity to build a very high-level fishing instrument.

Lighthouse 1102-4

THE reference for our competition team. Strikingly light and reactive in hand, it immediately wins you over with a mix of control and rich perception during the drift. Perfectly at ease in the crucial 2 to 3.5 mm bead range, it meticulously combs the most productive current seams typical of Euro nymphing. Yet it doesn’t fear stepping up in weight and will readily run a 3.5 + 2.8 mm tandem to work a promising slot.

The transition between tip flex and the butt’s power reserve is high enough to maintain authority on a good fish, yet progressive enough to minimize unhooks. And its lightness preserves the angler’s arm during long sessions spent combing shallow riffles with the rod held high.

Lighthouse 1104-4

The natural complement to the 1102, the 1104 is the blank for all fishing scenarios that demand heavy setups: strong early-season flows, deep holes, sharply defined breaks. But make no mistake—it’s still a Lighthouse. The lightness and reactivity are immediately apparent, and the butt’s generous power wasn’t achieved at the expense of feel or fighting smoothness. With a big jig nymph on point, it also enables a slow, bottom-scratching style that can be deadly on fish holding deep. While its sweet spot is in the 3.5 to 5.5 mm range, it has the roundness and snap to handle, with aplomb, an extreme 6.4 + 4 mm combo to explore the pit below a pronounced drop. There’s no shortage of power in the butt either when it’s time to subdue a strong opponent in current. The fine stability of the blank’s lower half helps you keep the upper hand in intense fights.

One last aside: the 1104 is also a fabulous blank for wet-fly fishing. Fitted with a suitable line profile with a head of around ten grams (160 grains), it delivers remarkable anchored casts, and its length is ideal for the mends and subtle animations this technique requires to cover water efficiently on the broad riffles of rivers like the Dordogne. If you’re traveling, even if your 1104 is built specifically for nymphing, it’s always a good idea to take a reel spooled with a slow intermediate DT4 fly line and a box of soft hackles and other wet-fly classics. Those who’ve tried it know just how effective the method is—and how addictive that brutal pull at the end of the swing can be. The tug is the drug.