TroutTips
Technique Guide

Indicator Nymphing Fly Pairings

A weighted point fly and dropper suspended below a floating indicator, fished with an upstream cast and dead drift. Already decided on indicator nymphing? Below are all 145 sourced indicator nymphing pairings TroutTips tracks, from every river and season, filterable by river and season. For help choosing a technique in the first place, see Choose Your Technique.

145 sourced pairings

Indicator Nymphing across every river we track

Up to 2 pairings are always free to browse in full. Fly names, leader/tippet spec, and full source are unlocked by .

145 pairings
Early Spring
Pine Squirrel Leech, Pat's Rubber Legs, Scud / small Egg pattern + RS-2, Chocolate Thunder / B's Midge #20–24
MixedIndicator Nymphing
Leader & tippet
  • Indicator nymphing
South Platte (Deckers) · Minturn Anglers, 3/25/26
Early Spring
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Early Spring
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Early Spring
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
Early Spring
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Runoff
Pat's Rubber Legs, black or brown (anchor) + Blowtorch / worm imitation
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Leader & tippet
  • Indicator nymphing (two-fly)
Gunnison (statewide-applicable) · RIGS Fly Shop
Runoff
Rubber-Legs Stonefly + San Juan Worm
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Leader & tippet
  • Indicator nymphing
Statewide-general · Hatch Magazine, 5 best double nymph rigs
Runoff
Big stonefly / Philly Cheese Cranefly larva (anchor) + Caddis pupa / midge
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Caddis
Leader & tippet
  • Indicator nymphing
Upper Colorado · Colorado River Outfitters (guide Brian Hilbert)
Runoff
Worm pattern on point (also caddis larva on point) + RS2 #16–20, Juju Baetis / Radiation Baetis
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive, Caddis
Leader & tippet
  • Indicator nymphing
Eagle River · Rocky Mountain Anglers, 5/14/26
Runoff
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
Runoff
Black Beauty, RS2 / Zebra Midge (larger of the two) + Size 20 tailwater midge trailer
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Leader & tippet
  • Indicator nymphing
Taylor River (C&R) · Dragonfly Anglers
Runoff
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive, Caddis
Summer
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Summer
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Summer
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Pale Morning Dun, Caddis
Summer
Mysis Shrimp + RS2 dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Leader & tippet
  • Indicator nymphing
Fryingpan River · Glenwood Springs Outdoors, July 2026
Summer
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Fall
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Fall
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Fall
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Fall
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Fall
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Caddis
Fall
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Fall
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Caddis
Winter
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Winter
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
Winter
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Winter
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive, Caddis
Winter
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Winter
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Winter
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Winter
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Winter
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Winter
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Statewide
Point fly & dropper
Shallow (<2 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Statewide
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
Statewide
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
Statewide
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Statewide
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Statewide
Point fly & dropper
Shallow (<2 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Inferred · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Inferred · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
Inferred · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Inferred · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
Inferred · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Winter
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Caddis
Winter
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Winter
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
Runoff
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
Summer
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Caddis
Summer
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Caddis
Winter · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Early Spring · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Fall
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Winter · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Early Spring
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Summer
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Early Spring · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Fall · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Winter
Prince Nymph #16 + Black Mercury Black Beauty #18-20
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Leader & tippet
  • "This is a constant rig for me when fishing February through April and getting some of the larger gorilla midges coming off." (rig type and depth inferred)
Animas River · Cut Bank Outfitters - "Fly Fishing The Animas River - Tips and Tricks"
Winter
Olive RS2 #18 + Black Zebra Midge #20
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Leader & tippet
  • "Size 18 Olive RS2 down to a size 20 black Zebra Midge - Awesome rig for February through the end of March." (rig type and depth inferred)
Animas River · Cut Bank Outfitters - "Fly Fishing The Animas River - Tips and Tricks"
Winter · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Early Spring · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Shallow (<2 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Runoff · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Summer · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Fall · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Winter
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Winter
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Early Spring · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Summer · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
Summer · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Caddis
Fall
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Fall · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Winter · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Early Spring · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Early Spring
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Summer · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Fall · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Winter
Egg Pattern (peach/pink) #16-18 or small Flashback Pheasant Tail #18 + Zebra Midge (black/silver) #20-24, Mercury Midge #20-22, or Top Secret Midge #22-24
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Leader & tippet
  • Stated as "Lead Fly (Attractor)" and "Droppers" for January in Vail Village / West Vail; fish concentrated in deep slow pools, soft water, small deep pockets and glassy tailouts under low clear winter flows; nymphing under sensitive indicators. (rig category inferred from "under sensitive indicators"; depth inferred from "deep, slow pools")
Gore Creek · Colorado Angling Company - "Gore Creek Fishing Report: January 2026"
Winter · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Fall · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Winter
Small Zebra Midge #20-24 + Baetis nymph (size not stated)
MixedIndicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Leader & tippet
  • "A small Zebra Midge paired with a Baetis nymph works well, especially in riffles and deeper pools where trout hold and feed in winter conditions." (rig category inferred; source does not assign point vs. dropper position)
Rio Grande River · Rise Beyond Fly Fishing - "Rio Grande River Fly Fishing Report Near Creede Colorado" (November report)
Early Spring
Pat's Rubber Legs (Olive/Brown) #10-14, 20-Incher Stone #12-14, or Egg Pattern #16 + RS2 (Gray/Olive) #18-22, Juju Baetis #20-22, or Manhattan Midge #20
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Leader & tippet
  • "Lead Fly: Pat's Rubber Legs (Olive/Brown) #10-14, 20-Incher Stone #12-14, or an Egg Pattern #16." / "Trailers: RS2 (Gray/Olive) #18-22, Juju Baetis #20-22, or a Manhattan Midge #20."
Roaring Fork River · Colorado Angling Company - "Roaring Fork River Fishing Report: March 2026"
Winter
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Summer · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Pale Morning Dun, Caddis
Winter · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
Winter · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
Runoff · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Summer · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Winter
Lead attractor: #18 pink or red Flashtail San Juan, #16-18 orange or olive Hunchback Scud, or 6mm troutbead (mottled glow roe / mottled snow roe) + Dropper: #22 Jujubee, Top Secret Midge, Disco Midge, purple Juju Baetis, or RS2 (black flashwing RS2 called out)
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Leader & tippet
  • "Typical winter nymphing applies... 7.5in 4x leaders for nymphing, yarn or pinch on strike indicator, #4-#1 split shot, 4x-6x flourocarbon tippet. Lead attractor flies that you will want to have are a #18 pink or Red Flashtail San Juan, #16-18 Orange or Olive Hunchback Scud or 6mm troutbeads... Dropper flies should include midges and small baetis patterns."
Yampa River · Minturn Anglers - "Yampa River Tailwater | Steamboat Winter Fly Fishing"
Winter
JuJu Baetis #18 (lead fly) + Top Secret Midge #22 (dropper)
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Leader & tippet
  • "Pro Rig of the Week: Yampa Steamboat Tailwater Rig - Indicator: Small New Zealand style yarn; Lead Fly: JuJu Baetis 18; Dropper: Top Secret Midge 22; Weight: Micro split shot 10 to 12 inches above lead fly... If fishing downstream freestone, substitute a size 14 stonefly as the lead."
Yampa River · Rise Beyond Fly Fishing - "Yampa River Fly Fishing Report Colorado | Updated March 4, 2026"
Winter · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Winter · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Early Spring · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
Runoff · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
Runoff · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Early Spring · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Shallow (<2 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Fall · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Caddis
Early Spring · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
Runoff · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Shallow (<2 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Fall · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
Fall · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Runoff · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Runoff · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
Runoff · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
Runoff · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Fall · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Early Spring · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Runoff · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Runoff · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Shallow (<2 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Summer
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Caddis
Summer
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Pale Morning Dun
Winter
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
Summer · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Caddis
Early Spring · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Fall · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Early Spring
Stonefly nymphs + Larger mayfly nymphs
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Leader & tippet
  • With stoneflies and some larger mayfly nymphs working the best right now.
Conejos River · Conejos River Anglers, 04/08/2026
Early Spring
Zebra Midges #18-22 + RS2 #18-22 / Pheasant Tail #18-22
Shallow (<2 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Leader & tippet
  • Midges and Blue-Winged Olives are beginning to hatch during warmer midday periods, offering solid opportunities for nymphing.
White River · AvidMax Blog, White River at Meeker, April 2025
Fall
Pheasant Tail #14-18 + Jig Frenchie #14-18 / Perdigon #14-16
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Leader & tippet
  • Nymphing rig with mid-size attractor patterns
Crystal River · Rise Beyond Fly Fishing, Oct 8, 2024
Summer
Prince nymphs #10-14 / Pat's Rubberlegs #4-8 + Pheasant Tails #18-22 / RS-2 #18-20
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Leader & tippet
  • Fishing should be getting good on the upper Juan. Look for hatches of stones and caddis.
San Juan River · Duranglers Crew via coloradofishreports.com, Jun 26, 2023
Fall
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Summer
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Fall
Point fly & dropper
Shallow (<2 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Summer
Point fly & dropper
Shallow (<2 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Runoff
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Winter
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Winter
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Early Spring
Point fly & dropper
MixedIndicator Nymphing
Summer
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Runoff
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Winter
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Winter
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Runoff
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Winter
Point fly & dropper
Shallow (<2 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Summer
Point fly & dropper
Shallow (<2 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Fall
Two-Bit Hooker #16 (baetis nymph) + WD-40 #20 or RS2 #20-22
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Leader & tippet
  • Nymph rig, no indicator role specified
Clear Creek · Rise Beyond Fly Fishing, Clear Creek report 9/23/25
Runoff · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Fall
Micro Egg or Mini Leech + Small baetis or midge emerger
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Leader & tippet
  • Indicator rig
Williams Fork River · Blue Quill Angler, Williams Fork river page
Summer
Wired Stone Fly Brown #14-16 (heavier anchor) + RS2 gray or WD-40 grey #18-24, or a San Juan Worm/small leech
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Leader & tippet
  • Two or three fly nymph rig
Williams Fork River · FishColorado, Williams Fork River report
Statewide · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Medium (2-4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Winter
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Winter
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Early Spring
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Fall · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
Fall · commonly paired
Point fly & dropper
Deep (>4 ft)Indicator Nymphing
🪰 Hatching now: Blue-Winged Olive
Other techniques

Browse a different technique

See all technique guides →

Free Unlimited: Pro

My Favorites

Save rigs, flies, fly shops, rods & rivers as you browse to pin them here for your next trip. Free accounts get 2 favorites of each type. Pro unlocks unlimited, synced everywhere.

Saved rigs
My Flies
My Fly Shops
My Rods
My Rivers
River flow alerts
Pricing

Free to use. Pro to save, sync & unlock everything.

Use every lookup tool for free. Pro adds the complete Fly Pairings database, Rig of the Day for all 28 rivers, unlimited favorites, sync and offline access. Start with an alert-based free trial; the exact billing rule is shown below. Water-temperature warnings and closure notices on the site stay free for everyone.

Free
$0no credit card
  • Rig guide, leader/tippet reference, Fly Finder, depth calculator & printable cheatsheet
  • Live conditions for 28 rivers, with free on-site water-temperature warnings & closure notices
  • 58 of 278 fly pairings: up to 2 per river, plus 2 General/Statewide picks
  • Free account: save up to 2 favorites each of rigs, flies, fly shops, rods & rivers
  • Rig of the Day for 1 favorited river; prime-flow email alerts for up to 2 favorited rivers
Pro Alert-based free trial
$4.99/mo

Everything in Free, plus:

  • Unlock all 278 fly pairings: every fly name, leader/tippet spec & source
  • Rig of the Day: today's live-flow pick, fully sourced, for all 28 tracked rivers
  • Unlimited favorite rigs, flies, fly shops, rods & rivers, synced across every device
  • Emails for prime flow, adverse conditions, temperature warnings, closures & reopenings on rivers you watch
  • Offline access to your favorited rivers' conditions & today's rig pick, even with no signal

When you pay: Your first charge is seven days after we send your first prime-flow email during the trial, or 30 days after your trial starts, whichever comes first. Cancel before that date and you won't be charged.

What counts: Only an email reporting a watched river in its optimal flow range. Prime-flow emails are suppressed during a known closure or temperature warning. Adverse-flow, dry-gauge, temperature, closure and reopening emails, summaries and push notifications do not start the countdown. Trial terms.