Today’s guest is Josh Miller, a Pennsylvania-based guide and coach for Team USA’s Youth Fly Fishing Team. He’s helped shape some of the best young anglers in the world, and in this conversation, he’s sharing his roadmap for preparing for new water, making smarter decisions on the river, and understanding the nuances of fly presentation. Whether you’re prepping for a new fishing destination or just want to up your game, Josh has plenty of insights to share.
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Show Notes with Josh Miller on Euro Nymphing Tips and Tactics
01:40 – Josh is the head coach of the Team USA Youth Fly Fishing Team. They just won the world championship in the Czech Republic.
05:26 – In 2025, the world championship will be held in Eastern Idaho on Henry’s Fork and other famous waters in that region. Check out Yellowstone Teton Territory for more information.
06:50 – Josh’s first world championship as a head coach in Bosnia. His words of advice for his youth team are “The best anglers for me is to make better choices than other ones”
“The best anglers are the anglers who make better choices than other one.” – Josh Miller
09:30 – Josh discussed luck in competitive fly fishing; sometimes you get bad beats, and sometimes you get good beats. He says US angling knowledge transfer really good in helping the youth team.
10:25 – Josh shares how he started with local competitions in Pennsylvania and how the opportunity to join Team USA came from seeing competitions and wanting to learn more. He mentioned how mentorship played a crucial role in his journey.
12:05 – Josh refers to many incredible anglers out there who are not as widely known. He called them “sleepers” these are the people who are exceptionally skilled at fly fishing, but they don’t necessarily put themselves out in the public eye.
13:22 – Josh highlights some of the Top Central PA streams, including Spring Creek, Fishing Creek, Little Juniata River, and Penns Creek. Here’s Josh Fly Fishing for wild brown trout.
16:22 – Josh is attending the Denver fly fishing show and presenting a Euro Nymphing. He highlights the presentation of the Dry Dropper method and how most anglers get this wrong.
“A mentor to me is someone who looks out for me. There’s nothing for them to gain from it. And that’s a lot of people have done that for me, and I’m really lucky.” – Josh Miller
18:53 – Josh shared some advice: “Have a mentor and stick with that one person.”
19:58 – Josh shared his book, Euro Nymphing: Tips, Tactics, and Techniques. To get detailed instructions on casting and presenting your flies for the best drift and sight detection, He shares in this book everything about approach, presentation, and choosing the right flies.
22:01 – He shares an example of how stock fish often stay in certain pools (Like near bridges) and how rain can make rivers look fishable when fish haven’t actually dispersed. For wild fish, he notes they may be more evenly spread out. This helps determine tactics, fly choice, and how much time to spend in a specific area.
Click here, this provides a comprehensive comparison between wild and stocked trout. discussing their anatomical differences and habitat preferences and suggesting tailored fishing approaches for each type.
24:02 – Josh shares how Team USA prepares for competitions like the one on the Henry’s Fork by interviewing local guides and competitive anglers. He emphasizes that their goal isn’t to ask what fly to use but to understand fish behavior, where fish are likely holding, how quickly they reset, whether they feed in deep or shallow water, and how whitefish behave in that system.
How do you approach a new water? This compiles advice from seasoned anglers on strategies for exploring unfamiliar fishing locations.
29:17 – Josh talks about how, as a coach, he doesn’t just want to know that something “worked.” He wants to understand why it worked.
When an angler comes to him and says, “I smoked them,” Josh will challenge them to go deeper, asking for the number of fish, the water type, and specific conditions. Here’s Josh Fly Fishing A New Stream – Euro Nymphing Techniques.
31:14 – Josh shares that the Walt’s Worm, often mistaken as a worm but a simple caddis imitation, is his number one confidence fly. He prefers it not only because it catches fish but also because it’s quick to tie and effective across many waters.
Learn more about fishing and tying the Walt’s Worm in this in-depth information. Click here to read it.
34:22 – Josh introduces the concept of “line of sight,” explaining that rather than always grinding the bottom with a nymph, he prefers to keep the fly suspended higher in the water column when conditions allow. Check it out here to learn more.
35:03 – Josh explains that weather patterns can drastically change fish behavior, especially when a cold front or rainstorm is followed by a windy, high-pressure day. Look at how weather can influence the attitude and altitude of largemouth and smallmouth bass.
38:10 Josh explains that while Euro nymphing leaders are generally similar in concept ( all mono rigs), the weights and setups vary between anglers. He emphasizes learning one full system before mixing styles. Learn more here.
39:02 Josh explains that when fishing in shallow water like ankle to knee deep fast water small differences in fly size, weight, and sink rate can make a huge impact. He refers to this as fishing in a “micro environment” where even a 0.4mm difference in bead size could determine whether your fly drifts for a second or half-second. Check out here to learn more.
41.12 – Josh explains how critical it is to think ahead about the fly’s path and drift before making a cast. He compares it to “tracking,” where you want to anticipate where your fly will go once it hits the water. He emphasizes ensuring your leader lands downstream of the fly’s natural path to avoid spooking the fish.
44:40- Josh talks about how he prefers to use a shorter leader, often around 30 feet, for his Euro Nymphing setus. He also mentions using lighter monofilament and explains how the tapering of the leader plays a significant role in how the fly behaves.
Fishing a Single Fly on a Micro Leader with Josh Miller.
Josh emphasizes the importance of tapering the leader to match the specific water and fishing conditions, allowing for better control over the fly presentation and minimizing the chance of the fish being spooked by the leader.
48:10 – Josh talks about the balance between being patient and responsive when a fish is biting, especially when you’re in a position to spook the fish potentially. He explains that anglers need to respect the fish by avoiding ascessive disturbance in the water.
Being too cautious can sometimes hurt the fishing, while acting too quickly can spook the fish. It’s about striking the right balance and not disrupting the environment too much.
49:47 – Josh talks about his use of larger bead sizes for flies like the 16 Walt’s Worm, which he explains is a great pattern for fishing in various conditions. He describes how sometimes, larger beads are effective, particularly when the fish need a fly that can sink faster.
Getting down to the bottom of the river is critical for success when fishing weighted nymphs. They use a variety of techniques to do this. Check it out here.
52:14 – Josh shares his instructional framework when helping anglers improve their Euro Nymphing technique. He shares the five fundamentals that he focuses on when teaching casting.
53:27 – Josh offers essential tips for new anglers to improve their casting technique, stressing the importance of good body positioning and proper casting mechanics.
57:18 – Josh talks about the typical schedule for the World Youth Fly Fishing Championships, particularly regarding the team’s travel and preparation.
You can find Josh Miller at his website troutyeah.com, and on Instagram @joshPGH
