dropper fly rig

On my recent trip to Idaho I fished a tiny nymph under a dry, some each day,
as the fish were obviously taking baetis nymphs not the duns or emergers.

Like most of us I've used this technique a lot to good success, but unlike
those of you that actually know what you are doing, I'm not sure how best to
attach the dropper nymph. I've always just used a clinch knot around the
bend of the hook

This trip I had several breaks offs, with small fish at that, where the
break occurred at the cinch knot on the bend. .... ANYway, what do you real
nympher guys use in the way of knots for dropper rigs? In the wind, with
cold fingers, and weak eyesight knots are proving to be a steady source of
frustration for me :-( and I need to improve my knotting skills

"Larry L" wrote:
On my recent trip to Idaho I fished a tiny nymph under a dry, some
each day,
as the fish were obviously taking baetis nymphs not the duns or
emergers.

Like most of us I've used this technique a lot to good success, but
unlike
those of you that actually know what you are doing, I'm not sure how
best to
attach the dropper nymph. I've always just used a clinch knot around
the
bend of the hook

This trip I had several breaks offs, with small fish at that, where
the
break occurred at the cinch knot on the bend. .... ANYway, what do
you real
nympher guys use in the way of knots for dropper rigs? In the wind,
with
cold fingers, and weak eyesight knots are proving to be a steady
source of
frustration for me :-( and I need to improve my knotting skills


I prefer the trilene knot to the clinch knot, it's a bit easier to tie,
and it puts two wraps around the hook so it's less likely to slip.
I've had this breakoff problem mostly when I catch a fish on the upper
fly and don't check the knot at the bend of the hook. The first fish
has been beating up that knot, and the second one takes advantage. For
a while I tied a uni knot above the top fly and thus kept the knot out
of the fish's mouth, but breakoffs often took two flies that way.
Lately I've been back to the trilene knot.

Now that I think about it, I was using 4 or 5 turns in the uni then,
and I've found 6 makes for a stronger knot. Maybe I should try that
again? One advantage of the uni knot is that you can slide it up the
leader and change the upper fly without also retying the lower one.

Chas
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Larry L wrote:
On my recent trip to Idaho I fished a tiny nymph under a dry, some each day,
as the fish were obviously taking baetis nymphs not the duns or emergers.

Like most of us I've used this technique a lot to good success, but unlike
those of you that actually know what you are doing, I'm not sure how best to
attach the dropper nymph. I've always just used a clinch knot around the
bend of the hook

This trip I had several breaks offs, with small fish at that, where the
break occurred at the cinch knot on the bend. .... ANYway, what do you real
nympher guys use in the way of knots for dropper rigs? In the wind, with
cold fingers, and weak eyesight knots are proving to be a steady source of
frustration for me :-( and I need to improve my knotting skills

If you use a clinch knot on the bend of the hook, make sure it's an
improved clinch knot. I believe a regular clinch knot is prone to slip
at that point, compared to one tied to the eye. I'm not sure why. Maybe
it's because the knot tends to slide around on the much more open curvature.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

rw wrote:
Larry L wrote:

On my recent trip to Idaho I fished a tiny nymph under a dry, some
each day, as the fish were obviously taking baetis nymphs not the duns
or emergers.

Like most of us I've used this technique a lot to good success, but
unlike those of you that actually know what you are doing, I'm not
sure how best to attach the dropper nymph. I've always just used a
clinch knot around the bend of the hook

This trip I had several breaks offs, with small fish at that, where
the break occurred at the cinch knot on the bend. .... ANYway, what
do you real nympher guys use in the way of knots for dropper rigs?
In the wind, with cold fingers, and weak eyesight knots are proving to
be a steady source of frustration for me :-( and I need to improve my
knotting skills


If you use a clinch knot on the bend of the hook, make sure it's an
improved clinch knot. I believe a regular clinch knot is prone to slip
at that point, compared to one tied to the eye. I'm not sure why. Maybe
it's because the knot tends to slide around on the much more open
curvature.



I use an improved clinch knot too.

Willi

"Willi & Sue" wrote

I use an improved clinch knot too.


so do i.

yfitons
wayno

wrote...

"Willi & Sue" wrote

I use an improved clinch knot too.


so do i.

What do you improved clinch knots for again? Count them out for the
audience and be sure to call RW with the info again. G
--
Warren
(use troutbum_mt and earth(nospam)link dot net to reply via email)

"Larry L" wrote in message
...
On my recent trip to Idaho I fished a tiny nymph under a dry, some each
day, as the fish were obviously taking baetis nymphs not the duns or
emergers.

Like most of us I've used this technique a lot to good success, but unlike
those of you that actually know what you are doing, I'm not sure how best
to attach the dropper nymph. I've always just used a clinch knot around
the bend of the hook

This trip I had several breaks offs, with small fish at that, where the
break occurred at the cinch knot on the bend. .... ANYway, what do you
real nympher guys use in the way of knots for dropper rigs?

I have never had much luck tying or swinging a dropper off the back of
another fly, fairly common, I just suck at it. When I fish a dropper I leave
a decent tag end off the eye of the top fly and tie the "dropper" off of
that tag end, or I tie in tippet with a blood knot and leave a long tag end
and tie the submerged fly there.

Wayne Knight wrote:

I have never had much luck tying or swinging a dropper off the back of
another fly, fairly common, I just suck at it. When I fish a dropper I leave
a decent tag end off the eye of the top fly and tie the "dropper" off of
that tag end, or I tie in tippet with a blood knot and leave a long tag end
and tie the submerged fly there.


A dropper is great for snagging the fish when you miss the strike on the
dry. :-)

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

On Mon, 4 Oct 2004, rw wrote:

A dropper is great for snagging the fish when you miss the strike on the
dry. :-)

True - but also great when using a dry as an indicator trailing a size 24
thread midge or reed smut stuck in the film.
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ANYway, what do you real nympher guys use in the way of knots for dropper rigs?
In the wind, with cold fingers, and weak eyesight knots are proving to be a steady
source of frustration for me :-( and I need to improve my knotting skills

Well, I'm a klutz, not a "real nympher guy," and I have similar
problems tying that piece of tippet to the hook of the indicator fly,
and then tying a nymph onto the other end; so I figured out a way to
solve the problems you mention.

At home, sitting comfortably in good light, I tie a piece of tippet to
the hook bend of a dry flies, and tie a nymph on the other end. I put
rig that into a small vial, and stick it in my fishing vest.

Then I tie a few more, just like above, but with different flies and
nymphs and tippet lengths. I carry a half dozen or so with me when I
go to the stream. They all fit into one of the vest's smallest
pockets.

On the stream, all I have to do is tie the dry fly onto the end of my
leader, and I'm ready to fish.

vince