Throwing your weight around

On 2010-03-18 12:55:00 -0400, Larry L said:

My question ... what is the best ( defined as least prone to tangle )
way to rig a couple nymphs and maybe a split shot ... i.e. droppers,
all in a line hook bend to hook .... other? WHERE DO YOU put the
heaviest fly so that tangles are minimized ? ... last one, first
one ...other ?

Larry, when I first learned to ff in the 40s, dries, wets, and
streamers were the only kind of flies my parents and I used. However,
when I came back to ff, nymphs were the hot thing. So, I learned how
to nymph. I still prefer dries (with or without a hatch).

I have tried all the "gimmicks" over the years, including multiple
nymphs, the Czeck method, and other nefarious add-ons. I enjoyed
watching a fellow roffian who shall remain un-named fish with a 3 fly
rig which he untangled after each cast. Rule number 1: Keep your fly
in the water. You can't do that if you are constantly untangling your
rig.

If you must use more than one, stick to two, and tie your rig as follows:

12 - 14 inches of tippet with a split shot at (above) the tippet/leader
knot. At the end of the tippet tie on a nymph you think may do well.
To the bend of that fly, tie another piece of tippet of about 14 - 16
inches. I use a simple clinch knot to do this. On the end of that tie
in your second fly. This method will not tangle if you are careful and
use what I call a circle cast. When your rig gets downstream from you
and you have lowered your rod, swing the rig up-stream in one motion -
no false casts.

There are a couple of dangers using more than one fly. If you hook a
fish on either fly, always remember **there is another fly on there**
and its hook is very shap and will puncture rough old pirate's fingers.
This extra fly or flies can also cause problems with your net,
tangling it it and causing you more work. Rule number 2: Keep you fly
in the water. Ya ain't catchin' much with it snagged in your net.

Another "method" is the keep the tag end of your tippet knot at least
eight inches long, and tie a second fly on the end. This medod works
well, but it too can get tangled during casting or landing a fish.

If I was to teach anyone nymphing, I would use but one fly at the end
of a 14 inch tippet, with a split shot at the tippet knot. The most
important thing you can learn about nymphing is how to achieve a dead
drift. That is where the split shot comes in.

If you notice that your leader/line connection (or strike indicator) is
moving faster or at the same speed as the current, you need more
weight. Add weight until your "indicator", be it the leader/line
connection or a strike indicator, are freely floating *slower than the
surface currect*. This is true if you are high-sticking it or casting
up and across. I have many big fish with the up and across after a 50
foot cast, so do not limit your nymphing to high-sticking the water
right in front of you.

Finally: Mend, mend, mend, mend.

And remember no tangles allows you to keep Rules #1 and 2 sacred.

Went out this morning and caught a few little ones on a size 20 pt soft
hackle. Water is warming up nicely and expect some hatches before too
long.

Dave

On Mar 18, 2:59*pm, David LaCourse wrote:


And remember no tangles allows you to keep Rules #1 and 2 sacred.

Went out this morning and caught a few little ones on a size 20 pt soft
hackle. *Water is warming up nicely and expect some hatches before too
long.

Dave


Thanks, Dave.

I like 'sight nymphing' a lot ... casting to a fish I can see, the
wink under water stuff and all. And I've done well with a single
nymph and indicator rig, when I've actually given it a fair chance.
Lastly, I really enjoy swinging a soft hackle at times, relaxing ya
know, and catches fish to boot.

I don't know why I got the multiple fly thing stuck in my head.
Well, no, I do know. This river ( I've seined it on several
occasions ) doesn't offer any clear choice of what should work.
None, for some reason, inspires faith in me. Confidence is a big
part of fishing, both in success and in enjoyment. I have a hard
time feeling confident blind nymphing ( even when I'm doing
well ! )

Really, that sums up my feeling about fishing the water in
general ... If I can see him, I EXPECT to catch him .... if I can't
see him I always feel as though I lucked into a fish when I do catch
one.( exception: well populated small streams with a fish behind
nearly every rock, and in every seam, where "knowing where he has to
be" inspires faith ) I've had days on this local water where I've
hooked fish on nymphs every few casts, others where I never got a
bump .. same water, same flies .... I enjoy feeling more in control
than that makes me feel.

Think I'll stick to wade fishing and a single fly ... maybe an Egg
Eating San Juan Worm g


Thanks for the suggestions

Pretty much the only double rig I use anymore is: larger fly direct to
main tippet, smaller fly on a piece of smaller tippet tied in onto the
eye of the larger fly. I've tried on the bend, tag end of tippet, et
al., but tying into the eye is for me the easiest and least prone to
tangle, and I think is better for hookups on the big fly.

YMMV.

BTW, the larger fly might not be big, on the San Juan I've used #20
and #22 rigs, and maybe even smaller. You can fit two 6x tippets into
a #20 eye. And catch fish on it.

Jon.

On Mar 18, 4:43*pm, Jonathan Cook wrote:

Pretty much the only double rig I use anymore is: larger fly direct
to
main tippet, smaller fly on a piece of smaller tippet tied in onto the
eye of the larger fly.
Jon.

That is one approach that never even occurred to me

Thanks, I'll try it ( and some of the others suggested, as well )

Here's another 'confidence' weirdness in my head ... the one time I
went to the San Juan I had zero problem 'trusting' tiny nymphs
( single rig ), but for some reason on this local water I don't, even
though a seine suggests using them.

Me B Odd ( even to me )

On Mar 18, 2:59*pm, David LaCourse wrote:


Larry, when I first learned to ff in the 40s, dries, wets, and
streamers were the only kind of flies my parents and I used. *However,


Way back when, when medium sized Sierra freestone streams were what I
fished most, I gradually moved from mostly fishing attractor dries to
mostly fishing a #14 primrose and partridge ( light phase ) soft
hackle on a heavy hook. It, imho, did a good job of suggesting
several clinger and crawler drowned duns as well as small stones
common on these waters. Fish that wouldn't rise would eat it
without hesitation. I fished it upstream, no indicator, sometimes
you could see it, often not.

Many, many times I've set the hook certain a fish would be there but
totally unable to say that I 'saw' anything to make me do so. It was
a magical feeling ... one that makes me think I'd really like
indicator-less nymphing, if I did it enough to develop confidence and
that sixth sense. But, life is short ( ain't it ) and I don't
drive a thousand miles to some great dry fly waters, to practice
nymphing G So I'll probably never really grow to like nymphing,
although I can sense it could have great appeal beyond just
effectiveness.