Indicator rigging?

[steel_beaver]

How do you duys rig a 2 fly indicator rig? Let's seay you have a heavy fly (ESL with heavy eyes) and an egg pattern. Which one do you use as the tip fly and what is you reasoning? I was taught that the ESL should be the tip fly and then the egg pattern goes about a foot above... but over the years I find myself mostly flipping them so that the light fly is the tip fly and the ESL is 12-18 inches above. My reasoning is that this setup gets both flys don to the roughly same level (kind of like a drift fishing rig.... I know blasphemy).

So which way do you rigg it or do you have a different method (split shot etc....). Which fly catches more fish ?

S_B

[Pelhament]

I do it the same way as you, Heavy Tool fly with an egg dropper. However I was told by a pretty knowledgeable fisherman (PTS) that it makes more sense to do it the other way because it resembles a predator going after the bait. In this case a greedy ESL going after another egg.

My dropper probably catches about 60% of the fish... However, there are some days where the tool fly takes the cake.

[AndyK]

I rig the larger/heavier fly above the small egg imitation. The smaller fly may/may not be weighted; it gets down fine and has a more natural drift without any weight.

I add weight (i.e. split shot) only if I am not getting down deep enough, fast enough for the water. The split shot is above the lead fly.

I have caught most of my steelhead on the bottom, smaller fly.

[nookslayer]

I too prefer to putthe larger fly on top but lately have had success putting a leach or another type of pattern below a weighted lifter pattern. This way I can swing through the ladder section of a run. It's kind of a combo of nymphing and swinging. I also use twisty lead rather than split shot.

[Stonedfish]

I also go with the larger fly on top.

You mention Indicator in your post title. When fish a floating line with an indicator and two flies, I'll use split shot as well. I like to do it a little differently, by placing the shot between the two flies.

Sometimes I'll place it right in the center of my dropper leader, other times more towards the dropper. It really depends of the water conditions and the type of drift I'm trying to achieve. The shot being close to fly doesn't seem to reduce the number of hookup. This is the same as when folks add shot to their leaders while jig fishing.
A guide showed me the shot between the flies trick ago and it has worked well for me since then.

[steel_beaver]

Originally Posted by Stonedfish

I also go with the larger fly on top.

You mention Indicator in your post title. When fish a floating line with an indicator and two flies, I'll use split shot as well. I like to do it a little differently, by placing the shot between the two flies.

Sometimes I'll place it right in the center of my dropper leader, other times more towards the dropper. It really depends of the water conditions and the type of drift I'm trying to achieve. The shot being close to fly doesn't seem to reduce the number of hookup. This is the same as when folks add shot to their leaders while jig fishing.
A guide showed me the shot between the flies trick ago and it has worked well for me since then.

I'm sure that would work but in OR we have an 18" minimum between fly and split shot... which means to be legal, your flys would have to be 3 ft appart

[Pelhament]

18" minimum between top hook and split shot... Shot between flies is illegal regardless of the distance between them...

[steel_beaver]

Originally Posted by Pelhament

18" minimum between top hook and split shot... Shot between flies is illegal regardless of the distance between them...

Good point!

[hooksetter1]

Originally Posted by Pelhament

18" minimum between top hook and split shot... Shot between flies is illegal regardless of the distance between them...

Not so... this is only if the hooks have a gap of 5/8" or bigger. See General Regulations in the synopsis.

[Stonedfish]

Originally Posted by steel_beaver

I'm sure that would work but in OR we have an 18" minimum between fly and split shot... which means to be legal, your flys would have to be 3 ft appart

It works for sure.
It looks there may be some debate on whether in fact it would be legal or not depending on the hook size.
I use this system with smaller flies under an indicator, generally something like a lifter with a glue egg dropper.

[Pelhament]

Originally Posted by hooksetter1

Not so... this is only if the hooks have a gap of 5/8" or bigger. See General Regulations in the synopsis.

I guess I should have first mentioned that the regulation in question is for steelhead/salmon, which I thought was obvious since he mentioned ESL and egg pattern. The weight must be above the top hook. It cannot be between to the two flies, or underneath the fly, as in a drop shot rig.

For trout/bass whatever you can have it anywhere if you follow the hook gape regs.

From the regs...

When angling for salmon or steelhead, (except in the ocean or as listed under Special Regulations for specific bodies of water)
the following regulations apply:
Single-point hooks larger than 1-inch and multiple-point hooks larger than 9/16 inch are prohibited.
All weight, if not part of a conventional lure, must be attached above the hooks. When using single-point hooks larger than
5/8-inch or multiple-point hooks, the attachment of the weight must be 18 inches or more above uppermost hook.

[Stonedfish]

This in good info to know. I haven't fished Oregon in a number of years and appreciate the heads up.

[hooksetter1]

Originally Posted by Pelhament

I guess I should have first mentioned that the regulation in question is for steelhead/salmon, which I thought was obvious since he mentioned ESL and egg pattern. The weight must be above the top hook. It cannot be between to the two flies, or underneath the fly, as in a drop shot rig.

For trout/bass whatever you can have it anywhere if you follow the hook gape regs.

From the regs...

When angling for salmon or steelhead, (except in the ocean or as listed under Special Regulations for specific bodies of water)
the following regulations apply:
Single-point hooks larger than 1-inch and multiple-point hooks larger than 9/16 inch are prohibited.
All weight, if not part of a conventional lure, must be attached above the hooks. When using single-point hooks larger than
5/8-inch or multiple-point hooks, the attachment of the weight must be 18 inches or more above uppermost hook.

Sorry Pel, my bad.

[Newbs]

Cool thread. You guys learned me somethin...

[Pelhament]

Originally Posted by hooksetter1

Sorry Pel, my bad.

Hey man, no need to apologize. Just want everyone to be informed. In fact before I was aware of this regulation I use to place a split shot in between flies in certain situations until I was told by a fellow fisherman on the river.

[Nick6547]

I often rig with the heavy fly on the point, and an egg pattern on a dropper about 2 feet up. The reasoning for this is that it keeps the egg up off the bottom when the tool fly is dragging. It's the most precise way to ensure that the fly is right at the fishes eye level. The rule against a drop shot rig is annoying, because there are lots of places where I would prefer to use a drop shot, rather than a heavy fly.

[Mthydro]

I have had best luck with smaller fly on bottom. It is how I learned and have confidence in it, which matters. When bite is on, the bigger fly seems to outfish smaller fly, agression maybe, not sure. Try beadhead prince on bottom tied on strong hook.