Dropper??

lilnorthfork · 06-26-2003, 02:34 PM

FRG's method works great. Another way is to use a triple surgeon's knot to tie on your dropper. A guy I fished with in Ireland used this method to tie on 2 droppers, fishing 3 flies at once. For me that mostly meant 3 chances of trees, windknots, etc... Though I did have a couple double hook-ups with this method.

[ 06-26-2003, 03:35 PM: Message edited by: lilnorthfork ]

PittsburghD · 06-26-2003, 03:01 PM

I do it the same as FallRiverGuy. Two combos are my favorite: wolly bugger--muddler minnow and tied down caddis---wolly bugger. Troll around a lake and presto.

--D

Fisherfield · 06-26-2003, 11:30 PM

So I keep reading about droppers?? I have only fly fished for 2 years and have never done anything like that....if you have a picture of your rig, that would be awesome. I know it can only help the catch ratio with two hooks in the water...any and all help is appreciated.

Jeff

FallRiverGuy · 06-26-2003, 11:43 PM

There is more than one way to make a dropper, but I have had my best luck this way: after you have tied on your main fly, tie another section of leader to the shank of the first hook at the bend. Then tie your dopper fly to this section of leader coming off of your first fly. You can vary the length of dropper leader as conditions warrant. During a mayfly hatch I like to run a parachute pattern with an emerger as a dropper that rides in the surface film. The parachute then acts as a strike indicator most of the time, except when it is taken.

garyk · 06-27-2003, 09:58 AM

Through summer, try using FallRivers technique with dry stonefly or hopper or attractor, and then a wet ant trailing it; fish this rig right tight to banks and around woody structure where ants will fall in.

The triple surgeons style works best when you want the bottom fly to be the heavier of the two. A standard set-up for nymphing the Deschutes with combos like stonefly nymph + pheasant tail.

Whenever I add tippet, I use the triple surgeons knot and then leave the uppermost tag end very long to serve as the dropper leader. Quick and easy.

Riverkeeper · 06-30-2003, 08:09 AM

Another rigging option for droppers is to tie the larger fly on to the end of your leader, then tie another 1.5-2' of tippet to the eye of that same fly, then attached your dropper fly to that tippet. This works best if the upper fly is a big one like a stone or something on a larger hook with a large eye, unless some of you nuts use 7x or 8x. I have more confidence in the strength of this arrangement if the fish takes the lower fly, and I think if you can get a better presentation with a large dryfly if the dropper is tied to the eye, rather than the shank.

greenbuttskunk · 06-30-2003, 03:09 PM

I fish dropper all the time, whenever possible. Even when the fish seem to be keyed in on emergers or nymphs it's amazig how many times they will crush a surface fly. Can't tell you how many times I have fish take my indicator on the surface. I like a tan elk hair caddis on the surface, with a midge pupa, or small PT under, or a drowned ant sometimes. The caddid is very visible, float high, works as an idicator, or they take it too. If they are aggressively hitting my flo. indicator, I tie on a small orange stimulator or bright hopper. A number of times I've hooked two fish. Droppers can also work well as two flies fished under the surface. I fish the heavier nymph or weighted scud, and a small nymph off that. Not uncommon to hook two fish, as can be the case on the crooked. They don't know which way to go, kinda fun to watch.
have fun out there,
GBS

Bake · 07-01-2003, 05:09 AM

Here's a pic of the method I use most.
Dropper

Fisherfield · 07-01-2003, 12:12 PM

I must say this...THANK YOU! I've never been to any other site...fishing related..and received so much information...just by asking. You guys and gals...are the best...thanks again. I hope to try this method over the weekend at Timothy Lake. Again...THANK YOU!!

Fisherfield · 07-18-2003, 11:08 PM

A little late getting back to this post....I couldn't get a decent cast with the dropper...using too long of a leader to the second fly maybe...dunno....I'm going to try again this weekend at Battle Ground Lake.

steeliedestroyer · 07-21-2003, 05:32 PM

I fish two flies all of the time. I think this drastically increases hook-ups. Most of the time i like to use two nymphs with a heavy nymph infront followed by a smaller more realistic nymph. I usually run my fly about 2'behind my first nymph. Most of the time the fish will take the smaller fly, but sometimes they'll slam that top fly. I also tie my dropper tippet through the eye of the top fly no matter what size it is. This method is especially efective on the metolius.

Good luck,
Steeliedestroyer

[ 07-21-2003, 06:33 PM: Message edited by: steeliedestroyer ]

drbfish · 07-22-2003, 10:24 AM

one thing I would add is your dropper can be another dry! I do this all the time with a size 18 dry. I use the bigger fly as a way to find the little fly during the drift. Otherwise I cant find the fly.

J.Slay · 07-24-2003, 03:20 PM

FRG, drbfish,

When using an emerger as a dropper, how much tippet do you use to drop it off of the first/bigger fly. I often cannot seem to find the right fly to catch rising fish in drifts and feel they are working emergers. Do you have a few solid caddis emergers youlike/recommend?

Thanks, Jim

greenbuttskunk · 07-25-2003, 10:14 AM

j. slay,
for the top fly, you'll need a very boyant floating fly in most case, expecially in fast water. The dropper will pull the surface fly down otherwis. Having said that, the most effe tive and common for me is a tan elk hair caddis. Easy to see, floats well with a dropper, and is a good searching pattern. It is also easy to see if the fish takes the dropper. A small stimulater, hopper, or terrestrial can work well too. Anything with some bulk to float well with a dropper. As for dropper length, depend on the situation, but a general rul of thumb for me is about 12" to 16".
If you struggle casting, go shorter. Another important thing to remember is if you use two subsurface flies, experiment with which heavier weighted fly works the best on the bottom. Just because the dropper is below, it does not mean it's that way under water.
Now go catch some of those fish!
GBS

J.Slay · 07-25-2003, 03:59 PM

GBS - Thanks for the input. I do use the elk hair a lot for my main fly, and a lot of variation with my dropper flies, with some decent success. Just tough to watch big boys jumping and not be able to figure out what they are targeting. Lots to learn!

Am interested in learning a few good caddis emerger names for the old fly box, any ideas?

Thanks, hope to read some good reports Monday from all of you able to make it out this weekend!

steeliedestroyer · 07-27-2003, 09:47 AM

Some caddis emerger and pupae patterns that have produced for me are sparkle pupaes, pulsating caddis and a brassie. I fish these flies a lot as my dropper when fishing to caddis feeding fish. Another good fly to try is a partridge spent caddis, I use this when they get real picky. I fish all of these flies in sizes 18 through 14 or even a 12 depending on the hatch. I have also found that brown and gray colors seem to out fish greens. One more thing about these flies is that they are all very simple ties.

Good luck, I hope this helps

Steeliedestroyer