Droppers

[sonny]

Yesterday, for the first time ,I used a dropper consisting of RS Midge dropping off of a #16 Flash Pheasant Tail and had success I've never experienced before. The question I have , though, is that all the trout were caught on the midge and nothing on the PT. Is the PT used as an attractor or can I expect takes on that part of the tandem? Also, I've read where a dry can also be used in the tandem. If so, where is the weight placed if at all.

 

[Mike Ridolfino]

I use a dry with a nymph dropper alot on small streams when I can't see any insect activity. Its also useful with a dry and an emerger of the same insect type during a hatch. It works best with an unweighted nymph so as not to drag the dry under. Once I notice the fish keying in on a certain fly I'll usually switch to just a single fly because its easier to cast.

 

[Karel]

I always use a nymph dropper system, typically I use a one to two sizes larger fly to attract (does not mean it has to be an attractor pattern) and a small fly as point fly (I use A LOT a modified RS2 size 20). about 80% of strikes are on the small point fly. I.e. a caddis pupa size 16 with a pt size 18 or a rs2 size 20.

 

[smittin]

I only have 1 bad thing to say about a dropper system and that is when you hook a big one there are now 2 weak points for the fish to break you off. If your after a large fish 1 fly is the way to go. On that note I do mainly fish a dropper system, because of the success it brings and curse the air when a nice fish pulles one of the fly's loose.

 

[Karel]

I agree with the week points in the dropper system, but more important is that you tie your knots properly and inspect your tippets and leaders for wind knots and abrasions. 2 weeks ago I caught a 27", 23" and 21.5" brown on point flies on 5x tippet using only a clinch knot. The 23" brown was the first trout to take me into backing and the knots were holding up just fine.