Wet dropper rigs

[Eagle Claw]

I have decided to get into wet flies this season but have a question for you wet fly guys. I viewed the Davy Wotton DVD on fishing wets. He mentioned using
6 lb. throughout his leader rig. That does not seem right to me, first by 6 lb I assume he means 4 or 5x tippet material depending on the brand you are using. However, everyone I have spoken to says you use two different diameters, one for the body of the leader and a heavier one for the droppers. What is the deal with this ? He does suggest using a surgeons loop rather than blood knots for the droppers. So what is it, same diameter or different for the droppers.

 

[Pete]

I just measured some line diameters with a micrometer.
Unless you're using something special....
6 lb test is closer to 2X, than 4X or 5X

YMMV depending on brand and quality

 

[Eagle Claw]

So I guess just any 6 lb mono would do the trick for a wet fly rig. Anyone got some thoughts on it ? Its my understanding you dont use a tapered leader.

 

[coolkyle]

Why don't you use a tapered leader? Same reason as with Euro-nymphing?

 

[Eagle Claw]

According to the DVD, he says its not necessary since its mostly short line work and the action is better if you use the same diameter from bottom fly to the fly line.

 

[ajfromnj]

His butt section consists of one or two pieces of green Amnesia of Golden Stren.

The first section in a two piece butt section is 3 feet of 20 pound knotted to 2 feet of 15 pound.

After the butt section comes straight tippet just like an EU nymphing set up. If you need your flies to achieve depth of are fishing to spooky fish go longer to your first dropper. Sometimes he will use 6 feet to the first fly. Start off at three feet to the first fly and roughly 30 inches between the next two flies. Be sure to make the distances between the flies the same or it will be rough to cast.

I know that he like to use that P Line flourocarbon in 4 pound test. I have also seen him use RIO Flouroflex Plus in 4 and 5X.

I hope this helps you out.

 

[Eagle Claw]

AJ
That does help a lot, only question is, are the droppers the same diameter as the rest of the tippet ?

 

[ajfromnj]

MY apologies for leaving that bit out, yes the entire leader after the butt section is level. All of the droppers are tied on a surgeons knot. Make sure to use the tag that points away from the rod. This will allow the flies to hang better and will eliminate some of the tangling of the droppers around the main line. I say some, because there will always some wrapping around the main line with the droppers.

 

[redietz]

Personally, I like to use tippet from the top dropper to the point (we're only allow two flies in Maryland) that's one X smaller than the tippet to the top dropper. That way, if I hang the point on a snag, I only lose one fly.

 

[wetfly guy]

I use a 7 1/2 ' tapered leader - 16 " 5x at the tippet
In this leader I put two loops , bottom loop is 20" from the tippet knot.
The top loop is 20" up from the bottom loop.
My droppers are tied with 3x material and no longer than 5"
Works out well , the heavy droppers don't tangle if you keep them short.

wet