I've only recently discovered the joys of dry-dropper rigs, being primarily a nymph angler, and I struggled to get small nymphs on the dropper, which have a tendency to float, to reliably submerge themselves.
Traditional weights, say beads or a wrap of wire or a split shot, are over powered even in their smallest form and would eventually sink the dry fly. The best thing seemed to be a small piece of tungsten sink putty. But the next problem was how to keep the tungsten putty in place. On a leader, I can usually mash it around a tippet knot and it doesn't slip. However, on the dropper tippet, there's no knot.
Thus, Painfully Obvious Tip™ #2:
If you don't have a knot, make a knot.Yes, I see your mind is reeling from the enormity of the task. Let me further elucidate.
Tie the dropper tippet with two pieces of tippet, one twice as long as the other. Use a Double Surgeons Knot to connect the two and tie the fly on the end closer to the knot (i.e. the shorter side). Apply the appropriate amount of sink putty to the Double Surgeons Knot.It's ground breaking thinking such as this that continues to up my game and make you weep with the rage that can only be borne by insane jealousy.
This may work better as a video series. Or DVDs.
I don't know how you fish 2 flies. I have my problems with the one.
ReplyDeleteSink putty is wonderful stuff.
I fish two flies more often than not. Sometimes three flies.
DeleteMakes sense as long as the double surgeon knot holds.
ReplyDeleteMark
All knots hold unless they don't. :) I've rarely had a failure on the double surgeons knot by then I'm fishing this sort of rig on small streams where a giant fish is fourteen inches long.
DeleteI'm not one for technicality (as you know), but if fishing a caddis emerger below a dry fly, wouldn't you want it to be nearer the surface, where it may be, let us say, sipped? Aside from this aside to your aside, I like leader sink putty too.
ReplyDeleteAlternatively, 14 BB shot 12 inches from the flee will get it down to where steelhead aren't biting.
Yeah, unfortunately, the caddis just floated on the surface bobbing gently beside the Stimulator. I would have preferred that it be an inch or two below the surface where the trout were hammering something or other (and it turns out a bright green caddis emerger was close enough to the something or other to be effective).
DeleteYes, fourteen BB shot are always effective at getting to the bottom. November is too far away.
I just learned to tie a knot where you want the putty or shot to be, then add the putty or shot so it doesn't slide down. Good tip because that's frustrating.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is frustrating.
Deletewell, I confess I actually cried a little from repressed rage.
ReplyDeleteyou are the steve jobs of dry dropper rigs. you should patent all that. make it available on itunes and the applestore.
Yes, you ARE correct. I AM the Steve Jobs of Dry-Dropper Rigs. I AM.
DeleteI'm looking forward to the DVDs...I'm more of a visual learner. And I agree, all knots hold unless they don't.
ReplyDelete...the putty is a key, good stuff.
With your knot expertise and familiarity with putty perhaps we should partner on a video.
DeleteHa! Such and obvious way to add a knot that I never would have thought of it myself. Thanks for this tip.
ReplyDeleteYes, this was one of those small, yet totally obvious in hindsight, brilliant moments.
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