Hey everyone, Lately I've been using a dry fly with a dropper rig since the flows were so low, but since the flows are up a bit, do you think I should go back to an indicator? I'll be there tomorrow, and hopefully they don't bring the flows back down to 46.
The flows are back in the 50's, Wich pisses me off, I was looking forward to a little bit more flow this weekend. Well not sure I should be givin ya advice eric since you out fished me last weekend at the north stan . Anyways, I really like the dry dropper rig, It's great in flat slower water, But it gets to hard to see if your fishing a riffle. You should carry a small pair of scissors and trim your indicators way down. For me it depends on the spot, Some spots the dry dropper will work well and sometimes I just can't see the dry fly. Thats when I'd switch to an indicator. Or just try going without an indicator, I can feel alot of the hits i get, Of course I'm sure i miss some when i dont use any kind of indicator. So basically in my opinion the spot you are fishing will dictate wether you use a dry fly as an indicator or a regular indicator.
It's a conspiracy against us ! I figure ya gotta learn to fish in all types of conditions. The low flows are only gonna make you a better fisherman, Just gotta deal with it.
One thing that I've found about using 2 flies, whether 2 nymphs or a dry and a nymph, is that you are much more prone to 2 problems:
1. On a hookup with a big fish that 2nd fly hangs ominously as you play the fish. I've lost at least 2 big fish this year (and many in the past) where the fish goes under a submerged branch or log and the second fly engages tree! Goodnight and good luck! With 1 fly it is often feasible to put the rod tip way down in the water and simply pull the beast out from under the log. Ditto with big boulders.
2. If you attach the line for the 2nd fly to the bend of the hook of the 1st fly, that 1st fly is less effective at hooking fish. I know this is an area of debate, but my anecdotal experience is definite. I don't want a tenous hookup as that is 1 less fish to catch. As purely a stealth indicator, however, IMO an elk hair caddis is fantastic if you don't mind losing an occasional big fish to a log.
I like using 2 flies if I am searching for fish and there is no obvious hatch. This time of year I personally go to 1 fly with an indicator if I am nymphing and a single dry/emerger if the fish are on top. With the low flows the fish are concentrated into defined areas and if you can figure out what they are eating, a single fly will clobber them IMO.
I'm interested in hearing other viewpoints on this.
I almost always use two flies. I know some people who prefer to use three. I like being able to imitate more than one possible food source. When fishing a particular run, there could be mayflies and caddis hatching at the same time. Some fish may be keyed in on the mayflies but others on the caddis. With a two fly rig you have a better chance at catching both. I almost always tie the dropper to the bend of the first fly. I haven't had many problems with hooking fish on the lead fly. In fact, most of the fish I caught the other day came on the lead fly, a #16 Fox Poopah. Of course there is always the problem of losing big fish because your dropper snagged a rock, log, weedbed, car battery, etc. I try to steer the fish away from such obstacles, but sometimes the fish just find a way.
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"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught."
Clay, I definitely understand your two concerns. However, like JT, I almost always use two flies. The only time when I use only one fly is if there are a lot of weeds; the second fly will hang up on the weeds quite frequently and you can lose a lot of good fish this way. August and September seem to have the most weed growth. I agree with you that tying the bottom fly to the bend of the hook of the top fly does decrease the hooking power of the top fly. However, I have caught enough good fish on the top fly that I still use this setup. Probably 70 or 80 percent of my fish are caught on the bottom fly. However, this still leaves 20 or 30 percent on the top fly.
I forgot to add the other advantage of fewer snarls. Using 1 fly, I didn't have a single birdsnest and therefore did not curse at my line the entire day!!!
Seriously, I still use 2 flies during high water or when I'm exploring areas where I am not sure what the fish are eating. At this point on Putah with the low flows and concentrated fish, I feel more confident flinging a single fly.
Most of the time when I start fishing a new spot I will use one big fly on heavier tippet. This allows one to put more pressure on the fish without worrying that the fly is going to pop out and the line won't snap. After the area has been fished over I usually add some 6x tippet and a smaller fly. The fish below actually took two flies at once. A size 16 hares ear emerger and a size 20 RS-2
That fish has some nice color to it Otter, Nice little kype starting as well. Won't be long before the trout start spawning. Yesterdsay I saw a few decent sized fish chasinfg each other around in a shallow gravel tailout, Thats usually an indication of spawning behavior.
dark color indicators that are small with the low flows work great, i personally have seen fish swim off while mine has gone by. which i use a yellow yarn, but i did cut it down and makes a big difference. with higher flows. it dont matter the color or size.
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Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.
hey jt were do you pick those up at. walmart kmart or a fly fishing store
hey otter that is one bad ass looking fish. absolutely a beaute, did you happen to measure it, and about how much it weigh
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Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.
I usually don't measure fish, but I would guess around 20". Here is the whole fish. One of the fattest males I have seen. Where is that photo you were going to post? I carry a variety of sizes of pre-made yarn indicators. Fish will drop flies as soon as they get resistance. Use the smallest indicator that floats.
<<Fish will drop flies as soon as they get resistance>>
I agree with this. This year I've been helping a friend get started in fly fishing and put him on those adjustable rubber core type indicators in bright pink because they are easy to work with. I used them as well so I could show him how to cast and mend with this chunk of plastic on the line. I noticed that I lost a lot more fish and also hooked a lot more planted fish. I feel like the fish were dropping the fly quickly due to the resistance of the higher floating "corky" indicators.. It also could be that the bigger wild fish have learned to avoid the neon bobbers.
Since I've gone back to the yarn it seems like I've been missing fewer grabs and also keeping more fish on after the hookup. There have also been a lot fewer planters although that could be a result of the places being fished. As they say, "further research is indicated." ct
that is one fat fish. looks to be a lil over 20" to me, i would say about 22", definitly over 20 though. my pics will be up soon. i know i am way slow. need to get them up asap. and i will get them up as soon as i can.
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Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.
That is one dam pretty lookin fish Otter. As was mentioned above, I don't beleive a trout is capable of "learning" They just know what is normal and abnormal in there enviroment. Fish don't have a memory of any kind what so ever. I do beleive that is scientific fact. BRIAN, We are all waitin to see that hog you caught !
Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.
A good source for indicator material is synthetic macrame yarn. I believe I bought some at an Orchard Supply hardware store in the plant department. Since you get 3 woven strands of 3 or 4 feet, it's enough material to last a LONG time. I don't remember how much it was, but I'm pretty sure it was under $10. I was looking for yellow, but all they had was white.
iamamultitasker posted a link for macrame (polypropylene) yarn in another thread. It comes in tons of different colors, so I'm sure everyone can find the colors they're looking for.
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"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught."
. Anyways, I really like the dry dropper rig, It's great in flat slower water, But it gets to hard to see if your fishing a riffle. You should carry a small pair of scissors and trim your indicators way down. For me it depends on the spot, Some spots the dry dropper will work well and sometimes I just can't see the dry fly. Thats when I'd switch to an indicator. Or just try going without an indicator, I can feel alot of the hits i get, Of course I'm sure i miss some when i dont use any kind of indicator. So basically in my opinion the spot you are fishing will dictate wether you use a dry fly as an indicator or a regular indicator.
Where is that photo you were going to post? I carry a variety of sizes of pre-made yarn indicators. Fish will drop flies as soon as they get resistance. Use the smallest indicator that floats.
