Using dropper flies is nothing new in the fly fishing world. The oldest reference I know dates all the way back to the 1930's. To many novice fly fishermen it can be an eye opening technique. There is no other technique I use more over the course of the year and none more effective. Using two flies can double your chances, but it offers much more than that. In situations when fish can be spooky, a dry fly used as an indicator can avoid scaring the fish. Bright colored indicators are easy for fishermen to see. They are also easy for fish to see. Also something as simple as the shape of the indicator can spook a fish. Oft times when the fish are spooky I like to use a long leader to the dry fly as well as a long dropper to the nymph. Many days I change from using a traditional strike indicator to a dry/dropper and it makes all the difference. I do not change the nymph, just the indicator. Here are some easy steps when fishing dry/dropper.
1. Use a Dry fly buoyant enough to hold up the dropper. Here is a common mistake. I have watched a lot of people use a dry that constantly sinks. It's hard to catch fish when your constantly casting because your fly keeps sinking. It also creates a mentality that your fly is being drug under by the dropper and not being taken under by a fish. You want to have the mentality that every time your dry fly goes under it is a fish and you should set it! I like to use foam terrestrials such as chernobyl ants or hoppers.
2. Tie your dropper to the bend of the hook. I prefer to tie my droppers to the bend of the hook rather than through the eye. It allows for better casting and easier knot attachment.
3. Observe the fish and structure to determine the length of your dropper. There is a big misconception that the length of the dropper should be 1-2 feet. I fish my droppers from from six inches to five feet. Any dropper over five feet becomes difficult to cast. I call the Green River my home water and it is crystal clear. If you take a few minutes from a good vantage point you can see the depth at which the fish are feeding. In mid-summer and fall the fish tend to be at 4-5 feet. In the spring during the blue wing hatch the fish are at 1-2 feet. Let the fish tell you how deep you should go. If there are not any visible fish look at the depth of the water you are fishing. If the fish are not visible the are holding close to the bottom or in structure. Make sure you get your fly in front of the fish.
4. Observe what the fish are eating.This should be the first thing you do when selecting a fly no matter the technique you are using. If bugs are not visible, look under rocks, on trees, or consult a fly shop.
5. Use a weighted dropper that will keep the dropper line tot. If there is slack between the dry fly and the dropper you will miss most of the fish that eat your dropper.
6. Fish with slack in the fly line. This will give you a better dead drift. If your not looking for a dead drift then disregard this step.
Finally, dropper lines, especially longer ones, can be difficult to cast. The key is making sure you load the rod. It will take longer to load the rod than it would if you were fishing a single dry fly. Pause longer on your back cast and you will avoid the tangles that discourage fishermen from fishing this effective method.
The author is a fly fishing guide on Utah's Green River. He works with Flaming Gorge Resort and is owner and writer of Green River Flyfisher.com
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