DOUBLE UP!!!
By Montana Grant

Posted: August 25, 2018

Two is always better than one. Using a dropper fly is a common trick used by many fishermen. Here are some thoughts on why using two flies is better.

Ironically, many fishermen avoid using two flies because they do want to lose two flies at the same time. So much for confidence. This is usually because they are also poor at tying decent knots and lack experience catching and landing fish. They do seem to always have a great rod, gear, and hat but get cheapo when it comes to flies. Practice tying better knots and learn to tie your own flies. Breaking off a few fish will motivate and inspire you to fish better.

1.)    Two is Better than One!   Most nymph fishermen routinely fish a double rig. Some use three flies, where legal. This gives you a spread of offerings for the fish to choose. Changing the location of your weights will change the depths. Try fishing two dry flies, a streamer and a nymph dropper or a hopper and a beetle/ant combo. Usually the top fly is the largest. Leave a foot or two of tippet for the dropper. Tie the dropper to the bend of the hook of the top fly. Use a secure clinch knot.

2.)    Cast, Attract, Attack!   Giving the fish a choice is important. There are hundreds of bits of food drifting down the river, why eat yours? Using an attractor gets the fishes attention, then he sees the second closer fly. He will attack the second choice because it is closer deeper, or smaller. I almost always use 2 different flies or at least 2 different sizes. The presentation must be perfect, but your cast addresses an area twice as large and keeps you in the bite zone.

3.)    Strike! Seeing a strike using two flies is easier. The top, larger, floater will suck under if the dropper is eaten. A fish following a streamer will often attack the following smaller fly. This trick also works well when using spinning lures or spinners.

ALWAYS SHARPEN your hooks. This will help you hook up more often. A sharp hook is also easier to remove from a fish or person. If you are missing strikes, slightly bend the hook bend to the side. Use your forceps for this slight adjustment.

If you do not understand how to tie secure knots, figure it out. Normally a fly fisherman needs to tie clinch knots with 8-9 turns, and a Blood Knot to connect two tippet ends. Surgeon Knots exist because fishermen are too lazy to learn to tie the stronger, but more difficult Blood Knot. Practice with heavy line or cord to learn and see the knot. Google up some knot tying YouTube videos to help.

The best moment is when you hook up two fish at the same time. Usually, they come in easier since they are also fighting against each other. Hang on and have fun!

Always practice proper fish handling techniques!

Montana Grant

For more Montana Grant, hook up at www.montanagrantfishing.com.

New Podcast!

Riley's Meats - Butte Wild Game Processing