Looking for pros and cons on a double nymph rig with the top nymph tied to a knot tag or dropper loop like shown versus tying tippet to the top nymph hook. Also is it best to have the heavier nymph on top or bottom? Fishing with an indicator, not euro nymphing or dry dropper.
Posted by pajones8
9 Comments
I use a 4-6” tag for the top fly. Once I’ve used up the tag, I just tie a new one above it with a clinch or Davy knot and slide it down to the old knot. In my mind the tag allows for more freedom of movement. As a bonus, if fish start rising you can tie a dry on the tag and fish it dry-dropper. Generally, I would put the heavier nymph on the point fly farthest towards the bottom. I’d try and have that fly in the strike zone near the bottom. The height of the tag can be experimented with. Sometimes an emerger close to the surface can work really well.
There’s many methods and while you will hear one way is better or worse than another, it all boils down to personal preference and what works for you.
Personally that’s more complicated than I bother with. If I fish two nymphs I tie the dropper to the bend of the top fly (top usually the heavier one so the dropper still moves naturally). This method has worked for me for decades.
This is just asking for tangles. I can’t even imagine
How this seems like a lot of work to snag after 2 casts.
How in the world does anyone use this without constantly getting the nymphs wrapped around that “main” line
That’s an interesting take, never seen that. I use the ole triple surgeons knot and use the tag facing downward as my second nymph. I always put the heavy nymph as my point fly. Sometimes I use two triple surgeons knots to create a dropper rig, with split shot on the lowest line so it acts as point. I use these methods both tight lining and when using indicators.
If you’re under an indicator id suggest tying straight to the top nymph. Might increase your chance of detecting a bite. Can’t really see an advantage of rigging it like this, unless the bottom fly was weighted and you were keeping in contact with it euro style and leaving the top one unweighted to drift a little more naturally. Hard to say tho, so many different ways of doing it. Keep it simple is always my rule.
I’ve tried this several times. It’s nice because yeah, you can adjust it but as others are saying, it does get wrapped around the main line really often.
I see others saying, tie it to the bend of your other fly. I’ve never done that for fear it’s just going to get whipped off as I’m casting. I could kind of see it if your hook has a barb to keep it from slipping off, but if not would the lower just slip it’s knot off the hook bend after a few casts?
I got really tired of rigging my nymphs so I just switched to streamers and accepted the inevitability of catching less fish.
That being said, it all boils down to preference. For my tag fly I used to do a double surgeons or triple surgeons and call it good. If it broke off at the knot point, I’d use a uni-knot to tie one on.