Last week we went over a technique called “level lining” or “right angle nymphing”, today we wanted to discuss a different way to set up your nymph rig, using a Drop Shot. In a traditional nymph rig, the weight is placed onto the leader, above the first fly. One argument against this set up is having the weight above the fly causes an additional hinge point that can make it harder to detect strikes. After a fish eats the fly, it takes a second for the indicator to register the strike and sink. The bite happens but it is not until the entire leader becomes tight that the indicator gets pulled down. Having a weight above the fly is an extra hinge point that causes a delay to occur from when the eat happens, to when the indicator actually goes down. Depending on the current speed and how tight the line is from your indicator to your fly, this extra time can cause the fish to spit the fly out before the indicator ever actually registers a hit.
With a drop shot rig, you place the weight off the end of the leader, after all of your flies. Doing this causes there to be less slack between your indicator and flies, (no hinge point from the weight) making it a more responsive set up. There are few different ways to rig this. The most common is having a standard 9 foot leader with an indicator attached onto the leader wherever is appropriate based on the depth you are fishing. Instead of tying on a fly to the end of your leader, you want to attach more tippet. You can either use a blood knot (if you do this you want to leave an extra long tag end) or a tippet ring. I think the tippet ring is the most efficient way. You can attach the tippet ring with a standard improved clinch knot. Next, off of the other end of the tippet ring, I attach another strand of 12 to 18 inches of more tippet. Then off of the side of the ring, you want to attach another smaller strand of tippet. This is where you will tie on the fly. I usually don’t use too long of a stretch here, 6 to 8 inches is fine, then tie on your fly. So you will have 3 different strands of tippet tied to the tippet ring.
Off of the longer stretch of tippet that is hanging off the bottom of the tippet ring, I usually attach another tippet ring. I then repeat the process of tying tippet off of the side of the ring, that allows me to fish 2 flies. Then off of the bottom of the second tippet ring, I tie another length of tippet, for this stretch you want to use lighter line than whatever you were using above. I prefer about a foot of 5X or 6X, then I tie a single, overhand knot at the end of the line. The weight gets placed above this knot. You want to use lighter line so that if the weight snags on the bottom, you just break off the weight, not all the flies.
Another option for this set up is to forgo the indicator all together and tight line nymph. With the weight being on the bottom of your rig, you will stay connected to your flies. Here you will be able to rely more on feeling the eats.
Like we said, one of the main benefits of this set up is having more direct contact with your flies which causes everything to be more responsive to subtle eats. It is also nice that when snagging up on the bottom, you usually just lose your weight and not your flies. If you do not have tippet rings, you can always use a blood knot and leave one tag end long. You can then attached your fly to that tag end. My favorite situation to fish this type of set up is when nymphing very deep runs. The weight pulls the flies down quickly while keeping the line between the indicator and your flies tight. Because of this tension, you will often times feel the fish eat before you see any movement! This set up is not very conducive for casting far so it is ideal in a high sticking situation.
More On Rigging:
Pretty sure this rig is illegal in Alaska and BC. Should maybe mention to check laws before trying it.
This one is a favorite in Utah area waters. The “Provo Bounce” rig is the nomenclature for around these parts for that rig.
Right JC, the “Provo River Bounce Rig” has been around in various forms since the 1930s in Utah. It started in the silk line and catgut days. It evolved into a spin fishing rig with nymphs, then back into a flyrod method, with or without strike indicators. Use it with regular fly line, thin tournament line or straight mono for the line. Very effective in the right water types because the weight on the bottom helps slow the flies and keeps them at nose level to the trout forn longer drifts than standard nymphing rigs. Also, as was mentioned, weight below the hook is illegal in some states.
Right JC, the “Provo River Bounce Rig” has been around in various forms since the 1930s in Utah. It started in the silk line and catgut days. It evolved into a spin fishing rig with nymphs, then back into a flyrod method, with or without strike indicators. Use it with regular fly line, thin tournament line or straight mono for the line. Very effective in the right water types because the weight on the bottom helps slow the flies and keeps them at nose level to the trout for longer drifts than standard nymphing rigs. Also, as was mentioned, weight below the hook is illegal in some states. “Drop shotting” comes from the bass tackle lingo for a similar rig (no float) for rubber baits.
If the drop shot is so good for these conditions, why would it not be good for all conditions? Don’t the same issues apply? Get the fly down to the fish, lose fewer flies, change flies quicker. Why would it not be effective in clearer water? What’s not to like?
Good questions Joe. The drop shot is great for fishing deep, if I am targeting fish feeding shallow in the riffles I think the drop shot fishes too deep and is more likely to foul hook fish. I do use a drop shot when the water is clear and I want my flies to sink quick behind a rock or pour-over. The drop shot is one of my go to rigs, I was just saying I think it is especially effective during run off or situations when the water is up.
Can anyone tell us exactly which states prohibit the drop shot rigging method? Colorado, Alaska, Wyoming? Thanks.
Do you ever combine drop shooting and bead fishing? In other words, do you ever fish a pegged bead with the weight below it, effectively making it a drop shot bead rig?