CAN YOU FISH A DROPPER

[strood]

Is it possible to fish with a dropper fly like you would fish for trout .
would this be a problem roll casting and double spey casting .would the fly get tangled. just interested because this is my first season fishing for salmon.

Dave

[tyneandrew]

I usually use a dropper from about late May onwards - but not all the time. And then usually back to a single fly in the Autumn.

Its personal preference at the end of the day, some people don't like them and argue that the point fly can get snagged up whilst playing a fish that has taken the dropper.

They can get tangled but that is probably dependent upon casting ability and also the wind conditions. I have had some days where they NEVER get tangled and ALL day. Others it seems cursed!

[macd]

big fan of the dropper. i start using one late march.

[Sloggi]

I fish with a dropper from April onwards when using single or double hooked flies. For some reason I only fish one fly while using tubes.

I tend to fish a size bigger on the dropper and always fish two different patterns. Normal summer cast would be a size 9 cascade on the dropper and a size 11 silver stoat on the point.

I use the placing of the dropper as an opportunity to taper the leader for example, 15lb fluorocarbon down to the dropper then 11lb to the point fly.

I am guessing, but I don't recall catching more on either fly.

I have NEVER lost a fish due to getting one or the other snagged while playing the fish.

[sinkingtip]

I agree totally with the advice and comments given by the above members.
As a quick extension to this thread, have any forum members ever heard of spinning a toby, say, with a dropper and fly attached to the swivel . I have and have seen it work !! The reckoning being is that the toby acts as the main attractor - fish sees it...then sees something a little more tantalising (the fly) and goes for it instead. Strange one I know - just interested to hear if anyone has come across this on their travels.

[scotty]

i have sinkingtip, my dad should me that, probably about 25 years ago, not that i do it now mind you.

scotty.

[speycaster]

if you use a dropper the point fly will become the rudder or anchor as to speak, so if you can control the rudder you will get a much better presentation of the dropper fly but remember you need to open the loop some more to save snagging on the leader

[para1]

I used to fish a fly above a Toby in the eastuary for seatrout.
It didn't seem to matter what fly you used either, also I have taken the hook off the Toby when fishing over rough ground. I've
had days quite often when the fly has taken more than the Toby (with a hook on) ;D

[sinkingtip]

Fascinating and informative gentlemen. They way posts should be . If nothing else lets use the above 'illustrations' to prove that breaking 'conventions' or what is regarded as the 'norm' can produce an unexpected 'result' when other methods have failed in the pursuit of salmo salar.

[leo]

Droppers are particularly useful for "dibbling" in streamy water, controlling the flies so the attractor fly on the dropper "dances" on the water, while (in theory) they should take the submerged fly (although they do often take the dropper). Very exciting if you can see the take.

I saw a grilse lost in the summer when the dropper got snagged in the landing net.

[DAZ]

I always fish a dropper.

I take a great percentage of my fish on it,and I believe my catch rate could possibly drop by as much has 50% if I fished with out one.

DAZ.

[macd]

spot on DAZ

speycaster, do you mean the d-loop?

[castlikeaghille]

Started fishing a dropper regularly on the floating line when J Curving after reading Francis Grant. On the floating line we use a basic 12' tapered Riverge fluro carbon leader down to a 14lbs point. We attach a 2mm leader ring to that. The dropper is a 6" length of Seagur and the trace to the tail is about 4' (both attache dto a leader ring). The advantage of this technique is:

1. you have much better presentation
2. when the dropper gets too short add a new one
3. the leader above the ring will usually last a season (yep a season) so less costly on the fluro

As for flies, I like the idea of a combo - size 14 silver stoat and say size 10 ED Cascade. On the Dee we catch a lot of specimen sea trout during the day on this set up, as if the water is low we are down to 11lbs Seagur which is the diameter of 6lbs Maxima (the line that fools fish).

The odd thing is the fish usually have a distinct preference for either the dropper or the tail it is rare for the fish to show an even preference. I've had salmon to 26lbs on the dropper and not lost one yet through snagging - there that's gone and done it

Later fuishies

CLaG

[speycaster]

i do sir if you open your[d]loop you will not tangle again depending on the lengh of your dropper , in fact if you are spey casting and you allways make sure that you keep the fly a ;Drod and a half to the side you will cast safer and better

[macd]

cheers.

[speycaster]

youre welcome

[robmason]

sinkingtip said:

I agree totally with the advice and comments given by the above members.
As a quick extension to this thread, have any forum members ever heard of spinning a toby, say, with a dropper and fly attached to the swivel . I have and have seen it work !! The reckoning being is that the toby acts as the main attractor - fish sees it...then sees something a little more tantalising (the fly) and goes for it instead. Strange one I know - just interested to hear if anyone has come across this on their travels.

Well I never thought of using a dropper in this setting. Might well give it a bash!

[strood]

Thanks to all the above answers to my thread.
I think by the the end of next month i will give this a try. My casting is getting better the more i go out i am not snapping of the fly now and not getting much knots in the line.


Dave

[Fruin]

Sometimes I will use a dropper, but mainly on smaller rivers where little effort is required to cover the water.
I used to fish an Abu Droppen with a fly on a dropper about 3 to four feet up the line. This was very successful for sea trout, especially in higher water.

[sinkingtip]

Gentlemen - Glad to hear that I didn't imagine my original post re. 'spinners' with a fly attached to the swivel via a dropper. Just an extra option in the 'armoury' of technique I guess.