I am sure a lot of you have fished the hopper dropper rig. I have use a dry and a smaller nymph as my dropper quite often.
I have also used dries as large as # 10 to fish a larger nymph as the dropper. I recently came across a video clip showing another way to rig the hopper dropper rig, by letting you adjust your dry fly along your leader, just like you would adjust your indicator. I think this clip is an excellent demonstration on how to rig an adjustable dry serving as an indicator. I am going to give this method a try on the Caney in the spring. I like the big dry fly concept because you are not only getting the benefit of the indicator as a fish catching tool, but you are putting a simulator out there for the trout too. Take a look and see what you think. If any of you have a more detail method showing how this set-up is rigged; please share.
Hopper/Dropper Demo Clip
I use this and it works great!
ReplyDeleteAll you have to do is tie in a piece of mono to the hook shank and then tie what ever dry you want...
Are you tying now?
I am into using this set-up, but I am someone confused as to exactly how the set-up is tied. If he is not going through the eye of the hook to begin with, then how is he connecting to the front of the fly??? I am going to take a free fly tying class in Jan. at Bass Pro I hope to get more out this class than the last one I took. Thanks for the comment
ReplyDeletehe is using the mono loop at the head of the fly just like you hook up a thingamabobber. The guy in the video has something going on on the tail side as well. I dont think you need it. I just tie in a tiny mono loop of 12-20 lb test and glue the snot out of it. make a hopper. hook it on like a thingamabobber. Tangles up like crazy!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo you are saying use the loop through the eye just like I would loop my thingamabogger ----the guy in the video is doing something with the tag end of the leader after he connects the front of the fly, I am assuming he is using a loop on the hook end of the fly, I agree it could be tangle den here if he is doing it that way, I going to use one of my large dres today and do some experineting.
ReplyDeleteNope he is skipping the eye of the hook all together and using the mono loop like the bobber...
ReplyDeletethe tag end of the leader gets more flies.
This system would be the first step of the tie.
Remember this is just to disguise the indicator. The line is pretty fat right there. They may be frightened a bit.
I have got to work on this some to get the hang of what he is doing.
ReplyDeleteBill,
ReplyDeleteI've never tried this, but I think I will soon. It looks like he's just tied in a heavy monofilament loop (12-20 lb, like Josh said) at both ends of the fly. He says he's not using actual eye of the hook. I think he doesn't use it so he can keep the indicator fly floating at flat as possible.
It wouldn't be difficult to do this at all. After covering the hook with thread, I would just use one length of mono and fold it back onto itself at both ends and wrap each end down to form a loop. "Glue the snot out it" (like Josh says) and then tie your pattern of choice on top. Looks like a very cool idea. Just don't forget to add the word "hoppicator" to your vocabulary when using this system. Thanks for sharing.
There is a mono loop at both ends of the fly. This helps with fewer tangles. www.idylwilde.com/html/results.php?search_terms=Wier%27s+Hop-icator&sa=+Go+Fish+
ReplyDeleteJay
ReplyDeleteI really like this setup. I am wondering just how strong the glue would whole if you got a the big trout on??? I am not tying as of yet, so I may get one of my buddies to tie one for me. I am going to try this set-up. Thanks for the comment
I would feel pretty confident about a super glue and thread wrap combination. Although I haven't used for this, I have used it to make weed guards on cork poppers that I have tied. The cork and the rest of the tie all fall apart long before the mono comes off. Since you're making a loop at each end, it should hold up really well... even with a lunker on the line. I'll try to get around to tying something like this ASAP, and I'll send you one... or two.
ReplyDeleteShould be fun.
Patrick
ReplyDeleteThanks for the clarification, I will be trying this set-up, but first i think I will order some of these little buggers from you. Thanks for sharing this set-up on U-tube, this is why i started blogging to learn new techniques in fly fishing, and this set-up is a prime example.
I use a Hopper dropper rig all the time.
ReplyDeleteIs use a foam hopper called the Alien Bug.
You can read it at my blog:
http://bassbug.blogspot.com/2008/08/prince-and-his-hopper.html
Jay
ReplyDeleteThat was a great post using the hopper/dropper, and the Allen Bug is purely awesome. I am going to switch to a larger hopper this season and use the prince nymph more as my dropper. I think the prince will work anywhere. This is why I started blogging, to pick up on all the extras that go along with the fly fishing. Thanks for sharing
Thanks Josh
ReplyDeleteChecked out the link and I am getting some to try out. I like the fact you can slide the fly up and down on your line for depth. Thanks Bill