Summer School Episode 1: How to Set up Tightline/Mono Rig
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- This is the start of a weekly collection of "How To's" with tips, techniques, tricks, and tidbits on Fly Fishing. This week I explore how to set up a Tight Line/Mono Rig. I apologize for the length. However, it gives a detailed explanation to each facet of the system to help you better understand that should help getting you out on the water.
*** In the video I slip by saying Dynamic Nymphing by Lance Egan, I should have said Modern Nymphing. My apologies!
I would love feedback on this video! I created it with the fisherman in mind. I wish I had found a resource like this when I first started to break down each component. Although it is long, it is worth the time to give you detailed instruction. THANK YOU for watching!
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Creating your own MONO RIG set up: • Summer School Episode ...
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Gear I use for fishing and videos:
Rod: Syndicate 10' 3 wt P2 Pipeline
Reel: Lamson Liquid 4/5 wt- amzn.to/3gdj76p (Amazon)
Waders: Simms Freestone Waders- amzn.to/2JPHzyM (Amazon)
Boots: Orvis Ultralight Wading Boot- amzn.to/2LaYNXZ (Amazon)
Chestpack: Umpqua Chestpack- amzn.to/3g98vFK (Amazon)
Sunglasses: Costa Fantail Polarized- amzn.to/3mEgyNb (Amazon)
Leader Material:
Maxima Chameleon 20 lb- amzn.to/33Lec7G (Amazon)
Maxima Chameleon 15 lb- amzn.to/37yS6qk (Amazon)
Maxima Chameleon 12 lb- amzn.to/2L985DU (Amazon)
Stren Monofilament 10 lb- amzn.to/33LuMo3 (Amazon)
Amnesia 15 lb- amzn.to/2JPIMWQ (Amazon)
Amnesia 12 lb- amzn.to/2VGQEwy (Amazon)
Tippet Rings- amzn.to/3gdvsre (Amazon)
Tippet (1-6x; lower for streamers and higher for nymphs)- amzn.to/37G4Hbj (Amazon)
Camera(s):
Go Pro Hero 9 Black- amzn.to/3mOkb3a (Amazon)
Go Pro Hero 5 Black- amzn.to/2JORbcW (Amazon)
Canon M50- amzn.to/37zwWbv (Amazon)
DJI Mavic Mini Fly More Combo- amzn.to/2JPJmnu (Amazon)
Batteries/Accessories:
128 gb Micro SD- amzn.to/3g99BBm (Amazon)
Canon Spare Battery- amzn.to/3mEDkEC (Amazon)
Head Mount for Camera- amzn.to/3mKYYae (Amazon)
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Please like, share, comment, and ask questions. Enjoy viewing!
Each week I will put out a video that has me exploring local waters. My goal is to catch fish, help viewers learn, and most importantly HAVE FUN. - Спорт
Can’t say enough about this video. I, too, have been doing a lot of reading and UA-cam-ing. I’m going to rig my 9’ 5wt (Troutbitten says use what ya got!) and give it a whirl. Thanks for sharing your passion.
Dom is spot on. The best tool for the job is the one you got. I definitely have preferences. Hwiever, many options can get it done. Thanks for watching this. I’ve updated mine and gone thinner and longer. There’s a video on that too 👍🏻 tight lines and thanks for the support. I appreciate it
Very good explanation! Now I have to try it. The advantage I think this system has over my normal indicator setup is that it has more depth control and probably less drag
Thanks Buddy! I apologize for length but I really felt like there was something to learn and if I took time to explain to someone who would listen there was easier ways to catch trout and simplify how its done. I look forward to seeing you use it some time. You have some great water out there to do so on!
Thank you for your video! I found it very helpful and can’t wait to put to practice some of your advice on the river. I’ll let you know how it goes. Thanks, Deb
Hey Deb,
Glad you got something from it. There are still lots of that info that is still relevant and I still use. I did just make a tweak to my system, and thus far and I liking it. If I find it to be better overall, I will be changing it up again and making a video to explain. I will say this though, even if this "new" leader I use now is better, the one from this video caught me at least a thousand fish :) Tight lines and good luck!
@@tightliningmd Thanks for your reply. I’m working my way through your videos right now. I wish I lived close enough to MD to fish the Gunpowder river. Looks beautiful. I’m in Truckee, CA and fish the Truckee River, or should I say the “Trickee”. Are you on Instagram? I would like to follow you
I am on IG. Same handle there. Feel free to follow. Not familiar with CA water. But take what’s given to you and the hand you are dealt. If there are fish, then get those boots wet! MD has some good water. I really enjoy PA as well. But for a tiny state MD has plenty to offer surprisingly. Tight lines!
Great video Mike, very clear and precise! Thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it! I will be putting out a new one soon with my newer leader set up as well. It is thinner and more in line with nymphing. However, this rig from this video has stood the test of time fishing well on a variety of techniques. Thanks for watching!
Why different weights of mono? I just purchased a 10’ 3 wt rod & reel and am going to add some mono. Wasn’t sure why you are different different weights. Thanks, Tony
Hey Tony, sorry for my delay in response. I have a million things going on, so I apologize. The different weights of mono taper it down and help with casting and just the build up if you will to the tippet ring. For my Euro Set up, which I did a video on as well, I do it much differently and really no taper. Tight lines!
Fabulous job on video especially on the leader setup. Could you explain where on your tippet do you tie in your tag? This would determine how far apart your two flies are from each other.
Andy,
Thanks a lot for the feedback. I know this was long, and I tend to be long winded, I just wanted to make sure it was thorough. Here is what I do for my tag, and to be honest I was hesitant at first, but it was meant more hook ups....
1.) Don't tie in to the bend of the hook for the first fly. You can, but it is less effective. Just trust me and the literature out there to support.
2.) I would take my first section of tippet and make it approx 1 1/2 the depth of water. For example 2 feet of water is 3 feet of tippet. I then take about 18 inches of additional tippet, which is separate, and do a double surgeons knot (easy to tie) and connect the two. I am sure to overlap by about 6 inches for each. What that does is gives me a 6 inch tag coming off in two places. I cut the one excess tag that is coming from my additional 18 inches of tippet, so maybe "crimp" it a bit so you know which is which. That leaves me with the other tag, approx 6 inches, or a little less, coming off from what was the original 1 1/2 of tippet.
What this leaves me with is about 3 feet to my tag fly (the one coming off the main section) that I got as a result of the surgeons knot. Always make this the smaller fly. Then you have the additional 12 inches, because you cut off six from the surgeons knot, to your final fly. So for example I usually use a size 12 fly on my point, the very last fly at the bottom, and a size 14 on my tag end. Can go up or down as you see fit to a 10/12 or 14/16.
Hope that helps and best of luck. I appreciate the support and comment!
Thanks for the video. Lots of good stuff. Could you tell me what specific reel you use with your Syndicate rod?
Hey Alex,
I apologize if I didn't specifically state it. I use a Lamson Liquid reel size 4/5 I believe. You size up on the reel one higher than the size of the rod. The idea behind it is that you want the weight to evenly balance the rod so when you are arm fully extended, which is the intended way to get a good drift tight lining, you arm doesn't fatigue as fast. I believe my reel is considered "large arbor", but I can't say that with certainty, just know it is a sizable reel. It works perfectly with that rod in my opinion. One tip I would give is to go cheap(er) on line. If you truly use the long leader like I built here, with a good drag system, you won't get down to the fly line anyway unless you are fighting and pulling on a true monster. Hopefully that helps. Thanks for watching and hope you got something out the video!
I'd use a blood knot instead of a surgeon knot for that heavy mono. Much less bulky. Also in your system the taper is mostly irrelevant. The rod is 10 feet long so if you have no fly line off the reel, the 20 and 15 aren't out of the guides anyway. Just my opinion
Hey Steve,
Thanks for watching. I totally agree about the blood knot. That is what I use for the Maxima Chameleon line connecting all the pieces. I typically only use surgeons knots for tippet. I never really have line on the water, so you are right about that. As I create new ones, which will be soon. I am likely just to use 12 or 15 lb only sections of 20-25 feet, and cut out all the steps, they are a pain anyway, if I can avoid it, and still be effective. Appreciate the feedback!
@@tightliningmd keep up the good work
I've been using a 9ft 5 wt for tightlining and it works but I feel as if the extra length of a 10ft or 10'6 would be better for getting reach on your drift which I find is an issue for me
I would HIGHLY encourage you to consider a lighter rod, 2 or 3 wt, mine is 3 and I love it. The extra length is weird for sure to start. Takes getting used to. First time a buddy lent me his to use on a stream the extra foot and a half really messed with my psyche. However, I have never looked back and I use it on small streams and big rivers. In some cases I wish I had longer than a 10', like the 10'6 or 11'. You are absolutely right about the drift and also being able to reach spots from a bit further out and not spook fish.
I love my Syndicate, and that company is so responsive to their customers if you break it, which I did once lol. Also, they are the mid point for rods in the industry. I won't call all in on a Sage ESN, but I know that Orvis Recon, another relatively mid point rod started making them, and I hear they are awesome. However, Syndicates are stellar. I believe Cabelas does a cheaper one, and don't forget about Cortland. I believe they were part of the pioneering of the systems and some of the pros/comp fishermen swear by them. No matter what tho, the makin thing is 2/3 wt and 10' or longer. Lastly, get a reel a size up for balance, to help with arm fatigue and rod set up. So for example I have a 4/5 lamson liquid reel on my Syndicate, instead of a 2/3. The line is irrelevant in my opinion, so go cheap, but if not a Euro Line from Rio is great.
Let me know if you have any questions!
@@tightliningmd yeah I'm gonna get a specific rod for nymphing the trout around here get pretty big I mean like double digit not the true giants but 6lbers have been cought from to time on a fly especially caddis larvae and big stoneflys so I'm gonna go with a 3wt just in case I hook a big brown I haven't lost too many fish with the 5 wt but it's without a doubt a little too heavy and short but it's the only rod I got and I'm on a budget which sucks
When you say small streams for your Syndicate, how small? In Wisconsin our streams are generally 10 feet wide. You are fishing small pockets often in tight brush. I use an 8’6” 4 weight dry fly rod but it casts a mono rig poorly. Only reason I’m thinking of going with a longer dedicated Euro rod. On the other hand worried there may not be enough room to use a longer rod easily and properly.
Great video, thanks for taking the time. How many "X", or what diameter is your sighter?
Scott,
No problem. Thank you for taking the time to watch. I can be long winded, but it is critical to get it right. I am sure there are ways to adapt it, but overall that was my basics.
To answer your question, I use Cortland Indicator Mono Competition Serials 20' .013. I just got off sections from that in increments of about 18-24 inches. As long as I have both colors visible to me and tippet rings on both sides, that works for me.
Hope it helps and good luck!
Great explanations! I'm still getting the hang of tight lining and had a quick question... how far away can you effectively fish with a tight line rig? I like fishing larger water and have had difficulty with line sag when I try to cast further out (I use a mono rig setup like you were explaining). It seems that by fishing further out that my anchor fly and tag fly are in different current seams too. Do you usually fish out only slightly further than the length of your rod and work that current seam? Sorry for the lengthy question haha thanks for the informative video!
Doug,
That is a great question! I personally, when using the Mono Rig, tend to not do a true cast. I am always Roll Casting, or Bow and Arrow Casting. Therefore, I don't get a traditional long drift. With the 10 foot rod, long leader, I am probably casting about 15 feet or so, give or take, upstream, and dead drifting back to me, with a swing. I pick about the water in sections little by little and look for features in the water where fish should be hiding. I then get within that 15 foot radius and get after them. I find in big rivers the fish don't spook as easy as the little wild streams. I just fished Penns recently and employed this tactic and caught a dozen in a few hours.
I have observed competition anglers who do in fact cast a Euro Style rig upstream and can keep just enough sag in line from say 25-35 feet away and look for subtle takes. I haven't mastered, nor tried. I would imagine they aren't using a Mono Rig. Likely more a custom leader, with a sighter, tied to the Rio Euro Line and having the Rio Line out of the guides. I prefer not even having any line out, just my custom leader.
Have you ever watching Modern Nymphing by Lance Egan? It is STELLAR. The first one helped me greatly, and I was already tight lining. I also then watched Modern Nymphing Elevated, their sequel, and it helped me improve to variations and I have become a much better fisherman as a result.
If you haven't seen that check it out ASAP. A great fly fisherman like yourself will definitely enjoy the film. Also, do you read Troutbitten.com? His articles are concise, mostly, and almost all about the Mono Rig. He is a PA Angler and fishes the same water as you. I know with certainty he covers much of your question about flies not being in the same current seam. I tend to auto fix that by short roll casts, or so I think.
Selfishly speaking I have admired your work from a far and would love to fish with you some time, would be an honor. Anything I could do to help would be my pleasure. However, I also respect peoples privacy and uneasiness to fish with people they don't know. If you ever want to link up I would be happy to help show you what I know. In the same light though I am sure you will pick it up quick given you are a solid angler.
Thanks for checking in and sorry for the long response. Didn't want to short change you. Tight lines!
Thank you for the detail! I really do appreciate you taking the time to write such a great response to my question! As I've learned to tight line nymph and read your response, that distance makes a lot of sense to me. I also, have been learning a lot from the troutbitten articles. They really helped with the learning curve! I will have to check out the Modern Nymphing video for sure! I was a bit apprehensive at first to buy it but I'm glad to hear a good review and that it is worth getting! I also just ordered George Daniel's new book, which should be delivered this week.
As for fishing together, I would really enjoy that sometime! It's always nice to fish with different people and to see the different styles that other anglers use. Send me an email (douglas.roberts2011@gmail.com) and we can exchange contact info.
Hey Doug,
I am glad the response helped. If you are already reading Troutbitten you have a leg up for sure. The videos I mentioned you will love. Such great cinematography and fishing content.
I will touch base with you about fishing. Hopefully we can coordinate a trip up in Central PA and do some fishing. I think we both have stuff to learn from each other and would be a good experience.
Enjoy the George Daniel book and hope to see you soon!