Drop Shot Nymph Rig // Simple Setup and Explanation
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- Опубліковано 21 гру 2018
- Drop shot nymphing is a fly fishing technique that combines elements of traditional nymphing with the drop shot rig commonly used in bait fishing. It's particularly effective in rivers and streams with moderate to fast currents, where it allows anglers to present nymphs at specific depths and target fish holding in deeper or faster-moving water.
Here's how drop shot nymphing typically works:
Setup: The setup for drop shot nymphing consists of a weighted nymph pattern tied to the end of the leader, similar to traditional nymphing rigs. However, instead of attaching additional nymphs on dropper lines above the weighted fly, a small tag of tippet material (usually lighter than the main leader) is tied to the leader using a dropper knot, such as the surgeon's knot or the tippet-to-leader loop knot. This tag of tippet material is usually 8 to 12 inches long, depending on water depth and fishing conditions.
Weight Placement: A split shot or weighted nymph is then attached to the end of the tag of tippet material, serving as the weight for the rig. The weight is typically positioned several inches above the nymph pattern to keep the fly near the river bottom.
Presentation: Anglers cast the rig upstream or across the current and allow it to drift downstream. The weight on the tag of tippet material keeps the nymph near the river bottom, while the weighted nymph pattern at the end of the leader may ride slightly higher in the water column. This setup allows anglers to present nymphs effectively at different depths within the water column.
Strike Detection: As with traditional nymphing, strike detection is essential in drop-shot nymphing. Anglers typically use a strike indicator, such as a small float or yarn, to detect subtle strikes from fish. When the indicator pauses, hesitates, or dips underwater, it's usually a sign that a fish has taken one of the nymphs.
Setting the Hook: Once a strike is detected, anglers must quickly set the hook by lifting the rod tip or making a short, sharp motion with the wrist. Since drop shot nymphing allows for precise depth control, anglers can adjust the length of the tag of tippet material or the size of the weight to target fish holding at different depths.
Drop shot nymphing is an effective technique for catching trout and other freshwater species, particularly in rivers and streams with varying water depths and currents. It allows anglers to present nymphs at specific depths where fish are actively feeding, increasing the chances of a successful hookup. - Спорт
Always great stuff Joe!
I just came back from Utah on my first fly fishing trip.
The guide used this rig with three nymphs hanging down and a bobber (indicator).
I had used this in other types of fishing ( with lures , no bobber) but was rather shocked with the set up.
Totally different fishing then I thought but caught about 25-30 in 4 hours.
Great trip.
Your video is super informative, but easy to follow! Thanks for the video!
You are welcome, its easy to get caught up in the BS. I delete more film than I ever upload trying to whittle it down. Thank you for noticing the effort!
Great speaking/teaching skills.
Awesome video. Will use this for great lakes steelhead
Looks like great method to start this style
This is such a perfect rig even for very pressured fishing spot!
Agreed, this setup works very well. Love the drop shot!
Thank you. Gallup explained the same in one of his videos.
Good stuff! Very similar to how Kelly Galloup fishes nymphs. Very effective.
It is very similar, this is a bit "dumbed down" for guys like me. I teach it to my guests this time of year and like to keep it basic but effective.
@@redsflyshop Agreed. The way he ties his droppers on, while it makes sense, makes it a little trickier. I do as you here... using triple surgeons.
You young guys bring some great innovation and techniques to the sport, I bet some of this rigging comes from spin fishing and other angling sports, probably salt water as well. Old timers wouldn't like fishing with weight and yarn indicators, but yes it can be highly effective. Dropper fishing has always been a method or multiple nymphs. I can see that weight on the end giving you a nice controlled drift in the column of water at the desired height . Nice Job !
Thanks, its a good setup for cold water. I prefer to fish nymphs suspended (like a dry dropper) when I can.
@@redsflyshop Good video and Information, I agree suspended in the current tumbling at the same speed as the current always critical just like dry's, if it's getting towed or is moving faster then the current, It will not be as effective....... Good Fishing !
Do you have a Tippet ring tied into the perfection loop at the end of your leader so the tippet hinges down like you’ve shown in your videos before?
Sweet
Very helpful, been trying to incorporate this rig for Great Lakes steelhead and this video helped refine my rig
It is really easy to setup actually, it sounds like a pain the arse but it pretty simple if you keep it to a single fly with no "quick disconnect" loops.
Thanks BTW.
Red's Fly Shop My problem was setting the split shot too close to the dropper, thinking trout were bottom feeders. I use a tippet ring for my drop shot nymph rig
I've been using this for great lakes steelhead with pretty good success too. It really allows you to regulate fly depth, and is great in heavy and weird currents. You can add as much weight as needed without having the shot dragging your flies into snags. I also use tippett rings. Makes for very easy fly/dropper changes.
simple 90 degree nymph rig with a balloon for an indicator is the easiest most effective idiot proof way to catch great lakes steelhead..havnt found a better rig yet...
Another in a long line of very informative videos. Question: day in day out, for most conditions, would you choose drop shot or Euro nymphing if you wanted to catch the most fish?
On a big river, probably the Drop Shot. On smaller water where I can get close to the fish, the Euro Rig. Out of a moving boat, suspension nymphing. I should do a video or podcast about the advantages/disadvantages of all these setups. That is a good question.
Thanks. One more question: have you tried using a drop shot rig without an indicator (i.e., Euro-style)?@@redsflyshop
@@redsflyshop YES, that would be great. Unless you've since done it and I've missed it. I've only recently found the drop shot rig while researching euro nymphing. I find that with the waters I'm around it makes quite a bit of sense. what length and weight rod would you recommend this on? similar to euro rod or a more normal action?
Hello! Thanks for the video I’m really wanting to try this. I was wondering what size split shot you’re using? Or a good size to start? Best
I use an AB or BB most of the time, I like this stuff right here. redsflyfishing.com/products/loon-camo-drop-split-shot?variant=14986758029361
Nice explanation and particularly good job with the hand talk. Loved that hand fish swimming on your arm at the edge stream 😁👌. Keep your mind open and never change joe
Hey thanks! The encouragement is appreciated and thanks for watching as well.
Can you explain why you use the Rio nymphing leader and when you use that verse your hinge leader. Is an overhand not fine as a stopper for the split shot.
Thanks
Good question, I personally build hinged leaders most of the time but many folks watching may not want to engage in that much complexity.
Are you using just a regular floating line with this setup?
Yes, just a WF Floating Line. I like the SA Amplitude Smooth Infinity for "all around" and the SA Anadro for nymph specific setups.
Good explanation. On which leg of the triple surgeon knot do you tie the nymph? The one parallel to the split shot linr or the up leg so the nymph stands away more from the running line? I was told if using the upper line the knot would pull loose but that doesn't make sense to me. Thx
I run it on the "upward facing tag" - it seems to be less likely to twist around the main leader. This is a great question, and that is my personal system. I have not had that knot fail at all that I can recall. I am sure either tag will work, but that is what I do. Thank you for following along.
@@redsflyshop many thx and Tight Lines
I personally don't use a tippet ring, but they are very popular and work great. I will use a tippet ring near my indicator when I'm short line nymphing sometimes.
What weight is the split shot? I have a fly rig, but also two spinning reel rigs for trout. So if the drop shot is heavy enough, you can probably tie the fly on a spinning rod because youll have the weight of the drop shot and will allow you to cast in one swing instead of whipping a weight around over your head lol.
Yes when you break it down, the indicator is simply part of the line. Mend it right! ahah.
Joe, always love your presentation, but you said you were going to pause the video for a second.... then it just ended ! Could not find your sequel lol
does the 6 inch flouracarbon tied to the nymph get tangled on the main line easy?
Great question, if its heavy it will spin and tangle.... if it's unweighted almost ZERO tangles. It's better than you think. The greater distance there is between the two, the less they tangle. After fishing this quite a bit I'm shocked how seldom I get a bad tangle.
clarify distance from fly connections to the split shot. Looks like about 2 ft
Do you still have 1.5x length of tippet to water depth ratio?
Yes, on Drop Shot rigs that is essential to have enough length to get the bottom and let the indicator float ahead. Great question.
Drop shotting has been around for decades. #jimmycohen
This rig is money, I probably use a drop shot rig %80 regardless of season or water temp. You can fish it in a tight line setup too. Also, works great for multi fly rigs.
Kevin, what kind of rod/line setup are you using? And do you typically use a float with it? Thanks man.
So you just attached the dropper the usual way by tying on sone tippet with a triple surgeons and using the tag end of this knot? It seems like you used the top tag which I thought causes the knot to fail?
Great observation. I do use the top tag quite a bit, it's not quite as strong but it doesn't spin and tangle nearly as much there so there are pros and cons to using the top. I will also do (4) times through on the knot rather than (3) times. If I am fearful of my tippet breaking, like 5X or smaller I'll often use the bottom tag, 4X - top tag keeps the fly off the mainline.
@@redsflyshop I know that this is intended for noobs but when you use this rig do you prefer the flies on surgeon tags or on dropper loops?
What type of fly is that, does it float or sink
This is a subsurface rig. It looks like a pats rubber legs.
Can I use this on spinning reel
Oh hell give it a try.
my favorite part is the trout hand ready to take the fly. and remember...who is a bottom eater...your favorite slimy whitefish
I liked that part too! Excellent trout hand, Joe.
deadly rig and i use it all the time..i think a lil better set up is the botom 6-8 inches that your shot goes onto i use nylon..this way the shot will krimp tightly to it unlike flouro and if the shot does hang up you only lose your shot..the rest of the rig of course is tied with fluro..i attach the attach the 6-8 in piece of nylon with either a blood knot or a surgeons knot and my tag for small flies is an orvis knot or larger flies a tag with a perfection loop and i loop it around the flouro and it stop when it hits the knot i use to attach the piece of nylon...when i used a knot under the shot and got hung up occasionally i sumtimes would break off in other areas of the rig where i shouldnt have..you will be amazed even without a knot at all under your shot as long as your using nylon how strong that shot will hold onto it if u get hung up..maxima ultra green i like as its more subtle and a bit softer than maxima chameleon..
That's a good tip regarding the mono. It is softer and would provide better grip than fluoro.
its amazing how strong lead shot will hold onto nylon,,especially when the shot and the nylon are new..
Good rig
i don`t like adding weight to my flies when i tie them....this system fixes that problem
Any trick to cast the shot with a flying rod?
Great question. Constant tension. Make sure your back cast has enough energy to get ALL the way back behind you so it doesn't snap tight upon your forward stroke. This help you keep slack out of the line. Thats my best piece of advice.
Can’t do this in California 😭 good info though, thanks for the info.
You guys have "fly fishing only" regs? This is lead free shot for what that's worth.
@@redsflyshop regardless of rig or gear, in CA you are not allowed to have the sinker, drop shot at the terminal end of the leader with the hook, lure or nymph above. This is for fresh water fishing.
@@tonyascaso6254 Ok, I understand. We have some water classified as "fly fishing only" where no shot is allowed at all.
CA reg 2.10.b.4. I use big 4mm tungsten head and heavy weighted fly at the bottom as alternative.
I don’t know what part of commie Cali you guys live in but there is no regulation that says you can’t drop shot for trout in rivers and streams.
I did this 25 yrs ago when old geezers dressed up in LL BEANS thinking they knew everything there was to fly fishing. Lol
The new better indicator is Oros
Alot of folks say not to use that tag coming out the top. Why is that?
I'm not sure, this setup works very well for me but I am interested in knowing more. Please share if you find an answer.
@@redsflyshop I was told it will break off easy?. But in my head if you tie a triple and leave the top tag long wouldn't that push it away from the main line better?
@@fishingthedriftlessarea5419 That's how I feel, so I do it the way described in the video. There are lots of ways to create these tags, often my fly, main line, and shot are on the same strength of tippet. A lot of times I patch up a rig and the shot and the fly are on each end of a connected piece of tippet that I tie on. I put the shot on the long end, fly on the short end. So many choices. As long as you are efficient and don't spend too much time re-rigging I think that is the most practical way to look at it. Fly in the water = more fish haha.
@@redsflyshop awesome thanks so much!
Way to hijack Joe's awesome tutorial fellas
I use this set up often and find it very effective, however this is not a drop shot rig. Look at drop shotting as it was originally done by the bass guys and you will see that the bait, lure etc. and weight are all in line. ie no droppers. What you have made a video about is called a "bounce rig" . It is legal in some states where you cannot drop shot because the weight is not directly connected to the nymphs.
Illegal rig in CA afaik. Can be used to snag Salmon stacked in a pool.
@Red's Fly Shop can you make a statement that this is not a legal rig set up in rivers in California? Thank you.
It should be assumed that responsible anglers read the regulations for the places they fish.
Move from California
Use an jnstajig 2.0 on the bottom instead of shot. Heavier, not lead, and they don’t get hung up either.
Great video. I hope, knowing that we are all concerned about plastics in the environment, that you picked up and put the pieces of line you cut off into the bin. In fact, it would be very powerful if you actually showed this action in the video and commented that we all need to be aware of this to protect the environment.
Indicator. Just to avoid saying float or bobber.
If you are using your "Indicator" to suspend your offering it is a float. True indicators have no effect in manipulating a fly in any way
Not a fan of chucking junk. No judgement, just not for me. Love the channel and shop. Would rather Spey up one than catch 10 with shot and funky rigs
Hey that's a good M.O. I am like that 90% of the time.
don't litter your tag ends
This is bait fishing not fly fishing ! Just get a worm and a bobber !! Why even pretend you are fly fishing , you remind me of a child that wants to be a fireman when he grows up !!
What do you suggest we do when it's super cold out and we want to catch a few trout on flies?
If Kelly Galloup endorses a similar rig, I'd rather take Kelly's and Red's input over a person named Ricky Nelson.