I have been trying to use a single dropper when dry fly fishing on small rivers. For a while it works well, and then once the dropper twists around the main leader line it happens every cast and I spend a lot of time untwisting it. I use the water knot and have tried using both ends to see if it makes a difference but it always twists after a while. I've been using 8½ ft 2lb leader. Bigger fly on the pioint and smaller on the dropper. Am I doing something wrong?
I'm sure I heard / read somewhere that you can buy small plastic rings. Has anyone used these or know where to get them from?

What material are you using ?

It's made by Greys. Not sure what type it is - I'll have to check.

The rings are metal not plastic

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Best to use something fairly stiff - but not so stiff it stops the fly moving. I've settled on fluorocarbon which it is said is stiffer than nylon. I've tried some specialist stuff called Tynex which is even stiffer but it's very thick and very very stiff and I don't think I have caught anything on it. Even with fluorocarbon tailing loops in the cast will result in tangles (and I am by no means immune especially with a 3 fly rig which I usually use with spders). There have been some good threads on this subject with some good advice but I can't remember exactly where. Key issues were (I think) (i) going for slightly more open loops and (ii) bringing the rod slightly off to the side on the forward cast but I am sure there are those better able to advise than I on this.
Key learning points from me are:-
(i) tie your own leaders and
(ii) make sure you carry something to collect the waste material when recovering from a fatal tangle.

ONCE YOU GET A KINK IN THE DROPPER FOR WHATEVER REASON IT WILL WRAP AROUND THE MAIN BRANCH OF THE LEADER. TRUST ME ON THIS!!
GD

the rings are called leader or tippet rings, riverge, rio and roman moser make them, they come in 1.5mm and 2mm, i have started using them recently and they are ok, a bit fiddly to tie and i dont fancy having to do it in the ice cold!

if you are using a dropper on rivers why not try the new zealand method were the dropper is tied on the bend of the dry fly, seems to work well and i will be trying it myself on the rivers soon.

in the meantime sportfish, lakeland and many others do the rings

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[B][COLOR="Black"]"Bang Tidy"
.[/COLOR][/B]

I use leader rings all the time for multiple dry fly set ups, for various reasons.

1) I use tapered polyleaders for good turnover, and putting a leader ring on the end, so if i need to change the tippet end I am not losing length on the polyleader.

2) The nature of the knots tied on to the ring means that the droppers can be at right angles to the main leader

3) You can use multiple sizes and types of leader/tippet material without loss of strength in the knot.

4) It is dead easy to change one of the flys in a combination if you need to, and when you get a kink in the dropper (as will happen eventually!) it is really easy to change the dropper without having to change the whole cast

5) I am rubbish at tying water knots!!!

You can obtain these in various sizes from most good suppliers (I get mine from Fishtec). They are relatively expensive, (for such a tiny ring) but well worth the hassle for the time and effort saved. try to use the smallest rings you can get, that will fit the tippet.

How long are your droppers Tedster..........I find a lot of problems are due to excessive length. I guess the guys on here will all have their prefered dropper length but for me, around the 4 to 5 inch mark works. All saying that you wish to use a dropper in the first place..................birdsnest

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Fear not if I steal from your side, as of yore, from paradise streams to fish Teifi once more.
BN based in Wolverhampton

I have used the New Zealand method many times succesfully with nymphs and wet flies, but until recently (in Finland) never with a team of dries.

I tried it with three dries over Grayling and trout in several rivers in Lapland, and whilst there where many "sips" at the top and middle fly but no proper takes. The only takes were on the point fly. Changing back to my normal method of a left top 8inch dropper then 2ft, then a right 8 inch then 3ft to the point resulted in a much higher rate of takes. I can only conclude that the fish where trying the fly and feeling the tippet coming off the bend and so rejecting it.

The only exception was the multiple takes by little but very aggressive perch, on everything. I have no objection to flyfishing for perch, but when you are trying to induce a take from what looks like a decent grayling to have a six inch sripy bandit pop out from behind an obstruction and ambush your fly!

The classic Blood Knot has tag ends which stand out at right angles and can be used for droppers.

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