Hi I'm a beginner to fly fishing I would like to know the ideal dropper length and how to stop it winding along the main leader.
Thanks

Here is a little tip and it has a couple of uses.length wise around 6inches for the length. if you use a water knot for tying the dropper on and if your unsure of how to do this knot someone im sure will spend time to show you it and Im sure there is step by steps from here which will help.Also once you have done the water knot tie a quick overhand knot and tuck it up below the dropper knot itself and it will stick out at 90 degrees and help not to wind around main leader.the other advantage is if you fish 2 or 3 flies and get a fish on and lose it if you look closely at the knot itself and see a V shape on one of the droppers you know that the fish was on that fly hence the V,to put it back to normal just pull each end of the main leader ,either side of the knot and it will click back into place and your ready to go again,knowing which fly the fish was interested in.
hope that helps a little.better to see done than describe.

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Kevin

Hi,
I'm also new to fly fishing, so I've just been sticking to a single fly, mainly to avoid tangles when casting. I'm keen to try droppers, but wondered which would be the best knot to use. I've read a lot of people use the water knot, but it looked to me like it would leave the dropper aligned with the leader, which might encourage the dropper to wrap around it? The suggestion of an additional overhand knot might correct this - thanks for that .
The other alternative I've seen is the dropper loop:-

http://www.animatedknots.com/dropper...matedknots.com

What are peoples thoughts on its use - is it just overcomplicating things?

Stu

Sounds like an excellent tip. Just to be clear though the overhand knot goes on the dropper rather than the leader?

Great tip , but would air on the side of caution ,if using fluorocarbon as one has had a few snaps using that idea Mono should be ok , not sure about the other stuff, which for the life of me i cant remember "old age" never useit anyway I actually use around 10 in to start with because i have to change flies alot, if your sticking with one or two then 6in should just about do. gaz

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I don't like the o/hand idea But if you want to go down that line()Then it involves making the o/hand hitch of the dropper length over the main line. below the waterknot.

Jim

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Thanks Jim

You beat me to it Jim,I have to admit that I have not had any problems with it myself and have found that using different flurocarbons,not so much mono,that they take different amount of turns to suit .some like 2 ,some 3 some 4 its down to finding which suits that fluro.

Another point to remember when doing the dropper knot as a water knot ,always cut the tag peice off that is pointing towards the tip of the rod and not the bit towards the point fly as this is what forms your dropper.

hope this helps.

kevin

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Kevin

The best tip I've picked up all season (from a Rob Edmunds post IIRC) was to tie droppers at 12 inches long. Way fewer twists and tangles than I used to get.

Guess no one likes the leader rings ?I use them quite often and find they work well and easy to change out droppers or sections of leader plus they help with the dropper angle from the leader.Rob Edmunds tip for longer droppers has also worked for me.

JP