Hi all, I've just been reading a post on tangled droppers which resulted in help being given with regard to shortening the length to a maximum of 4 inches!
With my best knotting this gives me about 3 fly changes before i'm at an inch. So, whats the shortest length for an effective dropper? what do you do then? Just cut it off tie on another near it....... so on a hard day you end up with an abundance of knots? I know the simple solution is just to renew the leader or that part of it but being tight (frugal), is it necessary?
I generally taper my leaders from 15 to 10 to 8lb then my tippet. Do you think droppers tied to the heavier sections (obviously from lighter tippet material) will be effected by fish seeing the thick line, and if so how do you overcome this....... stop tapering and simply put a tin-head or the like on point to aid turnover?

Sorry peeps, I only intended to ask 1 question but it seems to have evolved!!
Any views will be greatly appreciated,
Thanks and tight lines

Rob

Hi Roders,
I have been using 1mm stainless steel leader rings when making up my casts, they are the greatest invention since sliced bread.You can now change your droppers as often as u wish in seconds.

Jemo

__________________
Instead of improving im getting better!

Once the dropper is too small snip it off close to the knot. Take another length and tie a loop in one end.

Then choke [like trendies tie their scarves], onto the leader above the dropper knot. Stands out nice and proud and only the dropper knot will fail, as it would anyway.

Best to tie a new one for every session though. I'm a fan of leader rings but only for saving tapered leaders, you can get some odd hinging effects with long leaders and multiple rings.

Rob,
I change from droppers to dry fly to single nymph multiple times during the day. Especially when with clients as we fish different techniques on different water.
This is how I do it. It allows me to change droppers without altering the leader. Try and use materials for your droppers that has the same thickness as your tippet. This allows the flies to have a little more movement. Also, if you keep the loop (picture 2) about an inch long, then it provides extra support away from the leader. I also keep my droppers short to stop tangles. 3 - 4" is okay. You will always get a tangle or two, part of using multiple flies.
Preparing a leader (you can use the one you have).

Adding droppers

Now some guys are trying these (Irish Flytying)

__________________
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Uk representative and Instructor for Fly Fishing Masters - www.flyfishingmasters.co.uk

Distributor for Terenzio Silk and Artificial Silk Fly Lines - Pay distributor retail price.

Or, when your dropper becomes too short (shorter than a couple of inches for me) just cut the knot out and re-join the two pieces with a 3 turn water knot, using the down facing excess as the new dropper, simple and with very little waste through the day. Only once the lower part of the leader becomes too short (flies too close to each other) is it necessary to replace the leader.

Where do you buy your dropper rings from?

Valkyrie.

The late, great Arthur Cove constructed the majority of his bank fishing leaders from level 6lb nylon - up to around 30ft (!) in length - and using two droppers.

His recommendation was that droppers should not be longer than 2 - 3".

It seemed to work for Arthur Cove who I think caught the odd fish or two.

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[I]"I still don't know why I fish or why other men fish, except that we like it and it makes us think and feel."[/I] Roderick L Haig-Brown

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[url]http://www.gameanglinginstructors.co.uk/[/url]

Thanks for all the replies guys.......................Absolutely superb. Now I've got even more stuff to be meddling with before fishing friday.
Really appreciate all your time, efforts and thoughts.

Rob

Leader Rings - Sportfish

One suggestion but most big suppliers will have them... also in coarse fishing shops in the carp section

Oh by the way if your new to them, hold them with a piece of wire or a pin to stop them spinning as you get the first knot on them.

Or keep them on a safety pin on your vest. https://www.johnnorris.co.uk/shop/br...der-rings.html