I'm curious what kind of knots are used by some of you seasoned chironomid fishermen? I try to utilize a loop to get good action, but haven't been able to come up with a way to attach a dropper fly with the loop. Usually I tie the dropper off the bend of the first fly, however I feel this kills some of the action. One idea i had is to tie the dropper to the loop, but i'm not too sure how secure that would be.
I am by no means a seasoned chiro fisherman, but I have caught my fair share, I usually tie my first fly with a loop, and the dropper with a clinch knot. One thing i have noticed is that my bottom fly almost always gets eaten more than the top. I dont know if this is because of the fly, the action or the knot, but id sure like to find out.
Ya I notice the same thing. The bottom fly always gets the most action. Seems like I also bring in quite a few that are snagged by the bottom fly. I assume this usually happens on a missed hookset, or if the top fly is spit during battle.
I've not played with this yet but I heard it described on a ask about fly fishing.com fly podcast. The radio show had Davey Wonton speaking about wet fly techniques. Show 091007. At 1:03:25 into the show.
Davey descibed tying a clinch knot above any stop knot on your tippet. As I undersood his description, you could simply tie your upper fly w the loop knot and then tie your dropper tippet material in above the loop knot with a clinch knot. The knot will slide on your standing line but stops when it hits the loop knot.
He also describes tying the dropper in on the tag end of your surgeons knot.
I tie all my flies with the bowline loop. For chironomids, I tie the top chironomid with the bowline loop, then I tie the dropper chironomid with a bowline loop tied in the top fly's eye. I also agree that most of my fish are on the bottom fly, I think this is because this fly is in the lower zone. Works for me!! Just my 5 cents....
Steve is seasoned and I believe by now I can say the same about myself. What Steve said pretty much nails what I do. I've tested both head to head with people without realizing it and the loop on both flies in general out performes other methods.
To me, a lot depends on how fussy the fish are. The fussier the fish, the more willing I am to make a complicated set up. Early season, easy fish, tie with clinch knots and hang dropper off bend of hook. As fish get fussier, go to loop knots at the eye of both hooks. I prefer the Duncan loop style to the bowline. Still catch most fish on bottom fly. More extreme fish require more extreme measures. Here is where things get more complicated. A tippet ring is used in this setup. Tie the tippet ring to you leader with a clinch knot leaving a long tag. Upper fly is tied with a loop knot to this tag. Tie a piece of leader to bottom tippet ring with clinch knot and tie bottom fly to this with loop knot. Be ready for a few tangles with casting, but is worth it at times. I did a comparison of which fly caught more fish with this setup and found it equal. At times when fishing deep (over 20ft) with an indicator, I find it simpler to just fish one fly and tie it with a loop knot. Granted this is not covering multiple depths or types of chiros but sure saves tangles.
I fish like SK and it works every time. Loops make for great action.
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