Author Topic: Dropper Dry Flies (Read 500 times)

Mark Hanes · « **on:** December 29, 2009, 09:52:36 PM »

I am really starting to get into my hard core winter fly tying with the recent cold snap. So I got to thinking that I really need to come up with some solid fish catching drys that would work well in dropper dry rigs. I figure you guys may have some ideas or maybe even patterns that you would be willing to share.

I am thinking of starting with the following.

-Grasshoppers
- Elk Hair Caddis in various sizes
- CDC Caddis
- Beatles (foam)

There are some others I am thinking of but nothing that is going to knock any ones socks off. So what are you guys having luck with on your dropper dry rigs?

Dejon,

Feel free to move this if you don't think this is the right spot for this thread.

Chris Smorul · « **Reply #1 on:** December 29, 2009, 10:00:21 PM »

Mark,
You said earlier that you had Peter Gathercole's book, The Fly Tying Bible. On page 72 there is a caddis pattern that looks like a canidate for you.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #2 on:** December 29, 2009, 10:02:18 PM »

LOL yeah i have another book that I was confused about the Fly Tyers Pattern Bible. SO what is this pattern does it have a name?

Chris Smorul · « **Reply #3 on:** December 29, 2009, 10:07:35 PM »

Balloon Caddis. Its tied with closed cell foam in place of a hackle. Here's a recipe from the net http://www.fly-fishing-club.co.uk/2005_balloon_caddis.html

Todd Oishi · « **Reply #4 on:** December 29, 2009, 10:13:54 PM »

I won't get into specifics, but be sure to select a fly (and its location) that enables the most realistic action/motion while drifting it in a tandem setup of dries.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #5 on:** December 29, 2009, 10:22:59 PM »

good point Todd. There is a lot more to it than pick a dry that floats well and fish a nymph under it. I am thinking along the lines of what kinds of drys do i want to use for certain size and weight nymphs. It seems simple at first but I keep over analyzing it and making it more daunting than it needs to be.

Water depth and current play a vital roll in how the set up should be fished. When you add in possible hatches going on and such the task of what drys I want to tie can seem daunting. I am not sure if I want a lot of different flies to cover situations or go with more general patterns.

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #6 on:** December 29, 2009, 10:23:37 PM »

Rich will be hammering out some good "gd" type dry prototypes in a few weeks for the team.

Chris Smorul · « **Reply #7 on:** December 29, 2009, 10:25:24 PM »

I thought the ballon caddis would be a good candidate because of its high visibility. Of course, I could be wrong.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #8 on:** December 29, 2009, 10:29:38 PM »

D,
I forgot all about that.

Chris,

That pattern has potential.

Nick Naclerio · « **Reply #9 on:** December 29, 2009, 10:49:41 PM »

A big (8,10,12) para adams type fly. Change up the dubbing colors, tail materials and hackle colors but this fly floats a good amount of weight and is easy to see.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #10 on:** December 30, 2009, 10:27:07 AM »

yeah Parachutes are one thing i need to work on.

I am also trying to track down some Pink and other bright colored CDC does anyone know of any sources for this?

Jeremy Hogan · « **Reply #11 on:** December 31, 2009, 02:09:16 AM »

Out here in Colo. ants and beetles can get a lot of action.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #12 on:** December 31, 2009, 10:49:06 AM »

Jermey,

What are you implowing to the ant patterns to make them more visible?

Bill Welz · « **Reply #13 on:** December 31, 2009, 11:49:58 AM »

I have had time on my hands lately so I have started thinking about how excited I get when my dry fly get sucked under from a strike on the dropper nymph. I went to work on the vise. I like parachutes and hoppers. Here are a few parachute patterns.

Nick Naclerio · « **Reply #14 on:** December 31, 2009, 01:56:44 PM »

Those are some good looking flies wwelz.

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #15 on:** December 31, 2009, 02:15:07 PM »

Great flies ww! You've done an exceptional job on the bodies in those samples.

Josh McFadden · « **Reply #16 on:** December 31, 2009, 07:32:01 PM »

I hadn't tried one myself yet I usually stick to a poly caddis or stimi. But check out these thingamahoppers

http://www.caddisflyshop.com/th8.html

What say you?

Josh

Nick Naclerio · « **Reply #17 on:** December 31, 2009, 09:17:36 PM »

I have those small indicators but I haven't got to really use them yet. They are available from http://www.wflies.com/Synthetics.html. If you spend more than $10 you can enter creekaddict in the coupon code and recieve free shipping.

Here is a fly I tied with them. http://troutlegend.com/forum/river-patterns-and-discussion/indicator-fly/

I haven't really tried them yet but here in the east I'd be willing to bet it get more takes than a huge foam thing. Which brings up a good point, on a huge hackled foam fly do you really need an indicator for floatabilty?

Lance Egan · « **Reply #18 on:** January 01, 2010, 01:59:41 AM »

Fav's of mine include poly wing stimulator variations, foam ants, and my corn fed caddis. Vary the size and color to match naturals, and add CDC to the wing and a bit of extra poly and it floats quite well. Here is a link...

http://umpqua.com/pm-1664-33-corn-fed-caddis-cdc-egans.aspx

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #19 on:** January 01, 2010, 11:15:05 AM »

I like the look of that caddis Lance. What is the body of that fly made of?

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #20 on:** January 01, 2010, 12:25:45 PM »

Does anyone know if the thingamabobber and balloon posts are currently legal in comp? If they are I can't imagine they will last too long.

Lance Egan · « **Reply #21 on:** January 01, 2010, 06:08:42 PM »

Mark,

The body is made of superfine dubbing ribbed with UNI thread. Vary the color to match your local hatch.... Umpqua ties them in olive or tan.

Jeremy Hogan · « **Reply #22 on:** January 01, 2010, 10:26:17 PM »

Those Thingamahoppers are intersting, I'm curious as to how they are intended to float in the water. Unless the hopper floats below the surface I can't imagine that they would be that much more advantageous, than a standard hopper with a hi vis indicator of some sorts.

Now, I do like the idea of putting them on a dry fly, which does ride below the surface. Like the one by Nick. I can see that as being an advantage.

Mark,

If you are using a foam ant, you can tie on a hi vis foam piece, kind of like a hi vis foam bettle. I've also seen hi vis posts' on ants that use hackle, like the ones posted by wwelz.