Of Curlys and Midges

[Louis Martin]

This question is primarily addressed to Loren, based on a comment he made somewhere else. 

He mentioned using the curly while presenting midge (pupae, I believe) to fish.  I'm wondering how many ways there are to skin that cat.  I'd probably use about 4-5 feet of 6X and perhaps a zebra midge with no weight.  But one might use a shorter tippet a weighted midge, and have a more vertical presentation, right?  How about using a weighted fly on point and the midge on a dropper (John K, I believe you suggested this to me when we were  out). 

So, Loren, if you don't mind the typing, how did you do it?

Others, if you're inclined to speculate, how would you? 

Please feel free to designate water type, etc. 

By the way, I hooked a large fish the other day using 5' of 5X, a weighted anchor on a dropper, a small beadhead on point, and a zebra midge dropped off the bend of the beadhead on 6X.  The fish took me to the cleaners, peeling off line and wedging my flies under a rock midstream just before or after it slipped the hook.  I don't know which fly it took (I've been catching fish on the anchor) but I suspect it was the midge given the water I was fishing--a deeper slow section where a feeder stream meets a main current.  Midges were active.  But it could have been the dropper/anchor fly.  I'm still fishing a fairly short leader--4X 9' plus the 5' of tippet, waiting for salmon leaders or the Hends I ordered to arrive.  I like  the curly, but more on that in another post.

[Loren Williams]

Hi Louis,

I will try to give you my view on both of your posts here.

When I fish, there are two basic ways I use the curly.  I either suspend it, or I float it.  Which method I use will depend on a few things 1) the length of the drift I want/need 2) how close i can get to the suspected fishies 3) wind

I suspend the thing for short drift/pocket water/ "spot" fishing applications when the wind allows.  For this I use a LONG but section to eliminate water contact at distance..but drifts will be short and must terminate upstream of me so that I can effectively recast.   I suppose you'd see me doing this quite a bit more often then not. I think the leader has much less mass than even a Running line and is certainly stiffer so it weighs less and equates to far better contact.  But, since it lacks mass you will struggle casting it until you take the time to learn how to make your rod work for you.  Which fly line you put behind it only matters if you have plans to use it.  I can, and do, fish dries, wets and streamers with that leader if need be/desired so I keep a WF on my reel.

I will float the thing when I am using  small/light flies on an extended drift where I cannot or wish not to get close to the target area.  If this type of fishing is minimal in the beat/area I am working then I will use my long leader. If it is the bulk or my beat then I use a short tapered leader and use my fly line to make the cast which is much easier.  I really like to attack broad riffles, dead flat pools and other expansive water  with this approach as I feel I can best cover the water, and thus the fish, with a method that promotes goo strike detection.

If I was fishing midges then I'd probably be fishing midgy water so I just may have the short tapered leader on my WF4F and a greased curly all behind about 6 feet of 6X and a few pupae-ish jammies.  This allows me to accurately cast wee flies, even if there is a breeze.

Help?  Make sense?

[Louis Martin]

Absolutely.  As I play with the rig I have and learn to watch the curly, I'm also trying to mentally map out new approaches and uses as I begin to lengthen my leaders.  Thanks!