I’m currently writing another book. This one on Drop Shot Nymphing

Glad it was helpful!

That’s the beautiful thing about DS, you do what works for you. The fish doesn’t know what a Snap Swivel is.

Yes no problem

Absolutely good point

There are quite a few things in fly fishing that folks get riled on. Some rivers even make rules on what wading boots you ware, how many hooks you can use, barbless, and of course lead shot. For the most part I get it, understand it and comply. There are lots of alternatives to lead on the market today. I suggest you shop around, try all of it, and find what works for you. Most work ok for me. I smash them on the leader hard as opposed to tying a knot at the end. I have used putty before with good results. As far as I know there are no rivers or streams being contaminated by fishermen using lead. Bird life certainty has hence steel shot. I can agree lead shot does not bode well in our waters that my great grandchildren will be fishing. A very good comment. One that has me thinking and that could be good thing thanks.

The great thing about DS is there are no rules. What I have attempted is to give you a baseline or guide to build on. I have found over the years this works for me. That said I’ve changed it a little since I made this video 6 years ago. As long as the weight is at the end then it’s DS. I do use the same formula as shown. In deep water rivers like we have in Idaho and Montana I can raise it lower the height of my flies by raising or lowering my rod tip. Today I rarely if ever use smaller diameter than 5X. There is a video I did recently on the 6 Steps to perfecting DS. Go to my channel for that. There is also a video on how I make those 4” tags. I’ll be doing more videos in the future on DS so stay tuned. This old fish hobo is Trying to pass on 8 decades of FF before I kick the bucket for those willing to listen.

Well, this is a good question on your part. No part of Drop Shotting should be mis-understood. I use a 10 ft. 6 wt. rod; with that I use an inexpensive weight forward 6 wt. floating line. WF6F. If you have any other questions, you can contact me via the beginning of every video is my contact from my website. Here I can give you a more Indepth answers.

I recommend you watch Drop Shot Nymphing Vol 1 on my KZfaq channel. (Northwest School of Fly Fishing) for complete demonstration on your question. There are many different ways to make a drop shot leader. You don't buy a leader you make it. it is not tapperd. I use about 7 or 8 feet of 8 or 10 lb regular Stren fluorocarbon fishing line as the main leader. at one end I tie a Perfection loop. From there I go about 36 inches down from the loop and tie my first triple surgeons knot, 10 to 12 inches down from that knot I tie in and other SK and again another 12 in. for the final knot. From the final knot I will go another 12 inches and put on my lead. I will then trim any excess fluorocarbon line 3 inches down from where I would put on my lead. That is the leader. For the flies I use 4X Tippet or 6lb Fluorocarbon. Tie on the fly first then a perfection loop at 4 inches. to add the fly to the leader just do a loop to fly connection and slide it down to the knot.

That's a good question and I hope I never run into a situation like that. Ethically I would call that Low Holing or High Holing. Someone us trying to move you off the water. However, there are waters where this type of fishing is typical. In this situation the river will dictate how it is I'm going to cast. is it shallow enough for me to move forward into the river. Is the river to swift to do so? And so on. By moving forward into the river, I can shorten my cast. I would venture to say most modern forms of nymphing have a similar cast and would have a similar problem. There is a river in Eastern Oregon where this type of crowding will actually cause a fight on the river. Less, at least a verbal confrontation. I would say this type of fishing is becoming the norm on this river. Basic fly fishing ethics dictate, if someone is fishing a section of river, fish somewhere else or ask the angler permission. Of course, I'm talking about Old School Fly Fishing here and many of our youth today find that below them.

I get this question a lot. It's a suggestive question, meaning other guys will tell you just the opposite and be right. However, for an old hobo who has been DS for years I've tried all the rods. What I have found is the 10ft 6wt rod works the best. The cast is made at the top section of your rod. That extra 12 inches gives you a more powerful cast and helps your reach out into the river. The 6wt is just right for the extra weight or split shot you might add. This Thursday or Friday I will be posting a new video on the do's and don'ts of the drop shot cast. Look for it. It will help you out in understanding what I'm talking about. I will be using a 10fI 6wt rod. I have found over the years that a 5wt rod is much less effective than a 6wt. I know guys who have converted from Euro to DS and try to use their Euro rods for DS. They soon convert to the 10ft 6wt. Lastly, the 10ft 6wt fly rod is the most versatile fly rod you can have in your inventory. Bass, Steelhead, lake and streamer fishing it works great. Hope this helps.

That helps a lot thank you! I appreciate all the information.

In all forms of modern nymphing and DS is modern nymphing, you must maintain a tight line. If you maintain this then any strike will immediately be felt. A little bump Bach with the rod tip will seat the fly. The seat of the fly in the trout’s mouth will cause the TROUT to set the hook. Often times it’s just a powerful smash and a bent rod. Very much like pulling a streamer. However, you must maintain a tight line. Back in “The day” we called all nymphing “Tight Line nymphing”. Remember what makes DS so effective is your flies are are always in the trout’s grill not dragging on the bottom and the weight is always on the bottom making it easy to add or subtract weight. Success in all modern nymphing is maintaining a tight line.

@@northwestschoolofflyfishin1543 do you ever use an indicator in your system?

I do fish lakes and ponds. Here, I usually do not DS nymph. From a boat I'm usually using a full sink line. I use a standard 9 ft 3X fluro leader. Depending on the depth of the lake would determine the type of sinking line I would use. Type 1,2, 3, or 6. From shore I would usually be using sink tip line. These lines I would never use in a river. I seldom use a drop shot rig in lakes. However, when the conditions are right, I have used the drop shot rig with great success on lakes and ponds. I little oxymoronic answer but you know what I mean. I hope this helps.

Thanks!

Great question. You want to move or pull your flies slightly faster than the current of the river where you are fishing. Sometimes the current is moving so fast that you can just barely keep up. The main concept is to keep your leader and line tight so you can feel the slightest take of your fly.

@@northwestschoolofflyfishin1543 you do know that current speed at the bottom is always slower than what you see on the surface, don't you?

It can very much be. This is one of those things in fly fishing that is very debatable. Many times, the river is going so fast that you can barely keep up with it and the question is mute. The reverse can be said for slow water. But overall, my experience says yes, the current, from a general point of view, is slower on the bottom. @@nichtverstehen2045

@@northwestschoolofflyfishin1543 there is nothing to debate as this is one of the main principles well studied by hydrodynamics. quote: "The slowest moving water is next to the bottom and each successive layer of water toward the surface flows faster than the layer below it. The fastest moving water is found just below the surface." ref www.frostburg.edu/faculty/rkauffman/_files/images_rafting_chapters/Ch03b-RiverDynamics_v3.pdf

Yes of course.@@nichtverstehen2045

Good point. You don’t want to leave anything on the ground. When I’m filming I often toss things to the ground then pick up everything when I’m done. Anglers who leave mono on the ground don’t even think about it. It’s sad. I will be more conscious in the future. Bad optics like mono all over the bushes is not the way to. Thanks for bringing this up.

Did I see you drop the cut off tippet on the river bank,,?

Absolutely! There are no rules in drop shot nymphing like the euro styles other than the split shot is at the end of the leader. Thanks for your insight and comment.