One of several ways – Simon showing the versatility of the tippet ring when using it as the dropper set up.

Fly fishing has been the only way to fish for trouts in my family since my grandpa, Judge Eberle, claimed its invention

By Angie Eberle Roth / Eberle Farmstead Georgia-North Carolina border / October 30, 2020

Using a dropper is a sure-fire a way to catch the rainbow trout ‘Mo Betta’ [Oncorhynchus mykiss], which also includes steelheads, brown trout [Salmo trutta], and brook trout [Salvelinus fontinalis], which is a char, and salmons. The latter would be both several Pacific models and stand alone Atlantic. In the Pacific offering, the coho is the most susceptible – and it’s also the lone [consistent] jumper too.

After decades of trial and error, the way I now add and tie on a dropper might be useful for you as well 

Over time, I adopted many methods of nymphing and adding a second or more flies. For example, using the New Zealand method of tying a Clinch Knot on the dropper hook, the Polish way of tying a stopper on the leader with a dropper loop above it [north of the front fly], and using a tippet ring. The latter separating the leader at a juncture with the tippet ring surviving as tie in for both ends and attached flies at whatever length or size I want. There are other dropper set ups, which you’ll see in the RIO video showing Simon Gawesworth as the instructor. 

One relevant matter with this nymphing/dropper is using the best indicator – critical as far as I’m concerned

Casting is very much a part of using a dropper, and as suggested above, helps keep the dropper from tangling, and assures that a nibbled fly gets the earliest notification. These are the two very distinct advantages of the NZ indicator.

There are other types of indicators, but I’ve only kept the New Zealand version 

The NZ wool indicator with a tool comes in different size packages  – get the complete package. It’s called The New Zealand Strike Indicator Wool Tool, or something like that and sells for around $20 on Amazon and at fly shops for about the same. The wool patches come in a dubbing style dispensary box offering different dyed colors.  

VIDEO by RIO Products: