Indicator Fly 22
Fly of the Month 10.22
The fly of the month is the Indicator Fly. However, this article will focus on a broader topic of fly fishing a tandem-rig or combinations of two fly patterns together. A word of caution here - some states have regulations defining what is considered legal in terms of using multiple flies or hooks. Care should be taken to understand and follow the regulations wherever you fly fish. Following the regulations for the body of water that you are fly fishing is both the lawful means and the sound fisheries management means for the target species of fish.
Most anglers consider a dry fly with a dropper nymph to be the only tandem-rig to fly fish. It is by far the most utilized. Any guide with experience will use several other combinations including triple fly combinations. Rather than write a book about all the possible combinations, let’s focus on the three combinations of two flies:
Dry-Wet Rig
Dry-Dry Rig
Wet-Wet Rig
Dry-Wet Rigs
Matching sizes of the two fly patterns and keeping the dry fly buoyancy and the nymph weight in balance is key. A prime example is a Roughwater Fly with Nymph Dropper. The Roughwater Fly is selected as the indicator fly and as a super floater that will support a heavier nymph a few sizes larger than the indicator or even a matched size bead head nymph. This combination is typically used in fast moving, deeper runs. For riffles, keep the tippet connection short. If the nymph pulls down the indicator it is too large - simply use a larger roughwater fly. Keep in mind, a tungsten bead head nymph is even heavier.
Another example is a Sulphur Sparkle Dun with a Sweet Thing. A sparkle dun is basically a crippled or struggling mayfly dun. It is not a super floater so the nymph dropper must be small and light. A Sweet Thing is specifically a brown zebra midge with a copper bead and copper wire rib. This combination is used on a tailrace where the water is glassy yet fast moving and the fish key on very small flies.
Beyond matching sizes in both examples, it is important to have the tippet connection length matched to the depth and flow of the body of water. Too short and the fish in the water column may not move on either fly. Too long and the nymph will drag the bottom excessively and hang up. The best connection length is tricky and may require some trial and error or the advice of an experienced angler nearby.
Other dry-wet rigs include any dry fly with enough buoyancy to support either a wet fly, soft hackle fly, rising pupa, drifting nymph or small streamer.
Dry-Dry Rigs
So why have two dry flies in tandem? Uncertainty during multiple, simultaneous hatches of course. When you are not sure, try two at once. If you only have one shot at presenting, two different dry flies greatly improves the odds. My experience with a tandem-rig with dry flies was on the Nantahala River. Ken Kastrof is an expert guide who specializes in fly fishing the Nantahala gorge during generation. Yes, whitewater rafting and fly fishing at the same time. When we switched to dry flies, we used two dry flies with a tippet connection of about twelve inches. When I cast to a side pocket, a trout had about three seconds to strike before the fast water pull the raft past the pocket. Placing two dry flies together improved the odds greatly. At least one of the two flies landed in a near perfect spot every time. This approach produced a fish about every other pocket.
Wet-Wet Rigs
The best example of two wet flies in tandem is a trailer nymph behind a streamer. For example, a Zebra Midge trailing a Mickey Finn is a great combination. When fly fishing muddy waters after a rain, we often select a streamer knowing that fish are not likely to see or even take a dry fly until the run-off clears. Keep in mind a fish will have difficulty seeing a streamer in dingy to cloudy water conditions unless the fly appears in front of their nose. A quick fix is to add a trailer that improves the odds of seeing the streamer.
Even in clear water, a trailer may get the attention of the fish which then sees the streamer and strikes. Call it bait and switch, but it works!
A final note. When using a tandem-rig, odds are you will encounter a bird’s nest sooner or later. Take care to keep your casting with a full back cast allowing the second fly to lay out completely. Any casting short of a full back cast may result in the second fly entangling on the line in front of the first fly. Thus, the bird’s nest will appear and a redo of tying the tandem-rig from scratch follows. With practice, this will mostly become a non-issue.
Indicator Fly
There are a few styles of indicator flies on the market. The simplest indicator fly I am aware of was created by our chapter’s second President, Steve Craig. He discovered one day that trout would sometimes strike his foam indicator (the hi-vis, double rounds with the sticky back). He began placing the foam indicator on a hook, thus, the Craig Indicator Fly. Most indicator fly patterns use a combination of foam, hair or feathers for a little action and hi-vis paint for spot of visibility.
Fly of the Month 10.22
Indicator Fly
Tom Adams and Alen Baker
The fly of the month is the Indicator Fly. However, this article will focus on a broader topic of fly fishing a tandem-rig or combinations of two fly patterns together. A word of caution here - some states have regulations defining what is considered legal in terms of using multiple flies or hooks. Care should be taken to understand and follow the regulations wherever you fly fish. Following the regulations for the body of water that you are fly fishing is both the lawful means and the sound fisheries management means for the target species of fish.
Most anglers consider a dry fly with a dropper nymph to be the only tandem-rig to fly fish. It is by far the most utilized. Any guide with experience will use several other combinations including triple fly combinations. Rather than write a book about all the possible combinations, let’s focus on the three combinations of two flies:
Dry-Wet Rig
Dry-Dry Rig
Wet-Wet Rig
Dry-Wet Rigs
Matching sizes of the two fly patterns and keeping the dry fly buoyancy and the nymph weight in balance is key. A prime example is a Roughwater Fly with Nymph Dropper. The Roughwater Fly is selected as the indicator fly and as a super floater that will support a heavier nymph a few sizes larger than the indicator or even a matched size bead head nymph. This combination is typically used in fast moving, deeper runs. For riffles, keep the tippet connection short. If the nymph pulls down the indicator it is too large - simply use a larger roughwater fly. Keep in mind, a tungsten bead head nymph is even heavier.
Another example is a Sulphur Sparkle Dun with a Sweet Thing. A sparkle dun is basically a crippled or struggling mayfly dun. It is not a super floater so the nymph dropper must be small and light. A Sweet Thing is specifically a brown zebra midge with a copper bead and copper wire rib. This combination is used on a tailrace where the water is glassy yet fast moving and the fish key on very small flies.
Beyond matching sizes in both examples, it is important to have the tippet connection length matched to the depth and flow of the body of water. Too short and the fish in the water column may not move on either fly. Too long and the nymph will drag the bottom excessively and hang up. The best connection length is tricky and may require some trial and error or the advice of an experienced angler nearby.
Other dry-wet rigs include any dry fly with enough buoyancy to support either a wet fly, soft hackle fly, rising pupa, drifting nymph or small streamer.
Dry-Dry Rigs
So why have two dry flies in tandem? Uncertainty during multiple, simultaneous hatches of course. When you are not sure, try two at once. If you only have one shot at presenting, two different dry flies greatly improves the odds. My experience with a tandem-rig with dry flies was on the Nantahala River. Ken Kastrof is an expert guide who specializes in fly fishing the Nantahala gorge during generation. Yes, whitewater rafting and fly fishing at the same time. When we switched to dry flies, we used two dry flies with a tippet connection of about twelve inches. When I cast to a side pocket, a trout had about three seconds to strike before the fast water pull the raft past the pocket. Placing two dry flies together improved the odds greatly. At least one of the two flies landed in a near perfect spot every time. This approach produced a fish about every other pocket.
Wet-Wet Rigs
The best example of two wet flies in tandem is a trailer nymph behind a streamer. For example, a Zebra Midge trailing a Mickey Finn is a great combination. When fly fishing muddy waters after a rain, we often select a streamer knowing that fish are not likely to see or even take a dry fly until the run-off clears. Keep in mind a fish will have difficulty seeing a streamer in dingy to cloudy water conditions unless the fly appears in front of their nose. A quick fix is to add a trailer that improves the odds of seeing the streamer.
Even in clear water, a trailer may get the attention of the fish which then sees the streamer and strikes. Call it bait and switch, but it works!
A final note. When using a tandem-rig, odds are you will encounter a bird’s nest sooner or later. Take care to keep your casting with a full back cast allowing the second fly to lay out completely. Any casting short of a full back cast may result in the second fly entangling on the line in front of the first fly. Thus, the bird’s nest will appear and a redo of tying the tandem-rig from scratch follows. With practice, this will mostly become a non-issue.
Indicator Fly
There are a few styles of indicator flies on the market. The simplest indicator fly I am aware of was created by our chapter’s second President, Steve Craig. He discovered one day that trout would sometimes strike his foam indicator (the hi-vis, double rounds with the sticky back). He began placing the foam indicator on a hook, thus, the Craig Indicator Fly. Most indicator fly patterns use a combination of foam, hair or feathers for a little action and hi-vis paint for spot of visibility.
Fly of the Month 10.22
Indicator Fly
Tom Adams and Alen Baker
Name : Indicator Fly
Recipe :
Hook : Hends Jig hook, sz 10,12,14
Thread : UTC 70 White
Body : Veevus FL Orange Mini Braid
Wing : Yellow Poly Yarn with FL Chartreuse Flash
Directions :
Recipe :
Hook : Hends Jig hook, sz 10,12,14
Thread : UTC 70 White
Body : Veevus FL Orange Mini Braid
Wing : Yellow Poly Yarn with FL Chartreuse Flash
Directions :
- Mount hook and tie in thread at the one third mark and advance to the bend returning to the tie in.
- Select a three inch piece of Veevus Mini braid and tie in. Use thread wraps to trap the mini braid on top of the hook shank to the bend. Return thread to the part of the hook that begins the jig turn down. Advance the mini braid to one turn short of the jig turn down and tie in, trim away waste mini braid.
- Remove the hook from the vice and reinstall with the jig turn down parallel with your desk. This is where the last materials are tied in.
- Select a three inch piece of poly yarn and tie in on top of the hook shank and fold back toward the bend doubling the yarn. Secure with thread.
- Add flash to the top of the hook where you secured the yarn and make a head with thread wraps. Whip finish and cut the thread.
- Use a black permanent marker to make a black head.
- Coat the head with UV resin to finish.