Fishing a 3 fly rig

[Tom Butler]

Been fishing a 3 fly setup recently, with good results. I'm not having much luck on a dry or intermediate line, but working a 6 wt type 6 has been the ticket. I've had the loop added on for about 25 years, but I'm really tempted to cut it off and just nail knot the 20# chameleon directly to the line so it will run though the guides better as this leader setup is longer than my 9' rod.

Often it's windy and the 6wt will get the casting done even into a moderate breeze

Last night I worked up a new butt, about 8" 20#, then 2' 12# to a ring. I like just maxima ug. In the tube I bring 8#, and a spool of 3X tippet, in case I need to work something up. I also made a back up leader, 3' 8# w/ 10" tag, 3' 6# w/ 10" tag, 40" 4#.

A Doc Spratley up top, a black bugger in the middle and a thin mint on point

The doc spratley up top took the most fish, and the black bugger got a couple.

but the thin mint got the better fish

 

[cedarslug]

Nice! I will fish two flies, but rarely fish three, because of the occasional tangle. For the two dropper flies on tags, are the tags from a knot? If so, what knot are you using? I've always used tag ends from a double or triple surgeon's, and do my best to use the tag end that rides perpendicular to the main line.

 

[Tom Butler]

Nice! I will fish two flies, but rarely fish three, because of the occasional tangle. For the two dropper flies on tags, are the tags from a knot? If so, what knot are you using? I've always used tag ends from a double or triple surgeon's, and do my best to use the tag end that rides perpendicular to the main line.

The tags are left from double surgeons. If I need a new one I just add a new piece with a 5 turn uni-knot. A bit of practice and tangles are really not much of an issue., and if I do tangle I don't fight it. Just clip and tie in the backup leader and add flies. Takes a couple minutes, but I'm having good success with it so it's worth it.
Was out today and I'm noticing a profile change preference in the fish, by changing out flies that are not working so well with others. I ended up with a heather nymph sandwiched between 2 doc spratleys. This method really lets me play with flies and find the producers quickly.
I can also play with knots, I prefer loop over cinch.
as long as some fish cooperate anyways

but heck, kicking around on a nice day, just good to enjoy creation.

 

[Hobbyranch]

Great info…. Thanks Tom

 

[ifsteve]

I get enough tangles just fishing 2 flies. Not going to increase the frustration level with 3. For you guys who can fish 3 without a lot of mess then fantastic. Your more capable than me! LOL

 

[Josh]

I'm with @ifsteve here, I have enough trouble with double fly casting. Hats off to folks who can successfully cast three!

 

[Chucker]

There was some stuff about fishing a 3 fly rig in this thread as well https://pnwflyfishing.com/forum/ind...r-lochs-lochs-and-more-lochs.2149/#post-47809

The reason everyone does it in Scotland is that it is very productive to dibble the top fly on the surface over there (where the brown trout are much more surface oriented than they are in the PNW). You need the drag of the other two flies to do it properly, and sometimes they seem to be there for no other purpose than that. My usual set up over there was a very bushy fly or a muddler on top, with something small and nondescript in the middle to get the fish that come and look at the top fly but don't take it. The point fly was usually a bigger streamer type of thing, to balance the rig and maybe get a bigger fish.

Casting a rig like that is easier with a longer rod, 10 or 11 foot is common. It also means that you can space out the flies more and still net a fish hooked on the point fly. 4 or 5 feet between each fly works better than 2 or 3.

 

[iveofione]

Tom, I'm amazed that you have put up with a loop to loop setup for 25 years! The first thing I ever do with a new fly line or tapered leader is cut off the loops! Then I nail knot them together, clip them as short as possible and cover the knot with UV Knot Sense. This allows the line to slip through the guides easily with no hesitation. Once you see a big fish rip off a guide due to a loop connection you will see the efficacy of this. Plus it is just so damned much easier and smoother.

 

[Tom Butler]

Tom, I'm amazed that you have put up with a loop to loop setup for 25 years! The first thing I ever do with a new fly line or tapered leader is cut off the loops! Then I nail knot them together, clip them as short as possible and cover the knot with UV Knot Sense. This allows the line to slip through the guides easily with no hesitation. Once you see a big fish rip off a guide due to a loop connection you will see the efficacy of this. Plus it is just so damned much easier and smoother.

I know! I finally cut the loop of my sink tip this spring and have not missed it. The more I fish the more stuff I figure out.

 

[Tom Butler]

There was some stuff about fishing a 3 fly rig in this thread as well https://pnwflyfishing.com/forum/ind...r-lochs-lochs-and-more-lochs.2149/#post-47809

The reason everyone does it in Scotland is that it is very productive to dibble the top fly on the surface over there (where the brown trout are much more surface oriented than they are in the PNW). You need the drag of the other two flies to do it properly, and sometimes they seem to be there for no other purpose than that. My usual set up over there was a very bushy fly or a muddler on top, with something small and nondescript in the middle to get the fish that come and look at the top fly but don't take it. The point fly was usually a bigger streamer type of thing, to balance the rig and maybe get a bigger fish.

Casting a rig like that is easier with a longer rod, 10 or 11 foot is common. It also means that you can space out the flies more and still net a fish hooked on the point fly. 4 or 5 feet between each fly works better than 2 or 3.

I saw Dave's post, that got me thinking. I did some reading, and like you say, the lakes and fish are a bit different here than there, but it works. I think the lakes further east would allow me to fish the technique more as intended. And yes, the fish seem to prefer the flies a bit spread out, I had been fishing a 2 fly rig with them too close together I think.

 

[Tom Butler]

I get enough tangles just fishing 2 flies. Not going to increase the frustration level with 3. For you guys who can fish 3 without a lot of mess then fantastic. Your more capable than me! LOL

I'm with @ifsteve here, I have enough trouble with double fly casting. Hats off to folks who can successfully cast three!

I almost always fish two fly rigs, and three in the river is not unusual. Just used to it I guess, and I've been practicing. Open loops, don't try to overpower a cast, wait and let the rod load and do the work. Two false casts work best, sometimes I need a third, but that is when I start to get into tangle time.

 

[ifsteve]

I refuse to buy a fly line these days that doesn't have a loop on both ends. Cut it off? Not a chance. Changing lines and putting new butt sections on is a giant PITA for, IMO, very little benefit.