Updated 5/2/2007
Over the years, I have developed a simple approach to rigging my fly rod for fishing. The idea is to make things easier for me and my clients. By keeping things simple, it is easier and faster to prepare for fishing and easier to repair problems on stream. With my system you only need to carry one size of leader, three spools of tippet, one spool of lead ribbon and a few strike indicators. In addition, you are only required to tie two knots. This system covers streamers, soft hackles (wet flies and emergers also), dry flies, and nymphs. It will work for 99.5% of your angling needs for trout.
The first step is to have the fly shop install your fly line when you buy it. Have them put on the required amount of backing as specified by the reel manufacturer. I also have them attach a braided loop to the end of the fly line. Most fly shops will do this at no additional charge. While there I buy some seven and one half foot 4X leaders that have a loop already knotted in the end. I also buy a spool of 4X, 5X, and 6X tippet and a spool of lead ribbon (my favorite brand is Larva Led) and a few strike indicators (my favorite brand is turn-ons).
To rig for streamers (Woolly Buggers), I start with a seven and one half foot 4X leader. I attach it to the fly line with a loop to loop connection. I tie a twenty four inch section of 4X tippet to the leader with a surgeons knot (after trimming the tag ends of the knots the tippet will end up around eighteen inches long). I attach the woolly bugger or other streamer to the tippet with an improved clinch knot. I trim all tag ends closely. I then apply several wraps of lead ribbon to the leader just above the tippet knot. The amount of lead used is determined by water depth and velocity. This is a trial and error process. If you put on too much, the fly will hang up on the bottom on every cast. Too little lead and the fly will never touch the bottom. If you do it right, the fly will hang up occasionally. With streamers you must fish the bottom.
To rig wet flies, soft hackles and emergers, I attach a seven and one half foot 4X leader to the fly line with a loop to loop connection. I then tie a four and one half foot section of tippet to the leader with a surgeons knot. I use 5X tippet for the wet flies and soft hackles and 6X tippet for the small emergers. I then tie on the fly with an improved clinch knot. I carefully trim the tag ends and I am ready to fish.
To rig dry flies, I attach a seven and one half foot 4X leader to the fly line with a loop to loop connection. I then tie a four and one half foot section of tippet to the leader with a surgeons knot. I use 4X tippet for large flies like hoppers and stimulators, 5X for medium sized flies like sulphurs and royal Wulffs and 6X tippet for the small dries my brother, Dan, favors. I then attach the fly to the tippet with an improved clinch knot. I trim all of the tags and apply fly floatant to the fly to waterproof it.
To rig nymphs, I attach a seven and one half foot 4X leader to the fly line with a loop to loop connection. I then tie a twenty four inch section of tippet to the leader with a surgeons knot (after trimming the tag ends, I will end up with an eighteen inch tippet). I use 4X for large nymphs like stone flies, 5X for medium nymphs like San Juan worms, and 6X for the tiny midge pupa. I attach the fly with an improved clinch knot. I attach a couple of wraps of lead ribbon to the leader above the tippet knot and then attach the strike indicator. The strike indicator should be set so that the distance of the fly to the indicator is the depth of the water. I trim all tags closely.
For all of these techniques test all knots and sharpen your hooks. If you use this simple system, you should be able to fish in the vast majority of water that you will encounter.
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas. He has fished the local streams for over twenty five years. He can be reached at (870) 435-2169 or
http://www.berrybrothersguides.com .
The first step is to have the fly shop install your fly line when you buy it. Have them put on the required amount of backing as specified by the reel manufacturer. I also have them attach a braided loop to the end of the fly line. Most fly shops will do this at no additional charge. While there I buy some seven and one half foot 4X leaders that have a loop already knotted in the end. I also buy a spool of 4X, 5X, and 6X tippet and a spool of lead ribbon (my favorite brand is Larva Led) and a few strike indicators (my favorite brand is turn-ons).
To rig for streamers (Woolly Buggers), I start with a seven and one half foot 4X leader. I attach it to the fly line with a loop to loop connection. I tie a twenty four inch section of 4X tippet to the leader with a surgeons knot (after trimming the tag ends of the knots the tippet will end up around eighteen inches long). I attach the woolly bugger or other streamer to the tippet with an improved clinch knot. I trim all tag ends closely. I then apply several wraps of lead ribbon to the leader just above the tippet knot. The amount of lead used is determined by water depth and velocity. This is a trial and error process. If you put on too much, the fly will hang up on the bottom on every cast. Too little lead and the fly will never touch the bottom. If you do it right, the fly will hang up occasionally. With streamers you must fish the bottom.
To rig wet flies, soft hackles and emergers, I attach a seven and one half foot 4X leader to the fly line with a loop to loop connection. I then tie a four and one half foot section of tippet to the leader with a surgeons knot. I use 5X tippet for the wet flies and soft hackles and 6X tippet for the small emergers. I then tie on the fly with an improved clinch knot. I carefully trim the tag ends and I am ready to fish.
To rig dry flies, I attach a seven and one half foot 4X leader to the fly line with a loop to loop connection. I then tie a four and one half foot section of tippet to the leader with a surgeons knot. I use 4X tippet for large flies like hoppers and stimulators, 5X for medium sized flies like sulphurs and royal Wulffs and 6X tippet for the small dries my brother, Dan, favors. I then attach the fly to the tippet with an improved clinch knot. I trim all of the tags and apply fly floatant to the fly to waterproof it.
To rig nymphs, I attach a seven and one half foot 4X leader to the fly line with a loop to loop connection. I then tie a twenty four inch section of tippet to the leader with a surgeons knot (after trimming the tag ends, I will end up with an eighteen inch tippet). I use 4X for large nymphs like stone flies, 5X for medium nymphs like San Juan worms, and 6X for the tiny midge pupa. I attach the fly with an improved clinch knot. I attach a couple of wraps of lead ribbon to the leader above the tippet knot and then attach the strike indicator. The strike indicator should be set so that the distance of the fly to the indicator is the depth of the water. I trim all tags closely.
For all of these techniques test all knots and sharpen your hooks. If you use this simple system, you should be able to fish in the vast majority of water that you will encounter.
John Berry is a fly fishing guide in Cotter, Arkansas. He has fished the local streams for over twenty five years. He can be reached at (870) 435-2169 or
http://www.berrybrothersguides.com .
A Simple Approach to Rigging