Having first used droppers (a second fly) for strike indicator nymph fishing, I now find myself employing droppers for many other situations.  In fact, I almost always use two-fly rigs where the law allows it.  I have even experimented with three-fly nymph rigs.  Be it nymphing, swinging a wet fly, chucking a streamer, or casting dries, droppers increase the odds of hooking fish considerably.  Out west the term “Hopper & Dropper” is synonymous with summer fishing.

Multi-fly rigs are by no means new.  In fact I have read several stories from the so-called golden age of outdoor sporting which refer to a “brace” of wet flies which based on what they said meant more than two flies!  The same can be said for so-called modern day strike indicator nymphing; considering that I have been doing it for 10+ years it is not that modern!  Regardless, multi-fly rigs seem to have fallen out of favor sometime between “braces of wet flies” and “strike indicator nymphing”.

The reality is that two flies are better than one.  Multi-fly rigs are absolutely the standard in regard to strike indicator nymphing.  Rarely if ever do I see someone use just one fly when nymphing in this manner.  As I said earlier, three-fly rigs are not only acceptable but they are the norm in certain well-known nymphing waters such as the Lee’s Ferry in Arizona where I first saw it.  Droppers for dries are also pretty common amongst western anglers, especially when fishing terrestrials.

While the benefit of two-fly nymph rigs is pretty obvious, two-fly rigs used for dry fly fishing are equally as effective.  In fact, mixing dry flies with wet flies can be a deadly combination.  It is also not unusual to see two-fly dry fly rigs which use a “spinner” (spent wing) dry behind an adult dry imitation.  Not only does this double your odds but it helps you keep track of your low floating spinner.  I also use adult dry fly imitations (traditional, parachute, comparadun) in conjunction with cripples and floating nymphs.

When using a dry/wet combination, you increase your odds by fishing both above and below the surface.  While surface takes are easy to spot, subsurface takes are not.  When a fish takes a wet fly sunk below a dry fly the only thing the anglers sees is the loss of their dry fly!  In this case the dry fly is like a bobber.  No wake, no swirl, no splash, just a quiet disappearance of your dry fly.  This type of dropper fishing may be harder to learn than any other as the takes are often unnoticed (until it is too late!).

Using a small streamer behind a larger one can be deadly as the large streamer gets the fishes attention and the smaller one gets the hit.  I also believe that one dark streamer and one light streamer of the same size can be deadly as you are covering both ends of the color spectrum.   I have even thrown a wet fly behind a small streamer on brook trout ponds with some success.  The one issue here (especially in regard to large/small two-fly streamer rigs) is foul hooking.  Barbless hooks should be the rule here.

As for traditional nymph fishing, I always use a smaller dropper than the lead fly.  Try using a mayfly nymph (pheasant tail, gold-ribbed hare’s ear, etc.) behind a large stonefly nymph.  I also find a micro nymph (brassie, zebra, WD40, etc.) behind a standard mayfly nymph or caddis pupa to be a deadly combination on heavily pressured or clear rivers and streams.  I have been experimenting recently with micro buggers (#10) with a nymph dropper.  Worm/egg combinations work as well.

On brook trout ponds I have had some real success stripping a traditional beadhead nymph with a midge pupa dropper.   When the hatch is on and the fish are feeding subsurface on a river, try using a small nymph dropper behind a wet fly or emerger.  Sometimes the emerger works and sometimes the nymph works.  When fishing dries with wet droppers over rising fish in a pond, lead them as you would any other cruising fish.  If you are short, the fish will often intercept the dropper.   

Another effective multi-fly combination is an attractor dry fly such as a hopper or stimulator with a beadhead nymph dropper.   Once again this doubles your chances as you are working both above and below the surface.  If you are “prospecting” with an attractor, why not prospect above and below the surface!  In this case, use a beadhead nymph that is small enough so as not to impact the dry fly but flashy enough to get some attention (prince, flashback, etc.)

Multi-fly rigs are the way to go.  If you only use them in certain situations, try experimenting. If you use them religiously, try using three flies where the law allows you to.  However, three-fly rigs can be difficult to cast.  Be sure to try different combinations such as big/small, dark/light, dry/wet, dry/dry, wet/wet, etc.  If one fly is getting all the action, change the other one.  While I feel that the dropper gets the most attention regardless of what you use, the lead fly should get some attention. 

Lastly, you will need to adjust your casting stroke for fishing multi-fly rigs.  You should limit your back casts and in the case of strike indicator nymphing, water load your rod as opposed to wind casting it.  By this I mean roll cast downstream, let the line straighten up below you, and then flip it upstream.  You may also find that roll casting lessens the number of hang-ups you will get when practical.  Be sure to pay attention to your rig between and while casting to make sure everything is ok.