How To Rig Up

[Trevor K]

Hey Guys,

I've been down to Taney several times before and had some success, but nothing spectacular. I'm hoping to change that here in a few weeks when I'm staying at Lilley's. I have had pretty good success on the Green River and several other smaller rivers in Utah, so it's not that I'm a horrible at fly fishing. I always seems to have a tough time on Taney though. I broke down and hired a guide to fish the Thompson River on a recent trip to CO. I feel like I learned a lot on that trip, so I'm hoping I can apply it to Taney on my upcoming trip.

In the past I have done ok with scuds and from reading the Taney articles and fishing reports on here seem to indicate that those are the go to flies along with zebra midges and san juan worms. I'm not looking for anybody to give up any secret techniques or anything. Any advice on length and size of leaders and tippet to use or just how to rig up and fish in general would be appreciated though. I don't need to catch a fish on every cast or anything, but a bite every once in a while is always nice.

Thanks in advance!

[vanven]

You sound like you are pretty much spot on so far.

I typically fish:

Midges size 16-20:

black and silver zebra

red and black

primrose and pearl

WD-40s

Scuds size 14-20:

Tan

Olive

Grey

San Juan Worms:

blood red

pink

tan

That probably covers the staple of flies most people fish. I will be fishing 7x floro tippet most of the weekend coming up. I wouldnt hesitate to fish flies not in the list above. I have done well on a small copper john and other nymph patterns that you would use at other fisheries. Cracklebacks and other subsurface flies also work well.

-Jerod

[Thom]

All good choices Jerod ... I would also add a hopper above those selections in a dropper rig this time of year or a peach or multicolored egg fly pattern above those scuds or midges.

Don't for get the micro jigs about five foot deep with slow water in Peach, sculpin, green or pink fished under the smallest indicator possible.

[Bman]

I will be fishing 7x floro tippet most of the weekend coming up.

-Jerod

Please consider using heavier tippet. Use 6X MINIMUM. So you don't over stress fish, and have a better chance at the big ones.

[TroutRinger]

Can you guys go into a little detail on how you rig up with multiple flies starting with the type and length of leader. I am just getting back into fly fishing and don't know much about the proper way to rig multiple flies.

[Trevor K]

Can you guys go into a little detail on how you rig up with multiple flies starting with the type and length of leader. I am just getting back into fly fishing and don't know much about the proper way to rig multiple flies.

I'll second that. This exactly what I've been having trouble with. How to rig and fish the flies is the hardest part for me. Thanks for all the advice so far though. Everyone on here is great help. Hopefully I'll be able to put the advice to go use.

[vanven]

http://www.midcurrent.com/articles/techniques/monahan_seeing_double.aspx

There is a good article on fishing a dropper.

-Jerod

[Brian K. Shaffer]

You can have plenty of 'not the ordinary' type of fun if check out some of the guide written articles here.

A ton of amazing advice is here for the gleaming.

edit - here's one of mine in fact, http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=156

Brian

[Trout Commander]

Trevor, as always you will get varying information, but here is how I will rig up:

If water is down - ~4 foot of Berkley Vanish Fluorocarbon, 8 lb. Tie a loop on both ends so it is easier to rig and re-rig. I usually place my strike indicator a few inches off of my line on the leader. I have used only 5x tippet because it is the only thing I had and had bought it before I knew to use 6 or 7x. I did run out on my last trip and picked up some 6x. No matter the size, I tie about 18-24" and tie on my first fly. Here I either tie a San Juan, Chamois Worm, Scud or egg pattern. I then tie an additional 12-18" to the bend of the hook on my top fly. For my bottom fly I use a lot of Pheasant Tails and Zebra Midges. I use a small split shot about 4-5" above the top fly. I think this is a key component that many people may forget. It really helps get your rig into the strike zone quicker and keep it there. If the water is up you obviously if the water is up you need to add more leader and tippet, enough to get down to the bottom. I typically will stick with about the same amount of tippet and add additional leader material since its cheaper. I usually throw on two, instead of one, split shot above the top fly and add one above the bottom fly as well.

Hope this helps.

[Trout Commander]

And also, I have found that many people at Taney are often as friendly as (and sometimes the same!) folks on here. If you are struggling and the guy up or down stream from you is slaying, just ask how he rigged his flies or even if you can see it. I know I have shown my rig to multiple people in the short time I've been fly fishing.