Basic Nymphing and Drop-Shot Systems with Kelly Galloup

In this video, Kelly Galloup discusses the fundamentals of nymph fishing and shares one of his favorite rigs for setting up a drop-shot system.

[@deanbork3415]

Been fly fishing moving water for trout for about forty years. First book I read on tying was Vince Marinaro. Driving home from the Smith River (VA) the other day I got to thinking about how much I've been influenced by the modernization and popluarization of the sport. Said with all due respect to Lance Egan, Devin Oslen, April Vokey, Gunnar Brammer and other young enthusiasts from whom I'm still learning, if he weren't already gone, one look in my nymph box would cause V. M. to croak. Harry Steeves, my early mentor in fly fishing/tying is an innovator but nothing compared to the "you need a new material, and by the way all new equipment" marketing approach that is so prevalent in fly fishing videos today. So, Kelly's preference for flies with soul, fished using simple methods, is speaking to me right now. Time to pare down my boxes, settle on a few proven patterns (including the Pheasant Tail, Hare's Ear, and yes, Tasmanian Devil and Sexy Walt's), and just enjoy fishing again.

[@Antiliblife187]

Kelly, you are a ledgeand! Most informative flyfishing channel on KZbin

[@glenndotter5065]

Love the comment about Euronymphing. I like you Kelly was tightlining 50+ years ago and using multiple fly rigs. The men who taught me were doing it long before I was born. Great video Kelly.

[@jasrobsny]

Thanks, Kelly! This is the kind of mentorship new fly fishermen need.

[@roccorizzo3575]

I learned more from Kelly in these drop shot rigging vids then any other vids put together. Great teacher. Ontario, Canada

[@AllThings357]

Wow! One of the best explanations on the subject i have found on here! Thank you.

[@alexanderpearcedavis5674]

Really well made and informative video.Thanks for making it, as it is concise and right to point and honest. I always go back to it to simplify and reset my step ups.

[@jtango1968]

Kelly is amazing. I fished the Upper Mad. last summer for a week in really challenging conditions with very low water. His recommendations were spot on. Thanks, Kelly!

[@theoneoutofnazareth]

Great teaching! I'm less than a year in on the fly and am ADDICTED. I haven't caught a treasured trout yet, but plenty of Yellow Shellcracker Bream and a few small bass. I always use the drop-rig but never thought of using an indicator and lead-shot to pull my bottom nymph down. My problem is my dry-fly gets tangled around my tippet leading to the nymph after casting a few times.

[@MrVezzuto]

Hi Kelly, Used your drop shot system yesterday in the Raritan. Caught over 20 fish guess the rig works. Thanks so much for the video. Love all of your videos keep up the good work.

[@Dimad]

Wow what an educational video. Thank You !

[@kabuki395]

i won money on my fist fantasy football league and use the cash to buy my first fly rod with it. so im very very new to fly fishing and im willing to learn. thank you for this video.it gives me an idea to rig up my line.simple and easy.

[@thomasarmstrong4446]

Thanks for explaining why you set the nymph rig up this way and the use of an indicator. I question using an indicator when fishing a river like the Brule in WI because the depth is so inconsistent.

[@TheSlideinn]

Yes i use dry fly hooks a lot on my nymphs, on some of my lake flies I use heavier Gage hooks to get them to sink to a certain level but when I am using weight to get them to sink I go light on the wire.

[@monikgagnon]

the best explanation of all !!! thanks for sharing

[@MrPedrofoto]

Your advice on the nymph brightness is spot on. I remember fishing on my local stream and was using a iron Blue imitation with a purple glass bead at the thorax. The nymph was only effective when the sun was out...but as soon as the sun went in, the takes dried up. Fish on again when the sun came re-appeared. BTW you sound just Woody Harrelson!

[@J0Gu7]

Awesome tips for this new guy

[@craigphillips7258]

Always informative...thanks.

[@madchris36]

I have fly fished for 20 + years and have tried every nymph leader set up on the planet but none of them work as good as this one , very simple very effective thanks for sharing this Kelly !!

[@ericenglish8720]

Excellent explanation about using appropriate use of flash at what depth, as well as location of weight. You should put it in a book or DVD! ;)

[@dalehilltopfarm]

Great info!

[@1Troutguy]

I just started Fly fishing and watched a lot of YOUTube videos and your system and technic seems and makes the most sense. Thanks for doing these videos, it is a ton of information, I have your leader formula in my fly wallet and am eager to do it. Thanks Kelly

[@TheSlideinn]

Thanks Vince, KG

[@NateNielsen]

Video ages well! Thank you

[@sproulman1]

Kellys rig we tested a lot last week in water in pa 1to 4ft..It worked great and here is what we did...Being water is under 4ft we tested with just 1 fly .His idea of tying surgeons knots in tippet and using perfection knots was key..I tied all my flies at home and easy to remove THAT was great and quick changing picked up other fish and moving up the line did also...Using just 1 fly did not scare trout with getting hit in face with 2 fly tippet and you can hit the pockets next to log better than 2fly .Just better to use....Geat no losing flies and wrapping around rocks or brush in stream and you can drop the rig in tough spots..So using just bottom dropper and adjusting is way I am going changing out flies quick.My only thing I have to figure out with Kelleys rig is how to use beadhead on it?Stock trout here in pa LOVE the bead...Silver works on rainbow and gold works on brown trout it always has 53 years and those colors work.So leave this up to Kelley how to put shiny bead that has no weight on weighless flies?No doubt the shiny bead works on stocked trout...Thanks Kelley .....😉

[@TheSlideinn]

Glad it worked out, glass bead and away you go. thanks for watching. KG

[@edbogus]

Thanks Kelly, great info. As a "newbie" I never considered the sunlight penetration having an effect on which nymph to put on the bottom and which to put on top (with a two nymph rig). Makes sense to me.

[@GoneFishingCO]

Great video!!!

[@7777777rj]

Thanks a lot,Kelly!

[@GoneFishingCO]

Румен Станев hes the man!

[@frankiefernandez5252]

Thanks, I'm gonna try this. Last week we caught 9 trout on mini jigs...but dropshotting flies using your system makes perfect sense.

[@erniewalker5050]

great teacher! thank you for directing me to your site for the clic readers!!!

[@TheSlideinn]

+Ernie Walker Anytime Ernie, thanks for watching. KG

[@raulgarcia5230]

Thanks for info !

[@Doug-ie6zc]

Thank for the info. The stone is high and muddy, I’m going to go try it out.

[@ocsteved]

Good stuff from KellyG....

[@kellysmith4555]

Good job and good fishing 🎣 👍

[@jtarryohpengyew8173]

Hi Mr. Kelly, Thank you for sharing. May I know whether fish eat fly at the bottom of a 8 feet deep pond and what fly to use ?

[@timsmallwood5747]

Very good content, thank you

[@salmonninja7223]

Great words Kelly. I always think some people worry a bit too much about matching the hatch to within an inch of it's life! Obviously it's not a bad thing to do but I think colour is the main thing! I have a dry fly pattern tied in different colours and shades that doesn't particularly represent anything but I've had countless fish on it over the years! You're bang on when you point out that fish don't see or think like us. Nor do they watch youtube or read the same books!! Great videos mate.

[@GoneFishingCO]

salmon ninja agreed

[@JC-xc8rx]

Fantastic!

[@Stratollac]

Great video. Is the weight attached to the bottom nymph at the eye or the hook bend? I couldn't tell after watching several times. I'm assuming at the eye, and my aging eyes are less than thrilled at the prospect of threading a size 18 twice...

[@seanmooney3907]

Nice video. I love to be the first viewer of a video. Just like a kid, and trust me I am no kid. Thanks for sharing, All the best, Sean

[@markyoung1496]

I have watched many of your videos and my question for the week is, as a fly tier what light and magnifying system do you use when you are tying small flies?

[@mrlifetime64]

i like your theory -thank you

[@gopherbar]

I’ve just had a days fly fishing here in the uk in the Yorkshire dales, the water is a deep brown peaty colour, I caught 9 trout of different sizes all on nymphs.

[@danielyanez9443]

Thanks for your really good information I like you videos

[@MrAlpine67]

When you're adding the dropper, what size line are you using for the drop? In the video you were using the yellow stren but I believe you indicated that you were utilizing that particular line just so individuals could easily see the line on the video. Thank you. Shane Heilman

[@DAVIDDAMIENR]

THANK YOU !!!

[@skylarholliman1982]

Hey Kelly! I've been using the drop shot rig for a few weeks now and holy cow have I been landing more fish. One question: it seems like no matter where I go I I only catch whitefish or suckers. Do you have any idea why? I use traditional nymphs. Hardly use bead head flies.

[@Andrew-rz8fu]

Hey Kelly, love your videos. Any advice on nymphing the Upper Manistee above M-72? Your streamer tips on an old episode of "the new fly fisher" were helpful but I've not been able to find any info on nymphing the manistee. Any advice is much appreciated, I've been getting my ass kicked out there.

[@bigpapi3636]

I fish a two nymph rig almost exclusively. I used to tie the bottom fly off the shank of the top fly and would take about 80% of the hits on the bottom fly. When I went to your system and went to a dropper on the top fly I got more hits and many more hits on top fly. It has to be just better action on the top fly. It makes a heck of a difference.

[@unionse7en]

to adjust the bottom one (and therefore both of them) , leave the final length long and slide the shot up and down as needed, so really only the top one needs to be re-stoppered. for spacing...i,e sometimes you will have a long tag end after the shot.

[@jimconnell8994]

A man speaking sense through experience and observation

[@johnwatson8192]

Grear video - thanks. Why is the bottom fly fixed on the line and not on a dropper?

[@JokiBroki]

I must agree when done properly this system beats any other. You do not even have to weight your flies when tying them or put beads on them. If water is running faster or higher all you do is add more split shot. Since you are more connected to your fly you dont have to even watch your line you will feel a hit even if its a 5 inch trout. I use a 5 wt 10 ft rod that cost me like 90 bucks. This system is Deadly on all types of water, runs, pockets, pools. If you want to fish a really slow moving pool all I do is add an indicator and its ready. If you want to increase your catch rate try this system you will not regret it.

[@jaredi6221]

Kelly is right, go for it!

[@bobweber4140]

Nice thankyou so much

[@kenmartin1211]

TheSlideinn......Kelly I believe you told us once you usually use dry fly hooks for nymphs and you do not weight them...Is this correct? It makes a huge amount of sense...Please let me if those two things I mentioned were true...Thank You for your time....Hope to see you in Late July

[@shaunfogarty5744]

The more I flyfish the more sensible you get.

[@nickhanley5407]

Shaun Fogarty haha exactly

[@KarlMySuitcase]

Why would we get more sensible from you flyfishing?

[@redneckflyfisherman4240]

Kelly, enjoyed the short visit a couple weeks ago. Thank your helper for me for the fly recommendations. Hammered them that day just below West Fork Campground. Next time I'm up that way I'll bring you a T-shirt with the lab holding the rooster in her mouth. :D If you make it to the gulf coast and want to shoot some pigs drop me a note. "The guy from Alabama"

[@kellysmith4555]

Nice good to know 👍

[@pedrohenriques2983]

I’ve always been afraid of trying fly fishing . Cause Im pretty sure I’ll love it ❤ and watt am I doing with all my spinning / floating rods and beautiful reels ?? But next spring Im planing to start to practice how on those not too good days

[@sproulman1]

Here in pa water goes from 1ft to 4ft...How to you use your rig in that situation?Thanks

[@johnkinsfather6369]

Vey ,in formative. I missed what style/type of lead?

[@douglasrandall6737]

I’ll been fishing hard for 25 years and I’m still learning from you! In the shot on the bottom system where are you cinch in your fly on your lead line how do you keep them from moving up and down the lead line. Thanks

[@TheSlideinn]

Douglas, there is a knot in the system that keeps the dropper from sliding down the leader, the dropper is on a loop (perfection knot) that is wrapped around the main line and it butts into the blood or surgeons knot. Send me an email and I can send you some diagrams. thanks, Kelly

[@briggs13a]

what are your thoughts about flourocarbon for this setup

[@peterforbes2451]

kelly i'm confused. not the first time! where do you place a strike indicator with a dropshot rig ? is it 1.5-2X water depth like a conventional nymph rig?

[@Browntrout1878]

Elders have always told me that the fishing gets good when the water levels increase!

[@quickplaya]

Dropshotting is illegal here in Michigan along Pere Marquette river as well.. but they are strict and can't even run two flies. Catch and release only on most of the river. I really need to take a vacation. Would love to fish with ya!

[@TheSlideinn]

The way I was explained it when I was there was as long as it was on 4" dropper you were legal. I asked the DNR if perch rigs and down riggers were also illegal and that is when they said four inch droppers made it legal? Hope you can make it out here. KG

[@TheSlideinn]

Quick, I've been gone awhile, when did they make two flies illegal? KG

[@briggs13a]

i cant find the link .Is it on your website?

[@hiloyo63]

Question about the drop shot system.Do you tie a knot in the end of the tippet as a stopper for the shot.I know silly q but never tried this set up. Thanks for all the vids and great info !

[@TheSlideinn]

hilo, yes you can, but most shot stays on with out it, its a toss up, if you have the knot and the lead gets stuck, which it seldom does then you break the line. No big deal tie on another, with out the knot you usually lose just the lead. Either way is fine. thanks for watching. KG

[@TheSlideinn]

Not a dumb question at all, and yes you will want to tie a small overhand knot at the base of the tippet to prevent the shot from sliding off.

[@snapt7065]

Very informative and useful informations. Could you please specify where to find the related graphics on your website? Thank you. ST

[@dannyeaton4106]

Snap T kelly galoup

[@vibratingstring]

Haha, Connecticut on Shetucket you can't use added lead for just that reason--no snagging of the broodstock salmon.

[@davidsullivan1019]

Do you tie split shot to the bend of hook of bottom fly?

[@TheSlideinn]

Daivd, I tie it out of the eye of the bottom fly usually, KG

[@chazman4461]

Kelly, what knots do you use to tie this rig and how long is your total tippet and leader together?

[@kellygalloup6073]

Chaz, 8 to 10 feet total, generally a four foot butt section. I use a perfection loop for the droppers and everything else is a blood knot. Thanks for watching, Kelly

[@TheoriginalPbSlinger]

Kelly? Is the action and/or effectiveness of the bottom fly hampered with the weight attached to the eye? Does it help or hurt the system when the bottom fly is weighted. My rubberlegs are heavy. Thanks.

[@TheSlideinn]

+TheoriginalPbSlinger On the bigger flies (12's and bigger) I don't see and problems with hampering the flies action, but on the smaller ones i rund a second dropper, 4 inches max. If the fly is weighted enough you dont need the dropper at all, but if you still need weight it just means you will use less. I prefer unweighted flies and letting the lead do the work. When you use this system it is generally about a 70% reduction in loss of flies so if you use weighted bugs that will lose a few more. KG

[@miscsilliness]

What is the best strike indicator type to use with this rig?

[@chadalderson6245]

MISCsilliness check out Cortland’s mono sighted material.

[@sproulman1]

Thanks for replies...If we use dropper line on both does twisting of line happen?If so can small swivel be used or is line twisting not problem...Thanks....

[@TheSlideinn]

You could for sure, but I have never had much problem with them twisting. Thanks, KG

[@justinwebster8577]

you sound like woody harrelson.. and kinda resemble him lol. Thanks for the detailed info, super helpful for a beginner trying to wade through all the info in the internet

[@mrlifetime64]

hello kelly-how to you attach the shot at the end of the line-do you attach to the tag end or how do you recommend that be done

[@TheSlideinn]

Bob, usually on bigger flies(14's and bigger) I tie a tag out of the eye of the hook. If they are smaller I do two loops and tie a 6 in piece below the blood knot that I attach the lead to. Kelly

[@thelurewasher]

could you omit the split shot for a heavy jig nymph or a tungsten bead head on the bottom fly?

[@TheSlideinn]

+thelurewasher Yes you can its called Czech nymphing. In competition fishing and where lead is prohibited or can not be below your fly that is what you do. Personally I prefer drop shot to Czeching. There are a few draw backs with Czech style nymphing or heavy nymphs, first your fly is on bottom which gets hung up a lot, your fly is also below the fishes head and fish seldom feed below their head so your fly is essentially out of the feed zone, so the only time the fly is in the feed zone is when you are breaking it off bottom so it is either moving up or down and in that time frame you are not in contact with the bottom and you are guessing where the fly is. With a drop shot system your lead is always in contact with bottom and you have the ability to change the depth of the fly above it, far more efficient. KG

[@thelurewasher]

+TheSlideinn thanks so much! Im relatively new to the nymph game. love your videos.

[@Hannahcode1]

Thanks for the tips! "Subd."

[@capn82]

How are you attaching that upper fly? Is it tied in line to the shot straight to the leader or is it too on a dropper/tag? What knot would you recommend there? Also, will the polypro yarn type indicators support this rig or will it be too heavy?

[@TheSlideinn]

The upper fly is on a dropper loop above a blood knot and I use a perfection loop. The bottom fly is in line eye to eye but I often use a dropper down there as well, but when I do i lengthen the lead line to 8 inches. Send me an email and i will send a diagram. KG

[@donmackenzie7107]

TheSlideinn please send me a diagram of the rig setup.

[@kayakuprising5914]

@@patches152 Patrick how is that 4x and 5x attached at the bottom? Are they tied to the fly?

[@patches152]

@@kayakuprising5914 this is @theslideinn's diagram that they drew and posted on their blog, i just linked it. if you watch their videos, they describe it in detail and should be able to answer your question.

[@kayakuprising5914]

@@patches152 Thanks Patrick, i saw that Kelly responded further down and said he ties it directly to the fly eye.

[@backbonz]

Stupid question. If your drop shot is dragging on the bottom, does that not make an unnatural drift of the flies above? Can’t get my head around that.

[@Ten4Ben]

Couldnt find the info on your site

[@sproulman1]

I like you perfection loop set up but when you move it up line if you get trout it will slide down line?Are you tying blood knots in both your upper/lower droppers in main tippet to keep the droppers from sliding only so far?

[@TheSlideinn]

Yes, you can space them up the leader in advance so you can raise the fly thru the emergance. KG

[@sirmegallot3276]

any reason you use a dropper loop instead of fastening the dropper fly to the bend of the top fly? seems more likely to tangle when you keep a tag like in your setup. I've heard people suggest both methods, and I'm certainly willing to try different setups, but just wondering what the prod and cons would be for both

[@TheSlideinn]

Scott, it lets the fly move more freely in the water and when you break off which is rare on the upper, but when you do you only lose one fly not your whole rig. With bigger flies and dirty water I will run two in line but i tie both out of the eye of the hook, because it is a drop shot and the line is running as close to vertical as you can get it tying off the bend makes the fly also ride almost vertical and I would rather it not look like a rocket. KG

[@sirmegallot3276]

TheSlideinn I see, I figured it enabled a more natural drift for the fly, thanks for taking the time to get back to me, I will put it to practice this coming season! All the best, scott s

[@patrickhabas3412]

Your bottom fly, do you tie 5x too eye of fly or back of hook for split shot?

[@TheSlideinn]

Patrick, yes i generally fish 5X for the lead

[@kendiaz9723]

I think Patrick is asking if you're tying the 5x to eye of the second fly or to the hook bend.

[@patches152]

lh3.googleusercontent.com/-47feFbCpLXs/Wyk0yTAR9NI/AAAAAAACQtQ/59P4WxD4qTMzfgM6FG5wCBJEuwZMUbyZACL0BGAYYCw/h1153/2018-06-19.png

[@jamesbrede6234]

In those infamous words of Elvis " thank you very much"

[@matthewallred72]

THANK YOU!!! Sorry. Didnae mean to shout but that helped a lot.

[@theoutdoorangler1173]

Do you use this method often?

[@TheSlideinn]

WNY I pretty much only drop shot here but if the water dictates I do some other style I switch, but i would say I drop shot 90% of the time.

[@GoneFishingCO]

TheOutdoorAngler yes!!!

[@ebayollis]

Which video is this technique covered in...not the streamer video is it?

[@TheSlideinn]

I believe it is covered in "Nymphing by the Numbers" and "Highsticking and Reading Water"

[@MrJewbale]

so what are you using as an indicator? the red back or an actual indicator?

[@TheSlideinn]

I use the brighter 3 to 4 foot butt section of amnesia or gold Stren. I also use a piece of cored 13 wt fly line as a indicator. a one inch piece.

[@fishinjunky]

Doesn't this rig limit the options for the bottom nymph? In other words, if you wanted to change flies on the bottom nymph, you're out of luck right? ...If the bottom nymph is tied directly to the tippet, and the weight is below it, then if you want to change the bottom nymph, or lose it on a drift, what do you do? If you break off the top nymph, you can tie on a new nymph coming off the dropper loop (assuming the dropper loop didn't break). But if you break off the bottom nymph, you have to tie on a whole new system from the blood knot down right? Or am i confused. Thanks, and I just found your channel. Its great.

[@TheSlideinn]

+jdt1130 It does if you put your bottom fly inline, I use that system often in the spring when I am not changing the fly often, like with a stone or worm. Most of the time I run two droppers , when I use a dropper loop on the bottom I keep the shot line minimum of 6 inches and often 8 inches from the dropper loop, keeps the tangles down a little more but they do show up regardless of how you set it up. KG

[@fishinjunky]

+TheSlideinn Thanks KG. 2 follow up questions: roughly how long is the tippet coming off the dropper loops? You mention above that you typically use this system in the spring. What would be your system for the fall? A drop shot rig with just one loop? Or something else...? So glad I found this video. I've always had difficulty catching fish while nymphing. I've always put my shot 6-8 inches above my fly, and have had limited success. I'm dying to get out and try this drop shot method. Keep the videos coming. You do a great job. Very straight forward, and full of simple, yet solid information.

[@TheSlideinn]

+jdt1130 Send me your email and I will send you a diagram. I use two dropper loops but there are more tangles for sure but it allows me to change flies and lets the fly run a little more freely. KG

[@termite122]

+TheSlideinn a tiny tippet ring i use at the bottom of my rig..then i tie a small 4 inch tag off the tippet ring and add my bottom fly..i then add my 6-10 inces of tippet off the same tippet ring that my shot will be added to..if for sum reason my shot dont slide off my tag if i snag bottom then they break at the tippet ring and i dont lose my fly..vice versa for the bottom fly if it gets hung on sumthing...just my 2 cents..ot keeps me fishing more a of wasting time retying lots of material especially in the cold winter when the water is in the thirties...i enjoy your watching your videos....

[@TheSlideinn]

Yes this one does limit the system. I use double dropper like you are doing with the tippet ring. I just use a blood knot and a perfection loop dropper above the blood knot. This one is just a get started with less tangles system or when you are using the same fly as your point like many anglers do here in the spring with stones or worms. By the way there are some new tippet rings from Partridge that are long oval instead of round which may be easier to tie on? will have them in soon. KG

[@willyboyw.5771]

Tried this recently...only lost one fly in an 8 hour trek where I was usually losing 5-10 from snags I lost the fly due to a bad knot on the hook of my top fly and the trout took the lower one. Now I just fish the one fly because it seems they were always hitting the lower one anyways.Thanks for sharing.

[@barchetta7559]

buy johnnie a zoom for the camera.

[@boydgravesvlogs2562]

what about dark green water

[@drosevthokie]

If they Can't see the fly in the dark why would it matter if it is shinier not?

[@barchetta7559]

did I waste my money on tapered leaders?

[@lastcoyote2355]

Fish don’t stop eating, just because the water is dirty . Do you stop eating just because there is a blizzard outside ?

[@wjm988]

buddy are you related to woody harrilson?

[@TheSlideinn]

I have been asked that before, dont think so but one never knows

[@1Troutguy]

Hey Buddy are you related to an ASS?

[@aaronbickel1151]

Just wanted to remind my fellow Michigan anglers that a weight suspended below any hook is illegal when fishing rivers, unless the hook is on a dropper line (a leader) that is at least 3" long.

[@TheSlideinn]

Aaron, I think you will find if you run double dropper on loop you are legal there. I did it for years and asked several wardens and they said if it was on a dropper loop it was fine? That was awhile ago but worth bringing it up to DNR and finding out for sure. It is a worthless left over law from the snagging days and really has no meaning today for the trout anglers. Not to mention all the wacky worm guys fishing steelhead and bass the same way. KG

[@flyfishing6569]

Yeah my water rises but it doesn’t dirty up, the water is so clear it looks a couple feet deep when it’s chest deep, I fell in thinking it was a couple feet deep 😂