Stillwater Fly Fishing - Tying Casts And Droppers Tips + Bonus Footage

This video covers some information on how I go about tying up casts based on some comments from my previous videos where some people wanted some information on this. I have included some tips, and also some bonus footage of recent outings to Loganlea reservoir and Rosslynlee fishery.
I hope you enjoyed the video, and please comment and subscribe to get future updates.
Take care
Chris
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[@jonathanayres7789]

Excellent demonstration on how to do the dropper

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Cheers Jonathan!

[@steviep730]

Brilliantly explained Chris. Thanks for the time and effort you put in to the making of these vids. Much appreciated. 👍

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Cheers Stevie 👍🏻🎣

[@flyfishingbandit9394]

Cheers Chris always look forward to your vids appreciate the effort you put in 🎣

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Wullie Mcallister - cheers Wullie, glad you are enjoying them 👍🏻

[@stiofain4693]

Great tips, definitely makes life easier.. my kitchen will become the test centre 😃 thanks once again

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Thanks Stiofain! 👍🏻🎣

[@janphillips1093]

Fantastic video, send everything I needed to know and I practiced my knots alongside you, brilliant!

[@michaelgreen5515]

Love the foam rig idea will get some. Great videos keep them coming please.

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Michael Green - thanks Michael, and will do. Will post another up later of a recent trip 👍🏻

[@fliesbychris]

Another cool vid!! I was watching/listening to it while I was tying up a bunch of fiery brown Midas, had a wee chuckle. Keep em coming!! ATB Chris.

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Chris McCafferty - haha, they are just deadly mate! Cheers, and hopefully have a full fishing vid next time! 👍🏻🎣

[@johndonaldson7449]

Thanks for info great videos look forward to seeing next one

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

No worries, and thanks John!

[@cullercoatsweaith]

Thanks for the video a good watch with lots of information. I appreciate the effort you put in to your videos

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Thank you, and no problem 👍🏻

[@freddieboyd3713]

Hi Chris, I've just come across your videos, absolutely brilliant, thank you.

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Cheers Freddie 👍🏻 appreciate the kind feedback, and I will be starting to upload again soon now that I can travel! 🎣

[@deekelly9964]

Thanks Chris a great video. I hope you're health is better now. Keep well

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Thanks Dee - all good now, just need to get back in the groove and get more videos done!

[@grantbuchanan3616]

Thanks Chris just came across you channel very informative and lots of helpful tips

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Thanks Grant, I’m going to start uploading again soon after a break from it all, so more to come 👍🏻🎣

[@allanstewart6894]

Another quality video thanks for sharing

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

allan Stewart - thanks Allan, glad you enjoyed it! 👍🏻🎣

[@alanstewart1732]

Your video’s are first class and very informative. Keep this up!!

[@chrisowenuk3792]

Excellent video great information on knots thank you, tight lines

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Thanks Chris, glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻🎣

[@geoffscreen49]

Another great video. Sorry to hear about your ill health, hopefully you will be back to full health soon. Please to see those new Damsels patterns working. I found the leader set up really helpful as I do suffer from tangles which is why I normally only fish 1 fly. Looking forward to your next video (not too long away I hope)

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Geoff Screen - thanks Geoff, all good now, well pretty much! Not Covid related thankfully! Yeah the new damsels are working a treat, so I’m going to be busy tying! I’m glad you found it useful, and I am hoping to get out on Saturday, fingers crossed! Cheers, Chris

[@brianburns1411]

cheers chris good tips 👍

[@daveobrien706]

Great video!!💪👍

[@robertalp3878]

Fantastic video! Going to a new venue next week and wanted to try a washing line approach and was struggling to find and easy to understand video. Cheers

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Cheers Robert, and good luck at the new venue!! 👍🏻🎣

[@sammcknight2113]

Thanks for the excellent video, cheers 😁

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Sam McKnight - thanks Sam! 👍🏻🎣

[@robertvivian8100]

Great idea for making the dropper stand out from your tippet ,I also use 10 florocarbon when fishing will be tying some up using your idea tight lines Chris keep the videos coming great ideas Rob from south wales

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Robert vivian - cheers Robert, and glad you are finding them useful! Tight lines mate 👍🏻

[@markgreen1619]

Hi Chris I'm from Fife just across the water near Dunfermline have been a beginner since may last year and slowly learning the art ..have been watching videos on KZbin etc well today I stumbled across your channel and must say watching 2 of your videos I've learnt more than a whole year of a well known Welsh youtuber ..videos ..and the foam rig keepers omg such a good idea as I alway spend at least 1hr of a 4hr permit messing with rigs leaders fly's blobs bing etc etc thanks

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Hi Mark! Glad to hear you are finding them useful! 👍🏻 my aim was to provide the detail which is often missing to try to help out, so I’m pleased to hear that. Preparing your leaders in advance is a game changer. Means a lot more time fishing and easy to change flies or method. I can’t get out as the local water has been frozen for 4 weeks now, so I’m desperate to get back out for a cast!! Where do you fish? Cheers, Chris

[@markgreen1619]

Kinross trout fishery.fort springs cupar.balmule fishery .fish XL aka hopton Lochore meadows the famous loch glow I live 2 miles from ..looking for places for this year

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

@@markgreen1619 - nice one, plenty of good places nearby!

[@ryangraham9626]

thanks for the tips on how to tie the washing line, great videos keep them coming pal, very helpful aspecially when your new to fly fishing like me haha

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

ryan Graham - thanks mate, glad you are finding them helpful! 👍🏻🎣

[@hotpoker4212]

Brilliant video, great help and advice,for a beginner,like meself,👍🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Cheers mate, glad to hear it was helpful 👍🏻

[@billmartin6687]

Thank you Chris for taking the time to make these videos like most anglers we really appreciate them. Hopefully your heath will improve and you will have more enjoyable days out fishing. I was fishing Rosslynlee after seeing one of your videos and caught a nice four and half brown trout. Never touched a fish after that. I was fishing on the centre platform on the island. My question is I use 4.5lb seaguar soft plus with one dropper now. If I go to 6 or 8lb fluorocarbon will that make much difference to how the fly is seen by the trout. Hopefully see you at Rosslynlee some time. Thanks again, tight lines and stay safe

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Bill Martin - no worries Bill, glad you enjoy them. Feeling better now thanks, so dying to get out for a cast! Nice brownie mate, I bet that put up a fight! Yeah it’s been tough up there, but that time of year. They have a LOT of fish in there and I suspect when it gets colder people will be hammering fish. With regards to the leader, yes if you up your strength it can reduce takes, but I rarely go below 6lb and doesn’t impact my catch rate I don’t think. It’s really a balance, if you are getting in tangles, go for a stiffer / thicker fluorocarbon until you are comfortable and getting no tangles, then reduce. You’ll catch more fish with flies in the water than dealing with a birds nest! 😃 winter it’s more lure fishing and I go for a cheaper brand at 8lb, as it’s not going to matter as much as presenting nymphs and buzzers. Main thing is just enjoy it, and aim to get less tangles and improve, which a stronger thicker fluorocarbon will help with, to begin with, then reduce it down when you are more confident. Hope that helps, and please do say hello if you see me up at Rosslynlee 👍🏻

[@thefella131]

Great 👍👍👍

[@garyturnbull9087]

Good tutorial Chris. Might give the rapala knot a go next time I'm out, I normally just use a blood knot for lures. Have you ever tried the figure of eight dropper knot? I've been using it for years after getting snapped a few times using the three turn waterknot. It's an extremely strong and reliable knot for droppers and for making a loop for attaching your leader to the main line.

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Thanks Gary! The rapala knot really does make a difference with the extra movement 👍🏻 I’ve never tried that dropper knot. I will look it up as always like to have options! I’ve never had an issue with the 3 turn water knot, but I know other have so maybe I have been lucky or it depends on the tippet. Cheers, Chris

[@johnty63]

Another great video Chris ..thanks a lot, another venue for me to try next time I’m up over the borders..where do you get the foam storage line holders from ? Thanks again matey great work

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

johnty63 - thanks mate. Just search eBay for foam rig winders, plenty of choice 👍🏻

[@robbiegrant4977]

Braw. Cheers Neebs :)

[@shaunfishes101]

Very well done Chris, I totally enjoyed that. Hope your feeling a lot better now. A good bit of northern air must help. I did a video not long ago and the wind was really bad, so I put rocks in a bag and hung it to my tripod. Take care mate.

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Shaun Fishes - thanks Shaun. Feeling good now thanks, and raring to get out again! Yeah I need to get a better tripod in truth, it would likely buckle! 😂 definitely a must that I need it for winter!

[@roblackpool1]

Spotted your channel last week, watched all your videos now, subscribed. Grew up fly fishing, sidelined the sport for a few years and now getting back into it as a nice break from young kids 😂 You never forget how to cast and retrieve, or lose the gut feel for finding fish, but the brain needs reminding of some of the technical knowledge, knots and timesaving tips. Finding your videos fun to watch, informative and great tips 👍 Refreshing to the mainstream who assume everyone knows the buzz words! Buried in here is a question.. when its a tough day, you need to try different tactics. Do you have a go-to system, i.e. First try different flies (e.g. swap buzzers out for nymphs, then lures) before then switching to intermediate/sink lines. I often find I'll waste a lot of time perhaps changing *too* much... if that makes sense... I used to tie flies, too, long time ago, used to really enjoy it - maybe a separate series on fly tying? First one how to start up, basic equipment to get started, basics. Easy-to-tie Autumn/Winter patterns in prep for the colder weather?

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Rob Hart - thanks Rob, and glad you are enjoying watching them after coming back to the sport! Yeah I have a 2 and 4 year old so it’s nice to get some relaxation time from a hectic schedule! 🎣 My go to system really will depend on conditions, but generally i will always be staring on the washing line, be it on a floater, midge tip or intermediate (depending on where they are or where I THINK they are 😂) would start with crunchers or buzzers, then reduce size and go for slim Diawl Bach’s / muskins or tiny cormorants. If nothing doing I’m straight on to a damsel ( with a natural on the dropper) , and fishing the margins first / places with features. Most of the time that will pick me up fish, just a case of finding them. Winter is obviously a bit different, but you will know that. If it’s roasting hot and has been for a bit - straight on a sinker with a booby, or a sinker with a booby on point and foam shrimp / foam bloodworm on droppers. I also go on dries whenever I can, as it’s the most fun in my opinion! The obligatory throw of a cats whisker or yellow dancer often happens too, but more in the winter. So yeah, to be honest the above is my more common approach, but depending on conditions and actually what mood I’m in may change it. Sometimes I just want to go and try new patterns I have been tying, and it’s more about the fun than the method. That’s what’s changed for me, I’m not taking it too serious, and often if I catch a few fish I will change to other flies / methods to experiment rather than just keep hitting fish. That’s what I’m enjoying at the moment. I’ve been thinking of doing some tying vids, so I may well do that soon, now that you have shown an interest maybe others would too. Sorry this turned into a rather large response!! Thanks again for watching, and enjoy being back to our wonderful sport! 👍🏻🎣

[@roblackpool1]

@@TheTroutFlyFisherman mine are 3, and 5 months. You will remember the pain 😂 Thanks for that response, exactly what I was looking for. I do pretty much the same so good to know I'm not miles off and wasting time! First time on a big reservoir today, bank fishing and casting into the wind on the East Bank. After half hour switched to washing line (my first time), after watching your videos. 4ft between droppers, so 12ft total leader. Until I get back into it, I think that's prob my max length, particularly into wind. Black epoxy buzzer on top, diawl bach middle, candyman booby on point. Luckily found fish at that point, all on the booby except one on the buzzer. They were so high in the water, feeding not more than 1ft down. Even with washing line my droppers were always out of the feeding zone and they didn't respond to faster retrieve to keep the flies up. What would you suggest to keep your droppers in such a high kill zone? I'm back Sunday so hoping for more of the same 🤞 still managed 7 fish, lost 3, over 6 hours. Was v happy with that. Went deadly still after few hours, tried dries to rising fish but no luck - definitely agree you can't beat watching a big fish slurp your fly off a perfectly still surface, particularly if you've tied it yourself!

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Rob Hart - sounds like a good session, well done 👍🏻 yeah sometimes they are feeding just under, and it sounds like the booby was doing the damage anyway! I sometimes find switching to small (size 14) cormorants work better if retrieving faster, as they have movement. Failing that I would be adjusting my cast to 2 flies, keeping the booby and having a dropper 2 ft from it with a buzzer. Failing that I would be on a dry dropper set up instead. Or 2 muddlers spaced 6-8 feet apart, as these can prove lethal in this scenario 👍🏻

[@johnfranklin177]

Hi Chris, excellent vid thanks, Im reasonably new to fly fishing so learning all the time, how do you attach your leader to the fly line, mine doesn't have a loop connector, great idea for pre prepping the leader and droppers, I'm going to try that !

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Hi John, thanks, appreciate it. If your fly line doesn’t have a loop, I would suggest getting a braided loop (floating if floating line and sinking if not) to attach to your fly line. Most local places will be happy to fit it too, or if not there are plenty of KZbin vids showing you how to do it 👍🏻

[@richardisaac1957]

Very good information Chris very helpful . Where can i purchase the foam discs from? Keep them coming.... tight lines....

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Thanks Richard! If you search ebay for “foam rig winders” you will get many options, and you can shop for the best deal on the quantity you want 👍🏻

[@davehutchison63]

Great vid mate, just came back to troot during covid. If you make a short heavy 20lb loop to loop at the end of your flyline extend one of your perfection loops so that your foam can pass through it you don't ever need to snip a loop?

[@trevorluft8161]

Good vid lots of info. What eyes have you used to tie your damsel with please?

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Trevor Luft - thanks Trevor, the eyes I used were rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F113849521488 I’m in the process of making my own, as I find these a little heavy, but they look good and this pattern is really effective so far 👍🏻

[@cullercoatsweaith]

Hi love your video's do you use tapered leaders, then add tippet.

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Thank you! No, I don’t use tapered leaders, just straight fluorocarbon all the way through 👍🏻🎣

[@jjmbiker13]

Hi Chris Do you use tapered leaders or say for example if you have a 12 ft leader its a level leader of whatever poundage you choose, do you ever use poly leaders, great vids

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Hi mate, I always use the same strength leader straight through, always have. In summer it tends to be 6 pound straight through (seaguar grand max or soft plus) then in winter 7 or 8 pound straight through if I’m lure fishing. Only ever use fluorocarbon now as really I find it’s better in all scenarios for me. Thanks mate, glad you are enjoying the vids! 👍🏻

[@linyarin]

Do you ever use a tapered leader and then tie on a tippet or is it straight tippet from the fly line? Great video by the way and useful hints with the dropper.

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Straight leader. I only use a tapered leader when fishing a single dry, but rarely do that 👍🏻

[@linyarin]

@@TheTroutFlyFisherman Thanks for the prompt reply.

[@brianinsole9911]

Hi thank you for your series of helpful videos. A great help . Can you please tell me where you get your cast foam retainers please . Link if possible . Thank you in 😂advance . Brian

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Type foam rig winders in eBay, glad you enjoy the videos, been a while since I made one, tempted to start again

[@alandoyle3426]

Great video any tips fishing flat calm waters wi no wind 💨

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Alan Doyle - fish light, I tend to use a 5 weight, and try to go subsurface. If they are high in the water, I fish a floating fly on top dropper and point, on a slow intermediate. That way you are not disturbing the surface so much. Or a bung can be deadly in flat calm, but I get bored! 😂👍🏻🎣

[@alandoyle3426]

Thanks mate

[@peteranderson9268]

Chris what’s the speed of your retrieve when fishing the blue flash damsel?

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Peter Anderson - Hi Peter, always a slow figure of eight, with pauses. I tend to do a slow figure of eight for 3 seconds, pause for 3 seconds, then slow figure of eight for 5 seconds, then pause for 3 seconds and repeat. Damsel nymphs swim in short burst and pause like this in nature, and it seems to work! I will try and do a feature on retrieves at some point, with what works best for me using different flies / methods 👍🏻

[@ballzblue22]

What rod are you using in this video. You cast it very well. Sage TCX?. Excellent video, very watchable for novice and experienced alike.

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Thanks mate, appreciate it. I was using my 6 weight vision onki in the beginning of the video, which is my favourite rod. At the end I think I was using my airflo super stik competition special 👍🏻

[@ballzblue22]

@@TheTroutFlyFisherman thanks for the info 👍

[@FlyRiderFishing]

Any tips to avoid tangles when casting? I always seem to tangle my casts no matter what I change about my casting style...

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Hi mate, there are so many variables it’s a difficult one to answer, but the absolute best thing you can do is get some time with a casting instructor who can work with you to absolutely pin point what you need to work on. Doesn’t cost much but will make a huge difference 👍🏻

[@georgedykes4754]

What flourocarbon do you recomend stiffer the better for me

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

I use seaguar grand max only now, which never lets me down 👍🏻

[@davidwinders6599]

Thanks very much for the video. Found some good tips in it. Do you always fish 10lb Fluoro. I thought you would have gone lighter for naturals.

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

David Winders - I was only using 10lb so you could see it, I never use more than 8lb. For the naturals, I use 6lb seaguar soft plus which has a diameter of 0.165mm - equivalent to much less if you look at other brands. Glad you found it useful, and let me know if you have anything you would like me to cover in future vids and I will try my best 👍🏻

[@davidwinders6599]

@@TheTroutFlyFisherman Thought that might be the case but wanted to check' so thanks for the reply. INterested to hear about the leader lengths you use. I find anything over 12 feet quite hard to cast and control, so any tips on that would be much appreciated.

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

David Winders - I tend to fish mostly 15-18ft leaders, and that’s where learning to use the double haul really helps to get the control needed to cast longer leaders. Saying that, a weight forward line casting a 15ft leader is ok, but if you use weighted flies that’s where the double haul makes a difference. It’s hard to get used to, but once you get the rhythm it just clicks. Will try to cover in a future vid 👍🏻🎣

[@johndonaldson7449]

could i ask where do you get the foam discs thanks

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

John Donaldson - no worries, eBay - just search for foam rig winders and you will get plenty of options! 👍🏻

[@richysbivvy]

Hi. What rod is that you are using please?

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Hi Paul, it was an Airflo super stikk 2 - since been replaced with a vision onki (which I think is way better) - the Airflo is good but I prefer a softer action these days

[@fackle]

So tried your setups but have a slight problem when trying to attach the droppers to the fly line. Gets awkward since flies are in place pulling all through the loop if you understand what I mean, any tips for that?

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Hi mate. Instead of connecting your leader to the fly line using loop to loop, you simply tie your leader to the loop on your fly line using the same knot you tie your flies on with. I have been doing this for years, and never any issues 👍🏻🎣

[@richardpurvis5272]

@@TheTroutFlyFisherman cheers Chris, very helpful demo. Just to clarify when tieing on the pre made up leader to the main line, is it the 5 turn blood knot you would use or the knot you use to tie on the damsel? Cheers

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

@@richardpurvis5272 - cheers mate. 5 turn blood knot, never had that knot fail ever at the fly line 👍🏻

[@richardpurvis5272]

@@TheTroutFlyFisherman cheers Chris, busy practicing now while following the vid. Sorted thanks. Back to fly after 8 years off, casting lesson booked and knots and set up coming together. I'm using a old #8 greys grxi + as normally fish reservoirs, is this OK or too heavy?

[@MrTomomahony]

made it all look so easy ,and i know its not cheers

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

When you do it enough times it gets easier 😂 thanks for watching 👍🏻🎣

[@Daithi333]

Why do fly fishers pull the line in instead of using the reel when catching a fish? Is it ok to buy a reel of leader line instead of those expensive packaged individual ones? If so what one would you recommend? Thanks. (thanks for the foam reel tip)

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Hi mate - if it’s a smaller fish then it’s easier just to play off the reel, as it’s not difficult to play the fish that way. Where as if I hook a bigger fish it pays to use the reel and it’s drag to keep better control. All it is really, and some people prefer on or off, doesn’t really matter it’s all about preference. For me I will go on the reel with a bigger fish straight away, or if it’s smaller then will play off, unless I don’t have much line out and it takes a run and onto the reel. The reel has benefits, line won’t tangle round your feet or surroundings, and has a drag for better control. I’m not sure what you mean by a reel of leader line, but you can get a decent reel for not much money, I like my guideline favo reel which was pretty reasonable for when I’m fishing light. I have hardy asr too, which has a good drag - really just looks nice so an expensive line holder! 😂

[@tobyroughton6214]

Looking for a boat partner for Tuesday at harelaw you’ll love it perfect conditions ?

[@TheTroutFlyFisherman]

Ah Toby, would love to but working mate!! Let me know how you get on 👍🏻🎣

[@tobyroughton6214]

The Trout Fly Fisherman will do mate

[@patches152]

Chris, mind giving us a tour of your gear box to show what you bring and how you stay organized? cheers