In this video, Signature Tyer Pat Weiss demonstrates how he fishes a dry dropper rig and explains why it's one of his favorite trout fishing tactics. This approach is a great way to prospect water for your ability to fish two flies well at a distance. Dry dropper is one of the most fun ways you can fly fish, and Pat shares tips on when and where it excels. Even if fish aren't willing to eat a dry fly, dry dropper tactics are an optimal way to present a nymph at a distance and still have great strike detection thanks to the dry fly.
Pat makes it clear throughout the video that this approach to fishing a dry dropper rig is distinctly different from the light line, euro dry dropper tactics that are growing in popularity around the world. Pat uses a floating fly line, 4wt rod, and while Pat doesn't share all his secrets regarding his fly line and leader build, he shares tons of useful information on why a dry dropper approach is so effective. He explains how slack is an important factor in the system and how it allows a nymph to get to depth quickly, and drift at an ideal speed that induces strikes. It's a true pleasure to watch Pat work through different water types and listen to his thought process as to where fish are located and what drifts they will respond to. This video is sure to leave viewers thinking about getting on the water soon and trying some of these dry dropper tactics.
Throughout the video, Pat catches a number of wild brown trout on his now-famous BP Nymph underneath his Hi-Top Caddis. Both are extremely versatile, yet purpose-built. If you haven't yet seen the Hi-Top Caddis fly tying tutorial with Pat, you should go give it a watch!
Pat began fly fishing nearly 40 years ago in Western Pennsylvania, and started dabbling in fly tying soon thereafter. Pat has fished many places and used many different styles of techniques and flies. These range from old-school Central PA fly patterns to new-style European-inspired patterns that come from his extensive experience representing Fly Fishing Team USA at 6 World Flyfishing Championships. Pat's success as a fly tyer comes from his ability to identify things that other anglers aren't fishing, and capitalizing on showing the fish something new, and often quite simple.
00:00 Introduction to Dry Dropper tactics with Pat Weiss 03:20 Pat starts fishing dry dropper 09:56 Finding fish in the fast water 20:49 Pat talks about his dry dropper system and the importance of slack 31:54 When and where dry dropper performs best 37:46 Pat fishes a jig streamer through the run
