You’re probably wondering what the best dry fly fishing setup for trout is. That is if you’re someone who is new to the sport of fly fishing, and you’re not alone.
All experienced fly anglers have been there at some point. As you may already know, there are several different setups for catching trout, including those for wet fly fishing.
In this article, we’ll show you the three most popular dry fly setups and the fishing scenarios they are best suited for.
So read on to find out which setup is most effective for you and why.
Setups for Dry Fly Fishing
The difference between dry fly fishing and wet fly fishing is that in the wet form of the sport, anglers use flies that go below the surface to try to lure fish that feed further beneath the water’s surface.
In dry fishing, the flies are designed to float, with the aim of luring fish that feed closer to the surface of the water.
Let’s look at the most common dry fly rigs for beginner and experienced anglers.
Single Dry Fly Setup
We’ll start with the simplest setup: the single dry fly. As the name suggests, this rig uses one fly to attract potential catch. For this type of fly rig, you can use a tapered leader or attach a regular monofilament line to your fly line.
Ideally, the leader should be the same length as the rod. So if you have an 8-foot rod, your leader should be 8 feet long as well.
The next step is attaching the leader. For this, you’ll want to use a nail knot, perfection loop, or blood loop to tie the leader to the fly line.
When you’re done doing this, it’s now time to attach the fly. To correctly put the fly in place, thread the end of the leader through the eye of the fly and secure it with an improved clinch knot.
After this step, you’re ready to start fishing!
When to Use the Single Dry Fly Rig
This is one of the absolute best setups for fly fishers who are just starting out because of its simplicity. It’s great for fishing in still areas of water in the spring and summer months.
Double Dry Fly Setup
Another easy setup for catching trout is the double dry fly. Keep in mind that your line should taper down (go from thick to thin). You’ll want to use a thinner piece of monofilament nylon for each part of the tapered line.
Now, to create the double dry fly rig, you simply add a second lure to the single dry fly setup we did above.
But let’s go over the process from the beginning.
How to Set Up a Double Dry Fly Rig
Let’s begin by connecting a nylon tippet to the leader using a double surgeon’s knot. The gauge of the tippet should be a size down from that of your leader. You also want the tippet to be between 15 to 18 inches long.
Next, thread your dry fly through the eye of the tippet and secure it with an improved clinch knot.
After this step, attach a second piece of nylon to your fly using an improved clinch knot (remember to go down one size again).
To do this, form a clinch knot with the new nylon line, but don’t pull it taut just yet. Next, put the tip of the fly hook into the knot you started, then carefully tighten it.
Cut off any excess nylon at the tag end, and when you’re finished setting the knot, it’s time to measure the length of line you want.
If you’re a novice fly angler, you’ll want to opt for an 8 to 12-inch distance between the two flies. If you’re more advanced in the sport, then you can try using any length beyond that, up to 24 inches.
When you’ve rolled out your preferred length of line, you’ll then have to attach it to the second line. The process is the same as with the first fly — the first step is threading the nylon through the eye of the dry fly. Next, tie a secure improved clinch knot to hold the fly in place.
Lastly, cut off any excess nylon from the tag end, and you’re ready to go!
When to Use the Double Dry Fly Rig
This is an excellent option for fishing in still waters, especially in the summertime. Setting two lures increases your chances of attracting trout and reeling in a good catch. This is also a good setup to use when you don’t know exactly what the fish eat.
Hopper Dropper Setup
The hopper dropper rig is a combination of both dry and wet fly fishing methods. This setup involves putting a hopper as your lead fly and a weighted (or light) fly at the end of your line.
It is one of the most popular fly setups because it is very effective. By using two flies of different sizes, your line does a better job of attracting fish than some other rigs.
Your rig also has the potential to kill two birds with one stone, or should we say, two types of fish with one line. The two types are surface feeders and those that hang out deeper down.
Another advantage of this type of system is that you can monitor what’s happening below the surface by watching the movement of your lead fly, which remains above the water the whole time.
How to Set Up a Hopper Dropper Rig
We’ll start making this simple setup by tying a leader to the fly line using a perfection loop or blood knot. As with the other systems we discussed before, the leader should match the length of your rod. So again, if you’re using a 7-foot rod, your leader should be 7 feet long.
The next step is rolling out about 24 inches of monofilament nylon, which you will then connect to your leader with a double surgeon’s knot.
When you’re done attaching the tippet, you’ll need to tie the lead fly to it. To do so, thread the end of the tippet through the eye of the fly and secure it with a clinch knot.
Now that you have your first fly on the line, you’ll need another length of nylon (12 to 24 inches and 1 size down) for your next tippet.
The next step is forming an improved clinch knot on the new nylon line without pulling it taut.
When you’ve done that, pass the hook of the lead fly through the space in the knot until the whole hook is through. Now you can pull the knot tight.
After you’ve done that, roll out your desired length of nylon and clip it off.
The last step is to attach the weighted fly or dropper to the line. To do this, follow the steps you used to tie the first fly to the line. When you’re done, loosely cut off the excess nylon, and you’re all set!
When to Use the Hopper Dropper System
This is an ideal fly fishing rig to use when you’re not sure what your potential catch feeds on, i.e, whether they feed close to the surface or deeper down in the water.
It is perfect for fishing in still waters that are not too deep, and it is also a great method for the summer months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below, we answer some of the questions you are likely to have as a beginner in fly fishing.
How Do I Lubricate a Knot and Why Should I Do It?
You can lubricate the knots in your lines by simply passing them between your lips and licking them. No need to use oil to lubricate your knots — saliva does the job quite well.
If for some reason you don’t want to use your saliva, there are commercial knot lubricants that you can buy, and lip balm works fine as well.
Regardless of how you do it, you should make sure that you lube the line before you set the knot. Doing this lessens the friction between the sections of the knot and helps it set smoothly when you pull it tight.
What Size Tippet Should I Use?
The size or gauge tippet you use depends on the type of fish you plan on catching and the size of your leader. As a rule of thumb, you should go down one size for every length of line you attach to your fly line.
For trout, we suggest using a 4x and up, depending on the size of the trout. There are handy charts like this one that you can look at to help you out.
If you’re fishing in dirty water or pressured areas, it’s a good idea to use a thicker tippet than normal.
Another thing to note is that the smaller the number on the tippet, the thicker it is. So a size 2x tippet would be stronger than a 7x tippet.
Is It Necessary to Use Floatant?
Floatant is a substance that increases a dry fly’s ability to float. It comes in different forms, and you may find that one type works for you while the others don’t.
You’ll typically find floatant in liquid, gel, powder, spray, and paste form.
You can use your dry flies without floatant, but when fishing in murky or rougher waters, it’s a good idea to use floatant.
How Do I Keep My Hooks Sharper for Longer?
Over time, your hooks will become dull, but there are a few ways to keep them sharper for longer.
One of these is gathering your line when you are moving from one spot to another so that it doesn’t drag on the ground and hit things like rocks and shrubbery.
Another way to keep your hooks sharp is to sharpen them. There are useful little hook sharpeners available on the market that you can carry in your pocket and use instead of buying new hooks all the time.
How to Tie a Clinch Knot
There’s the clinch knot, and then there’s the improved clinch knot, which we recommend using when following the steps in this guide. Here’s a great video to give you a visual of the knot-tying process.
How to Tie a Surgeon’s Knot
In fly fishing, the surgeon’s knot is generally used to attach the tippet to the leader. Another version of this knot commonly used among fly anglers is the double surgeon’s knot. This video breaks down the steps involved in tying a surgeon’s knot.
How to Tie a Blood Knot
The blood knot is also known as the barrel knot and is pretty simple to tie. In fly fishing, it is primarily used to connect a fly line to a leader. Here’s a video that breaks down the steps for you.
Which Dry Fly Fishing Setup for Trout is Best for You? Let’s Recap
The best fly fishing setup for trout depends on the type of water you’re fishing in, whether you know what the fish feed on or not, and how simple you want your rig to be.
All of the setups we mentioned in this guide are ideal for fishing in both shallow and fairly deep areas. These include both salt and freshwater areas like rivers, lakes, and ponds, which can be clean, murky, turbulent, or still.
If you’re a beginner, the first setup we’d recommend attempting on your own is the single dry fly.
Once you’re comfortable with that, you can move on to the double dry fly and hopper dropper rigs, which might be more effective at attracting fish.
The most important thing is that you enjoy fly fishing and stay safe while doing it. Have fun!
