Technique
Published: 27th of October 2022 • Last updated: 30th of December 2022
Fishing with two flies increases your chances of catching fish by letting you cover different parts of the water column with a single cast and present two different offerings at once. Two-fly rigs are considerably more tangle-prone than single-fly setups, but, in some angling scenarios, the improved presentation more than justifies the extra rigging steps and potential tangles.
Let’s get started with a look at a few time-tested two-fly presentations that can double your fun on the water!
A goal when rigging two flies is to avoid redundancy. The flies should be different in size, appearance, and, most importantly, they should drift in different parts of the water column. All three of the rigs described below allow anglers to address those factors and maximize the effectiveness of a two-fly presentation.
Discussing multi-fly rigs, the term point fly applies to the main fly tied to your tippet; the second fly is often called a dropper. When setting up any two-fly rig, the simplest attachment method is to attach your point fly as normal, then tie a separate piece of tippet to the bend of the hook, attaching your second fly at the other end. There are alternative attachment methods that are very popular, which we’ll cover later in this article.
With those basics covered, let’s begin with a look at the dry-dropper, one of the most popular two-fly set-ups.
A dry-dropper rig involves fishing with a dry fly as your point fly and a nymph as the second fly. Anglers hope to get a strike on the dry fly but are just as happy if the dry fly serves as a strike indicator, alerting them when a fish grabs the nymph.
A common dry-dropper implementation is the hopper-dropper in which a large, buoyant grasshopper pattern is used as the point fly, with a nymph as the second fly. Using an oversize, high-floating pattern like a grasshopper maximizes the dry fly’s effectiveness as a strike indicator, which is one of the reasons the hopper-dropper rig is so popular.
Using two subsurface flies is an extremely effective way to cover more of the water column. There are numerous variations of the two-nymph rig. A common approach is to use a large, heavy fly as the point fly and add a second nymph that’s smaller and lighter, so it drifts higher in the water column. In still water, it’s common to use a wooly bugger as your point fly with a smaller, more subtle pattern trailing behind.
When rigging double nymphs, the “big fly first” rule is not set in stone. In fact, many anglers reverse that set up when conditions dictate. For example, in deep runs and swift current, the best presentation can often be to have your dropper bouncing on the bottom and your point fly dancing 8 to 12” above.
When presenting two dry flies, anglers can show fish two floating patterns and, even though both flies ride on the surface, there’s still a way to target different parts of the water column.
It’s common to choose a high-floating fly as your point fly and select a low-riding dry fly or an emerger as the second offering. For example, in current, fishing with an Adams as your main fly will earn strikes from fish targeting more buoyant live insects. If the dropper is a low-riding dry fly like a Klinkhammer or an emerger pattern like an RS2, you’ll attract attention from fish that are targeting insects trapped in the film.
In still water angling situations, choosing two dry flies is mostly about differentiating the size and appearance. Using a large colorful popper as the main fly can help attract attention while a more subtle second fly may be the one that triggers more strikes.
There are several ways you can attach your second fly. The types of flies, the water conditions, and your desired presentation all factor into the attachment method you choose.
Before we get into common attachment methods, there’s a rule about tippet size that applies to most methods—if you attach your dropper with a tippet strength that’s less than that used for your point fly, the dropper is the only fly you’ll lose if you break off.
Now, let’s look at four popular ways to attach a second fly.
The most common method of attaching a second fly involves rigging your point fly as normal, tying a piece of tippet to the bend of the hook using a cinch knot, and then attaching the second fly to the other end. This method has several benefits. It’s simple to rig and it positions the two flies in a straight line, which can help you create the desired presentation.
But there are also drawbacks to this attachment method. For example, when used with a dry-dropper rig, attaching to the bend can negatively impact the effectiveness of the point fly, both in presentation and hook-up potential. Also, if you fish with barbed hooks or mash the barb down 90%, attaching to the bend of the hook is a viable method, but if you fish with barbless hooks, you’ll have to use one of the other options.
Another popular attachment method is to simply tie a separate piece of tippet to the eye of the point fly. You’ll need to use a relatively large point fly since it can be hard to fit two pieces of tippet in the eye of a fly that’s size 18 or smaller.
This attachment method may not be the best choice for dry dropper rigs if your point fly requires a delicate presentation since the extra knot and drag on the front of the fly can inhibit an optimal drift.
A third common attachment method involves rigging your point fly as normal but leaving a long tag end, to which you attach the second fly. This is the most economical attachment method and involves the fewest knots. It’s a good option for dry dropper rigs as it allows the point fly to float properly while allowing free movement of the second fly.
Many anglers use a tippet ring on the end of their leader to avoid shortening the leader every time they attach fresh tippet material. Another reason to install a tippet ring is that you’ll have a perfect attachment point for two flies. Tie your tippet to the tippet ring and attach your point fly to the other end, then repeat the process to attach your second fly.
Rigging two flies lets you target different parts of the water column and offer fish two different enticements in a single cast. It’s not the right approach in every angling scenario, but frequently, a double offering will yield more strikes than fishing with just one fly.
We hope the presentation options and attachment methods covered in this article will help you when conditions call for a two-fly setup.
Run by fly fishers and completely free!
Create accountLocations
Explore Sweden's fly fishing opportunities under Allemansrätten, emphasizing responsible practices to safeguard the pristine natural environment.
Locations
In this tranquil and heartfelt video, Rolf embarks on a spontaneous fishing adventure near his home, inspired by rumors of brook trout in a nearby lake.
General
Deep dive into Nylon (monofilament) and Fluorocarbon for your tippet and leader. Explore the pros and cons, features, and performance of each material to make an informed decision for your next fishing adventure.
Locations
Summary of NZ's proposed Designated Waters Licence: managing angling pressure, affecting resident/non-resident anglers differently, and next steps.
Fish
In this article we cover the differences between Pike and Musky, from their species distinction, visual identification, global distribution to fly fishing tactics.
Flies
Discover the thrill of fly fishing with terrestrials! Learn techniques, best flies, gear, and tips for targeting many species with this exciting fly pattern.
Run by fly fishers and completely free!
Create accountAll these locations are curated by local fly fishers. Wether they're guides or hobbyists, they're all experienced so you'll get the best information straight from the source.
New Zealand 🇳🇿
Sight fishing in clear mountain rivers and streams
Stream
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
France 🇫🇷
Serenity and trout between the cows
Stream
Brown Trout
Sea Trout
New Zealand 🇳🇿
Big trout in a big river
River
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
New Zealand 🇳🇿
Immersive sight fishing against a picturesque backdrop
River
Stream
Brown Trout
Perch
Rainbow Trout
Switzerland 🇨🇭
Pike and perch on lake Gruyère
Lake
Perch
Pike
Switzerland 🇨🇭
Fly fish the unique Cherry-Salmon Breed on the fly
Lake
Arctic Char
Grayling
Rainbow Trout
Austria 🇦🇹
18km of river among beautiful mountains
Stream
Brook trout
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Germany 🇩🇪
Ample opportunities for all levels to catch trout and grayling
River
Brown Trout
Grayling
Sweden 🇸🇪
Over 30,000 islands and endless fishing possibilities
Sea
Lake
Pond
Canal
River
Stream
Atlantic Salmon
Bream
Brook trout
Garfish
Ide
Perch
Pike
Pike-perch
Rainbow Trout
Roach
Rudd
Sea Trout
Discover different fish species. Learn about their habitat, feeding patterns, the flies that work best, and more.
Learn fly fishing knots. All knots are clearly illustrated with step by step instructions.
The study of insects. An entomology library focussed on the information relevant to fly fishing.
With an account you make suggestions, keep track of the rods you own, save favorites, stay up-to-date on the latest knowledge and much more.
FlyFish Circle is run by fly fishing enthusiasts and is completely free!
Already have an account? Log in here.
I just wanted to let you know that FlyFish Circle is built and maintained by fly fishing enthusiasts. And that's why it's free.
Consider creating an account to join our community. You don't necessarily have to contribute, but this helps us in understanding what to build next for fly fishers around the world.
Joost
Founder of FlyFish Circle
Already have an account? Log in here.
Save favorite species, flies, locations, countries and articles from the library.
FlyFish Circle is run by fly fishing enthusiasts and is completely free!
Already have an account? Log in here.
You need an account (this is free) to shop in the Boutique. This makes the shopping experience better and safer both for you and the independent fly tyers that you purchase from.
Already have an account? Log in here.
Make FlyFish Circle better for all fly fishers by suggesting an update. We process these regularly and will always get back to you once we've made changes.