Dropper Beads

[SaboVT]

I was wondering if anyone has tried what I think is a new product that is supposed to help eliminate tangles (http://www.gamakatsu.com/new_product...ropperbead.htm). I'm thinking of ordering some unless someone tells me they are a waste of money. It seems like a good concept as long at they are not too big. I'm thinking one of these placed above a tippet ring could make a great setup....?

[VTflyfishing]

I like to tie my droppers off the bend of the hook. I don't seem to get to many tangles unless I do something wrong in the timing of my cast. If you are casting a double rig and you are getting tangled a lot, chances are it could be your casting. In that case I would work on casting with one fly. As far as the dropper bead goes its another thing to add to the equation. The more things you add the more complicated things get. Keep it simple.
Matt
http://www.midcurrent.com/articles/g...em_combos.aspx

[Brookie]

Interesting product. If you get them, let's hear your review. Seems to me they would be more of a pain in the you know what than they are worth, but to be fair I haven't tried them. Most, but not all tangles can be alleviated with proper casting technique.
I have visions of trying to thread one onto the leader and having it squirt out of my wet hands.

If you tie enough droppers, it's really not that time consuming to re-tie a rig if you do get an unmanageable tangle. A simple triple surgeon's knot will have you back fishing in short order.

A similar product are the rollers that some of the CZ nymphers use, just an FYI. Here's a link:
http://www.flyshop.co.nz/page/F/PROD...d-loops/roller

[alanb_ct]

Somewhere on this site, I wrote a review of the similar product made by Hends. I also made a movie of their operation. The ones I reviewed worked really well, but, as Brookie says, are sort of a pain to use when you are frequently re-rigging. The device itself is about the size of a small glass bead; so easy to lose. If your droppers tangle a lot, you might want to try making them shorter and from heavier tippet.

[jovalle]

I'll echo everyone else's sentiment on here, that they may be more trouble than they are worth. The best dropper method I've come up with is to tie a double perfection loop with 3x/4x fluoro. The double loop combined with the stiffness of the fluoro is sufficient to maintain a right angle to the leader at the connection and a few inches past. The technique, combined with open loop casting is more than enough to prevent nasty tangles. You'll still have to unwind the rig occasionally, but that is unavoidable regardless of the connection method.

[wwelz]

I attended the fall Czech session at HRO. Loren advocated using the Orvis tippet knot. That knot does a very good job of preventing dropers from tangling .http://www.orvis.com/orvis_assets/files/index.html

[SaboVT]

I understand everyone's point....KISS is often the best approach. For most tandem rigs I use, and all dry-dropper I tie off at the hook bend and do not have any problems for the most part. Still think I'm going to give these a try though since I like a blood knot dropper type setup for short line methods, and like to fish midge patterns with thin tippet. If these things can cut my tangles down even 20% they're worth it in my book.

[z.bearden]

Somebody want to put that into english speak for me? That made absolutely no sense...

It sounds to me like an overly elaborate swivel type thing.

[AaronJasper]

Its a very small set up with an end to tie each part of the leader around. The dropper is tied to the device, which swivels around and does not let the droppers tangle up at all. Its a really great idea in theory but it complicates things a little bit. I always use the triple surgeons knot.

[alanb_ct]

(also posted last year)
Many have asked about dropper rigging and knots or had issues with tangling. We recommend the use of the Triple Surgeons knot and short droppers 4 or 5 inches long maximum. For research on this topic, I bought some of the plastic roller devices available from Fly-Tying Specialties (http://www.flytyingspecialties.com/).

I used them quite successfully this weekend and they definitely work to eliminate tangling due to tippet wrap. They are quite small and do not appreciably affect the drift. The device itself is about the size of a size 20 nymph thorax and crystal clear. To rig mine, I used a Triple Surgeons knot as a stop knot and an Improved Clinch to mount the dropper to the roller.

These rollers are not competition legal.

Here's the review:
http://www.vimeo.com/3105042