Dropper rollers

[LopatNympher]

I saw these at http://wflies.com/dropper.html and decided to buy some of them. Alain did a review of them on the board
( http://troutpredator.info/nymph-fish...3358/#msg13358 ) which was favorable. I was wondering if anyone else has tried them and what kind of results you got from them.

[wwelz]

I use them all the time. The first time I used them was in Montana . I was having a problem fishing the anchor fly in the upper position. The rollers dramatically cut down on the tangles . I also caught more fish in the fast shallow riffles casting across stream or upstream.They work well when you want to increase the length of your dropper in the upper position . ( less tangles) . The downside is that you have more money dangling on the end of your line when you get hung and there is a learning curve to putting them on the line and tying on the dropper section. The directions say to use a improved cinch knot but I get by just fine on a regular cinch knot with seven turns. I am still new to euro nymphing but I think the rollers are a good way to get good at fishing the anchor fly in the upper position. They guys who are skilled probably don,t need them. I look at them as training wheels for euro-nymphing,

[Toad Hunter]

Lopat,

Haven't used them, but there is a similar knot/rigging you could try that provides the same result with no money spent.

Instead of the roller being placed above your knot, attach a dropper using a loop.

Take 12'' of tippet material and form a loop on one end via a perfection loop or double overhand knot. Wrap this around your main tippet section, above a knot, then slide the tag end of the dropper through the loop on the other end. Tighten this "loop-to-loop" connection and slide it down to the knot.

It gives you the same performance as the roller system.


Mike

[LopatNympher]

I already oredered the rollers but I'll give that a try as well, Thanks Mike.

[Davyfly]

The simplest way to rig this system is to tie above the knot either with my Davy knot or a clinch knot the dropper length, this slide down to the stopper knot. cut the required length for the dropper and tie the fly.

The will provide for a free swing dropper, you are also at liberty to reduce say from the main leader system the x factor of line to accommodate smaller flies, say from 4 x leader with a detached dropper to 5 or 6 x.
I have used this method myself for over 30 years for both wet fly and nymph fishing.
My view is the rollers are a waste of money and offer no advantage over the above mentioned system.

Many of these systems are adopted from the EU techniques and terminal tackle used for freshwater species other than trout.

If there is one other consideration here it is choosing the right leader material, there are many options out there. from very supple to stiff, it can make a difference when using droppers of any kind.


Davy

[LopatNympher]

Thanks for that tidbit Davy. Now that I think of it Aaron filled me in on that rig a while back, it slipped my mind. ("too much information running through my brain" ---The Police). Not that I plan on entering any comps in the forseeable future but another drawback to the rollers is that they are illegal in competitions.