Not to be too picky... but you should probably stick with using the lower tag end of your surgeon's knot (for strength)--although with smaller fish it's probably less of an issue. I recently learned to use the ligature knot and it is by far a better knot than the surgeon's both for strength and for the initial dropper (tag exits at 90 degrees to the knot). As I fish competitively and because the rings are not allowed in competition, I either use a knot based dropper or tie the dropper directly to the leader above the knot, similar to the loop system Phillip illustrated in his second diagram above.grinr wrote:Hey all,new member here,just chiming in.I live in New Brunswick,Canada and mostly fish for brookies and atlantic salmon.Anyhow,back on topic,I don't fish droppers too often but when I do I use a very simple set-up.I simply tie on a length of tippet(6lb maxima chameleon) with a double surgeon knot and leave the upper tag end(towards butt) long enough (8-10"?) to tie on another fly.In using the upper tag as opposed to the lower,with 6lb Maxima it is stiff enough to keep a light dropper fly away from the main tippet when swinging wets and rarely ever fouls or tangles.A black beadhead bugger on the point with a non-weighted olive bugger on the dropper quite often results in a pair of greedy 12" brookies.....lotsa fun on a 4wt!
Aaron