When stillwater fly fishing, hanging chironomid patterns under an indicator is one of the most popular if not highly preferred methods of fishing a midge. This technique works whether fishing the larval or pupa stag of the chironomid although the pupa gets far more attention because of it’s slow assent to the surface and availability throughout the water column. For fisheries that allow using two or more flies, your options open up which can lead to improved success. When searching for the strike zone, a multi-fly system can both speed up your search by targeting different depths on the same rig and using various colors of patterns can more quickly determine color preference by selective trout. Another window that opens up when fishing multi-fly rigs is the option to fish several different aquatic life forms at the same time, again increasing the opportunity to hook up. But whether you’re fishing one fly or multiple flies, how you present your flies can also increase your odds. In this article, I’m going to talk about two of my favourite presentations when hanging flies under an indicator and the little things that can help improve your success.
Indicators
There’s a good assortment of indicators available today. Most of them all work well when fishing up to 12 feet of water but when using longer leaders in the 15 to 20 foot range, these indicators are limiting as they will only let you retrieve your line up to the point the indicator has been secured and having a trout at the end of a twenty foot leader makes it pretty hard to net without having to physically move the indicator yourself. It’s for this reason, stillwater fly anglers prefer a slip or quick release indicator. These indicators are available in both a round and a tear drop shape and come in a variety of bright, easy to see colors and sizes. Stillwater expert Phil Rowley has his own brand of quick release indicators that are more durable with less paint chipping than other brands available. To use these type of indicators you simple thread your leader through the indicator with the supplied pin inserted. Once you’ve determined where you want to secure the indicator, you simply pull the pin, form a loop in the leader and insert the pin. Once you have a take, the weight of the fish on your line will pull the loop free and make the indicator release so it can slide freely down your leader.
 Pull The Pin |
 Form Loop And Insert Pin |
With Tension Loop Will Slip
Knots
Whether using one fly or a multi-fly rig, presenting your flies is important and the knots you choose to use can impact your success. For years I tied my chironomids using an improved clinch knot to the eye of the fly, then a couple years ago I started using a non-slip loop knot. This change in presentation has increased my catch rates substantially and I now only use the clinch knot in specific situations. The non-slip loop knot is not only strong but because it doesn’t synch up to the eye of the fly, it leaves the fly moving freely and more naturally in the water. I’ve found the size of the loop does not appear to effect catch rates but I try and keep them relatively small. The improved clinch knot still has it’s place when fishing chironomids and is used on the bend of the hook when attaching another dropper.
Non-Slip Loop Knot
Non-Slip Loop To Eye & Clinch from Bend
Rigs
The set-up for hanging flies from an indicator is fairly simple. When using chironomids I prefer to tie my flies directly below each other presenting them in a vertical position much like the naturals. When using patterns that differ in species like a leech and a bloodworm, try and match how the naturals would be seen in the water. Here the leech pattern is tied on using a clinch knot from the main leader to the eye and then another piece of tippet is attached, again using a clinch knot to the eye leading to the point fly where a non-slip loop knot is used. Separating the clinch knots onto each side of the eye keeps the leech pattern in a horizontal position. This method will work with any pattern where you would want a horizontal presentation. For the purpose of this article, the flies are tied very close together but the separation between flies is up to the angler and according to where in the water column the angler wants to target their flies will dictate the distance between flies usually being two feet or more.
Chironomid Rig
Horizontal Dropper With Chironomid On Point
Two Clinch Knots
Hanging flies from an indicator is definitely not rocket science. To improve catch rates however, paying more attention to the little things like knots, horizontal presentations and using the right strike indicator may improve your success significantly.
Mike (Doc) Monteith is the owner/guide of AlbertaStillwaters.Com specializing in one-on-one introduction to stillwater fly fishing clinics.
