As we're all beginning to think about the start of the new season on 3rd April, we'll probably be devising strategies for how to catch those newly stocked Rainbows. If you can't decide whether to use dries or nymphs, sometimes it's worth trying to 'back it both ways' by using a dry fly and a nymph together, with the nymph suspended below the dry.
I learnt this trick in my early days on the river to help me detect takes on the nymph, and there's always the chance of a rise to the dry as well. It's a classic river technique, especially when nothing's rising, or the water's a bit murky; conditions we're familiar with on the Teise. You may be surprised to know that it works on the Reservoir as well. Mark used it in a short session a few days ago (yes, in the howling gales, and between torrential showers) and landed two lovely rainbows (one on the dry, one on the nymph), lost two more, and had lots of interest from a small Perch.
Most people call this the Klink'n'Dink method as it uses a Klinkhammer dry, and the nymph is either attached to the bend of the Klinkhammer hook, or attached to a second tippet ring that's been tied into the fly just above the bend. Some say that this method works with a Klinkhammer because it helps the fly to float vertically, imitating a buzzer. Some use other dries, with or without a tied-in tippet ring, and the choice of nymph can be whatever you want, to either quickly or slowly achieve the target depth. Mark used a Hare's Ear nymph about 4ft below the Klinkhammer in this case.
Of course some people don't like the Klink'n'Dink method and swear by using a dry on a short dropper above the nymph, instead of tying the nymph directly to the dry. This method is often called the Duo, and you'll often hear debates about their respective merits. If you read enough articles on this topic however, you'll probably get very confused, as sometimes the Klink'n'Dink is called the NZ method, or even the Duo.
Whatever you call it, it's a good trick to bear in mind if you don't have years of experience, or a deep knowledge of that bit of river, or if you're just indecisive. Use whichever variation you like , and call it what you like, so long as it works for you.
Tight lines.
PeterB
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