Often when I am tying up a nymph rig, it consists of two flies. While there are certain days that one fly pattern works best, there are many more days that a number of different flies will catch fish. The easiest way to try multiple flies is to fish multiple at once.
When choosing flies for a two fly nymph rig, I will usually select two patterns that are different from each other. For example:
- one with flash and one without
- one with bright color and one with natural color
- one that imitates a caddis and one that imitates a mayfly
I think you get the idea.
What’s that old saying? “Variety is the spice of life?”
Fishing a variety of different flies on nymph rigs can also be the key to catching a couple extra fish.
Do two fly rigs tangle easier? Well, maybe a little bit. Although, most anglers would not notice a difference in tangles. A lot of the time a tangle is a tangle, it doesn’t matter how many flies are attached. I do not hesitate to fish two fly rigs.
Like many other situational aspects in fly fishing, there are times when I will choose to fish one fly rigs. That sounds like a good discussion for another day.
The spring is a great time to nymph with two fly rigs. The next time you are on the water give some thought to nymphing with a two fly rig. Consider which two flies you choose to fish. If you need to get some time on the water, talk to Joel and he can help you out.
