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The Best Way to Rig a Fly Line for Panfish

The Best Way to Rig a Fly Line for Panfish

Yellow Foam Grasshopper Fly For Fly Fishing image by Chuck Alexander from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>

Fly anglers pride themselves on pursuing game fish such as trout, bone fish or tarpon in often remote and beautiful locations. However, when it comes right down to it, put a fly angler on the bank of a farm pond loaded with panfish such as crappie, yellow belly or blue gill and they are in hog heaven. Pound for pound, most panfish put up a fight that can be more than satisfying when using a fly rod. Rigging a fly rod for panfish is a simple process that most anglers can accomplish.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:
  • 9-foot fly rod with matched reel
  • 9-weight floating fly line with leader
  • 2-lb. tippet
  • Terrestrial, foam spider, popper or other similar dry fly
  • Scissors
Step 1
Connect a length of 2- to 4-lb. test tippet material to your leader with a Surgeon's knot. Tie the knot by overlapping the free end of the tippet and fly line for several inches and form a loop with the two lines.
Step 2
Wrap the free end of the tippet and the tippet length around and through the loop three times. Slowly pull the knot down tight pausing to moisten it with water or saliva before pulling completely tight. Trim excess line from the free ends of the knot with a pair of scissors or snips.
Step 3
Attach a terrestrial dry fly such as a grasshopper, beetle or ant to the end of the tippet line. Consider also using a foam spider or popper and connect the lure with an improved clinch knot. Form the knot by feeding several inches of line through the eye of the fly.
Step 4
Continue tying the improved clinch knot by pulling the free end of the line up and wrapping it around the main line six times forming a small loop above the eye of the fly. Turn the free end of the line down and pass it through the small loop above the eye but do not pull tight at this point. This will create an elongated loop along the knot.
Step 5
Finish tying the knot by pulling the line out through the side of the knot through the elongated loop you formed earlier. Moisten the knot with saliva or water and pull down tightly against the eye.

Article Written By Keith Dooley

Keith Dooley has a degree in outdoor education and sports management. He has worked as an assistant athletic director, head coach and assistant coach in various sports including football, softball and golf. Dooley has worked for various websites in the past, contributing instructional articles on a wide variety of topics.

Write for Trails.com

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