Swinging two flies for Steelhead?

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Using two flies while swinging, fishing traditionally for Steelhead, is getting more popular.

Years ago my old friend Craig Ziegler was one of the first I saw doing this for Steelhead in the Lower American River.

A few years ago while fishing with Mike McCune of www.SpeyWater.com guide service on the lower Grande Rhonde I saw they like two flies at times too.

In the past few years we have seen people swinging two flies, one larger fly then one smaller one behind it for American Shad.

I guess the bigger fly attracts them and the little fly gets them?

Have any of you been trying this?

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[B Kane]

I've never tried swinging two flies for steelhead but might give it a try. On the other hand I've been swinging two for shad for thirty years and it's not unusual at all to have doubles on the way thay chase each other when hooked. Two big females feel like a big bag filled with water when you're trying to land them. Always have to be careful of the second hook when your landing a single.

[Jed Peters]

Couple weeks ago after the smolt "hatch" I did this and got about five lil ones on various buggy patterns--and a ton of grabs.

Didn't matter if it was the top or bottom bug-if it was buggy and caddis'y they hit it.

[Finsane]

I've done it for years up on the Klamath. Always the same setup. Wollybugger and an egg pattern dropper.

[Mark Kranhold]

Summer and spring steelies I use this 2 fly method. Usually a leech pattern for the upper fly with a soft hackle dropper. For shad I use a traditional shad fly on the upper with a soft hackle dropper. In my experience ,80% of the time the fish takes the bottom bug.

[JJ]

How do you set up your 2 fly rig when swinging? Just tie the 2nd fly to the hook bend? Thanks.

[Jed Peters]

How do you set up your 2 fly rig when swinging? Just tie the 2nd fly to the hook bend? Thanks.

Yep, and don't use a loop knot for the first bug, but rather for the second.

[Mark Kranhold]

JJ, yes I just tie it to the bend of the hook of the top fly. I like to use a stiffer mono to the bottom fly just to help avoiding line fouling on the upper fly. When swinging flies and even nymphing use a non slip loop knot like a rapala knot.This will allow your bugs to move more naturally with the pulses of the currents. Just throwing the knot thing out there, but you probably already know that.

[Frank Roepke]

When I lived in SLC 20 years ago, my brother turned me on the 2 fly system and have been using it ever since. I had to go single when learning how to Spey cast, but now have the 2 fly system down. Bigger fly always first and 80%+++ the dropper takes the hit. NITRO CADDIS!!!=D>
When fishing the upper rivers (NFA, SFA, Rubicon, etc...) my first fly is a dry fly, then a size 18 to 20 hairs-ear, prince or my new best friend, The Nitro Caddis

Frank

[IronMtn]

http://www.flyfishusa.com/newsletter/100205/

Was pretty effective on the Trinity last year...

[speyfool]

I use a 3-fly rig for trout fishing. I used to use a 2-fly rig for steelhead. The bigger fly was always on the end. Unlike what others are saying in here.

However, I no longer use two flies for steelhead. If you catch a big fish that is on fire when trying to bring him to hand. It only takes one time when that second fly gets impaled in your arm to make you stop.

Besides, I don't like the idea of hooking the fish with one fly and the other gets stuck in his eye ball as he fights.