01-01-2006, 01:19 PM
[cool][#0000ff]If you do not already know how to tie a blood knot, or make a loop in your line, you will need to do some online "Googling" or get one of your fishing buddies to show you. Here is a moving diagram of the blood knot to help you with that one.[/#0000ff]
![[Image: gimp-blood-loop.gif]](http://www.thejump.net/fishing-knots/gimp-blood-loop.gif)
[#0000ff]I carry a spare spool of leader to tie on the extra lengths. This helps keep from having to respool quite as often. But, if you do not have extra leader, you can cut your line and then tie the blood knot.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]One of the keys is to leave yourself enough line to work with so that you are not fumbling to get everything to work. Also, if you are going to leave a "tag end", a length of line to tie on the dropper fly (or other lure), you need to leave a longer piece coming down from the rod. I usually try to leave at least six inches, to have plenty of line for tieing with. However, it is best to keep your dropper leader less than 3" long for this rig. Shorter droppers prevent tangles and keep you in better touch with biting fish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Rough measurement would be to make the bottom piece about two feet long, working with about six inches for making the knot. Work with about ten inches from the rod end. When you get ready to tighten the knot down, moisten it with good old spit (unless you have been chewing on something corrosive) to lubricate the knot and avoid friction and heat. Clip off the unneeded tag end and then use the longer piece, from the rod end, to tie your flies.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]One of the downsides of this rig is that you have to retie every time you want to change flies. One way to offset that is to use a small loop in the line, and then just slip the loop through the eye of the fly and around it to cinch it on. Actually, the loop method helps hold the fly out more rigidly from the line too, which can help with presentation and strike detection. It is not as good if you are using heavier line or if the fish are finicky and are spooked by the extra line of the loop.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I carry a spare spool of leader to tie on the extra lengths. This helps keep from having to respool quite as often. But, if you do not have extra leader, you can cut your line and then tie the blood knot.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]One of the keys is to leave yourself enough line to work with so that you are not fumbling to get everything to work. Also, if you are going to leave a "tag end", a length of line to tie on the dropper fly (or other lure), you need to leave a longer piece coming down from the rod. I usually try to leave at least six inches, to have plenty of line for tieing with. However, it is best to keep your dropper leader less than 3" long for this rig. Shorter droppers prevent tangles and keep you in better touch with biting fish.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Rough measurement would be to make the bottom piece about two feet long, working with about six inches for making the knot. Work with about ten inches from the rod end. When you get ready to tighten the knot down, moisten it with good old spit (unless you have been chewing on something corrosive) to lubricate the knot and avoid friction and heat. Clip off the unneeded tag end and then use the longer piece, from the rod end, to tie your flies.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]One of the downsides of this rig is that you have to retie every time you want to change flies. One way to offset that is to use a small loop in the line, and then just slip the loop through the eye of the fly and around it to cinch it on. Actually, the loop method helps hold the fly out more rigidly from the line too, which can help with presentation and strike detection. It is not as good if you are using heavier line or if the fish are finicky and are spooked by the extra line of the loop.[/#0000ff]
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