How to Tie Multiple Hooks

Rigging multiple, or tandem, hooks is a way to help increase your chances of catching a fish. Fly anglers often fish a second or dropper fly. Aside from presenting a second hook in the water, the flies allow for presenting two of the same or different types in the water to stimulate interest. Rigging multiple hooks is possible by several different means; however, one method allows for simple changes of the dropper length and fly as conditions change.

Things You'll Need

  • Fly rod with matched reel, line, leader and tippet
  • Dry fly
  • Tippet material
  • Scissors
  • Nymph
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose a combination of flies to use as a multiple hook setup on the line. Use a dry fly and nymph, nymph and nymph or dry fly and wet fly. Make the selection based on time of year, fishing conditions and personal preference.

    • 2

      Tie a dry fly onto the end of the tippet connected to the leader and main fly line with an Improved Clinch knot. Moisten the knot with saliva or water and pull the knot tight against the eye of the fly hook. Trim excess line from the free end of the line with scissors.

    • 3

      Cut a 2-foot length of tippet from a spool with scissors to serve as a dropper. Choose a tippet diameter the same as the tippet on the end of the leader and fly line.

    • 4

      Tie the dropper to the bend of the fly hook attached to the main line with an Improved Clinch knot. Moisten the knot and pull tight.

    • 5

      Tie a nymph or wet fly onto the end of the dropper with another Improved Clinch knot.