Beyond the Basics: Dry Dropper on a Fixed Line

Learn how to fish a dry-dropper rig with a tenkara rod in Episode 6 of the Tenkara Masterclass with Pat Jaeger.

In Episode 5, Pat targeted rising trout with a single dry fly. But when those fish stop consistently feeding on the surface, it’s time to adapt. In this episode, Pat makes a simple change—adding a nymph below the dry fly to reach trout feeding just beneath the surface. He explains when to make the switch, how to choose a dry fly capable of supporting the dropper, and why this technique can be especially effective as surface activity begins to fade. 

But the rig is only part of the lesson. Pat also demonstrates how positioning and footwork can replace the need for more line. With a fixed-line tenkara setup, sometimes reaching a new piece of water doesn’t require a longer cast—it only requires taking a step or making a small adjustment with your shoulders. It’s another example of what makes tenkara so effective: read the water, adjust your presentation, and let the fish tell you how to fish.

Watch the complete Tenkara Masterclass playlist to follow Pat’s lessons from the fundamentals through putting these techniques to work on the river. And subscribe to Fish the West Films on YouTube for more fly fishing films, instructional series, and stories from the fisheries of the American West.