Category: Mono Rig

The mono rig, popularized by troutbitten.com is a specific style of tight line nymphing. A 15-20 pound section of monofilament thorough the guides of the fly rod take the place of a fly line. 15-20 pound monofilament weighs a lot less than fly line. Therefore, it does not sag in the guides of the fly rod, creating less drag on your flies.

Using monofilament in place of fly line is not a new tactic. Anglers have been replacing fly line with monofilament for a long time for improved nymphing performance. The version of “mono-rig” that is referenced on TroutStrike.com is what has been popularized by troutbitten.com.  Instead of replacing all the traditional fly line on a fly reel, a long section of monofilament (24-30 feet) is tied to the loop end of the fly line. The traditional fly line stays on the reel. That way, the section of monofilament can be easily removed if the angler wants to quickly put on a dry fly leader.

The section of monofilament tied to the loop of the fly line needs to be long enough to keep the fly line from entering the guides of the fly line. There is enough mass in the monofilament to cast a leader and weighted nymphs accurately. Once the nymphs enter the water, they will drift more freely than when using a traditional fly line because the monofilament does not pull on them. This method helps to create a tight line connection between the angler and the nymphs. Having a drag free presentation when nymphing is just as important as it is when dry fly fishing. Trout are much more likely to strike a nymph that is drifting naturally in the current.