Chubby Dry-Dropper Rig for the South Holston & Watauga Rivers

chubby Chernobyl dry-dropper Rig

Using a Chubby Chernobyl dry fly as an indicator is a extremely effective way to make casting nymphs easier and maintain the stealth that a yarn indicator provides. It’s also a fun way to illicit more surface eats. While we don’t have many large terrestrials in East Tennessee. There are still fish willing to come up and eat the Chubby.

When is the best time of year to fish this rig?

We have found that May-September is the best time of year to fish this rig.

What leader should I use?

On this rig we prefer to use a 9’ 5x or 8’ 4x. We will use the shorter 8’ 4x when there is more wind or if the individual casting the line is newer. A shorter, stiffer leader casts more easily.

What tippet should I use?

On the South Holston and Watauga, we primarily fish 5-6.5x tippet. When water levels are low and clear, we will move to 6.5x.

How far do we put the flies below it?

Typically we put flies anywhere from 6-18in below the Chubby. This varies greatly depending on the section of river we are targeting.

BENEFITS:

• Using a Chubby Chernobyl dry fly as an indicator can be more stealthy than using a yarn indicator.

• A Chubby is also very sensitive to strikes so it’s easy to see when your nymphs get a bite.

• Ideally fish will eat your Chubby Chernobyl!

• This rig is also easier to cast than a yarn indicator. Because a yarn indicator is tied on to the middle of the leader, this can change the weight distribution of the cast often being more difficult for individuals with slower line speed in their cast.

DRAWBACKS:

• The biggest drawback to the Chubby Rig is that in order to change depth of your nymphs, you have to cut tippet off then add more. Using a yarn-indicator, the depth can easily be changed by sliding the yarn up or down the indicator.

• Using a yarn indicator, you can increase the amount of yarn to carry larger flies. On a Chubby rig, heavy nymphs can sink the dry fly.