Q: What method of fishing do you recommend for fishing DH streams?

A: The most effective method I have found for fishing Delayed Harvest fisheries is a dual nymph rig. I use a 7.5′ 5x or 4x leader. I use a Thingambobber strike indicator and split shot for this set up to sink my flies to right above the bottom of the river bed as this is where the majority of your trout will be feeding. You want to use a heavy enough split shot that your flies are getting hung up on the occasionally. This will tell you that you are at the right depth. I place the splitshot 12-18″ above the fly and set the strike indicator at about 1.5 times the water depth away from the weight on the leader. I then tie on my first fly or point fly I then use a 12′ to 18″ piece of tippet to attach my second fly or dropper. I find it most efficient to tie on my dropper by first tying the fly to the loose tippet with an improved cinch knot and the tying an improved cinch knot around my finger in the other end of loose tippet. At that point you can just slip the loop created by your finger around the bend of your point fly and tighten. I always use something flashy for this fly because I have found that the point fly often acts as an attractor bringing the trout in close enough to notice the dropper and eat. Early in the month I will use two flashy flies where later in the month I will switch the dropper to a more realistic nymph.

The thing to remember with double fly rigs is that they are easily tangled. This means you have to widen the line loop by slowing down your cast. Another helpful thing to remember about casting double rigs is that the less time two nymphs are in the air equal less time for your two nymphs to tangle. Limit your false casts and use more roll and water loaded casts in order to really discover the benefits of double nymph rigs because two hooks in the water are always better then one. 

David Grossman ~ CWO Professional Guide