The Big Debate: Trout Bead Droppers

Many old time “purist” fly fisherman would consider anything other than a dry fly flung by a bamboo rod to not be fly fishing.  I’m sure many of these old timers were rolling in their graves with the introduction of the bead dropper. It’s been a hot debate for some time now whether or not using a single bead a couple inches up from a bare hook under an indicator can be considered “fly fishing”, and in some cases even “legal”.

Trout Beads

A dropper is a very common and very productive practice in fly fishing, and has been for a very long time. However, when beads came into play as droppers, there was some controversy that developed. These beads can be rigged several different ways. The bead can either be rigged with a tooth pick inserted into the bead, or once the leader is put through the bead it can be doubled back through, this way the angler can move the bead up and down the leader. The idea is that the bead will be placed just a couple inches above a bare hook, and when the fish grabs the bead it slides down the leader and the fish is hooked in the corner of the mouth. There are couple different schools of thought on this, one being that using a plastic bead is not a fly but actually a lure. Two that sliding the bead up the line above a bare hook and then hooking fish in the side of the mouth is considered snagging.  Third, is that it’s just another good old fly fishing tactic, so who cares.

I see where all three thoughts come from, and I hate every meat headed snagging poacher as much as the next guy, but I have a hard time viewing the bead as a snagging tool. Washington State Rules and regulations state, “It is unlawful to possess a fish taken from freshwater that was not hooked inside the mouth or on the head. The head is defined as any portion forward of the rear margin of the gill plate.” (pg. 16, Washington Sport Fishing Rules effective May 1, 2013 – April 30^, 2014).  This makes hooking a fish in the face with the bead method perfectly legal in the state of Washington. However, cross the Columbia River and go into Oregon and you better leave your beads at home. Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife defines snagging as “Taking or attempting to take a fish with a hook and line in a way or manner where the fish is not enticed to voluntarily take the hook(s) in its mouth. Game fish which are hooked other than inside of its mouth must be released immediately unharmed.” (pg. 12 2013 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations). So hook that hatchery brat in the side of the face in the state of Oregon, and you gotta let it go.

For me, FLY fishing with beads is very new and I have only tried it once to no avail. But it was a topic that interested me due to all the controversy behind it. Personally, I see nothing wrong with it. I have been on rivers where guys tie on a treble hook, a hunk of lead, and then rip their line back hoping for the best. That is not fishing. But a bead is an egg imitation that entices a fish to bite just like your grandpa’s hand tied royal coachman would do. When the fish is hooked in corner or side of the mouth, very little damage is done to the fish. I chose to fly fish for many different reasons, one being that I enjoy catching fish, and even though the bead may be frowned upon by some, I see it as just another tactic. The bead is a very productive way to fish, and many guides have used this tactic to catch fish and the keep their customers happy. In my opinion, as long as you are staying within the legal realms of the water of that you are fishing, bead on.