why the three way?

[LarryG]

I heard that some guys are using a 3 way swivel with the FNF,OK, I can see the main line and the leader, but now what? Do you make the bobber with a leader? I always just used the fly, and a bobber, never bothered with a snap swivel, although that would make it easier to change colors and sizes, but the 3 way has me stumped.

[Grumpy]

From what I have seen on this board, and several places elsewhere, the vast majority of people use a three way swivel with the FnF. Attach the main line to one ring, attach the bobber to another, and the leader to the third ring. From my limited experience, if the fly gets hung-up ,usually the leader will break off and you won't loose the bobber or main line.

Grumpy

[fishhunter]

It gives the fly much more action. And the extra engineering of the weighted bobber makes this method deadley.

[R19]

I prefer the three way because it gives you something solid to attach the bobber to. You can attach the bobber to the line but when using 6lb test I prefer not to take a chance on putting a nick/stress mark on the line. With the three way you can now use 8lb as the main line and 6lb on the leader some people even use 4lb on the leader. You do not want to use large line on such a small jig it will take away from the action. You will let the long limber 8-10ft rod wear the fish down you dont want to pressure the fish on lite line and light tackle. In my opinion (for what its worth LOL) the key to the three way is the Type of bobber you use.

When fishing the FnF you are targeting suspended small mouth. The fly will be above the fish and when they swim up and hit the fly most of the time they will pull back down and your floater quickly disappears.

However sometimes they continue upwards and that is when the three way with a weighted bobber will come in handy. As soon as you get the strike if the fish does not pull back down because of the low center of gravity in the bobber it will suddenly just lay over to one side.

A couple more things that I like about the three way is when fishing bluffs or close to a bank or grass if your cast is too close to the cover/structure the fly will set on the bottom and with a regular bobber you will never know but with the weighted bobber it will lay on its side until the weight of the fly is susponded in open water pulling the bobber upright. If you know you are in open water count and see how long it takes for the bobber to set upright if the time has went way over start relling slack and set the hook you just got a bite on the fall.

I still consider myself new to FnF. I started 3 or 4 years ago and was convinced that you could just use a regular small bobber and attach it straight to the line. Well you can...but after a couple trips with a guy that really knows FnF I quickly learned the three way with Bob's Bobber is a much better method.


To clarify when I refer to a weighted bobber I am talking about a 1 inch bobber that used to have the weight on the outside and at the bottom. It has been cut open and modified so the weight is inside the bobber and at the bottom. The only distrubitor that I am aware of is Punisher Jigs. They are called Bob's Bobbers.

R19

[LarryG]

still confused, are you saying thatthe bobber will be on a seperate leader?If so will this second leader be the one that controlls the depth?So will I need a 10 ft leader on the bobber, a 10 ft flouo leader to the jig, and my braid to the remaining open eye of the 3 way?seems combersome. I use either a 10/2 spioder wire or a 15/4 spider main line, its sort of hard to nick those lines.

[crappiepappy]

No, Larry ... the clip of the bobber is attached to the 3way swivel eye --- the leader line is on a seperate eye (tied directly to swivel) --- main line is tied to the third swivel eye.
You won't kink, nick, or stress braid with a clamp-on bobber ... but, the bobber will slip on braid. To keep that from happening, the braid is usually wrapped several times around the bobber clip. But, even so ... the dynamics of the cast can cause the line to come off the bobber clip (or so I'm told)

All the 3way swivel users are doing, is using the swivel as the center point of the rig. Main line comes from rod to swivel - bobber is clipped to swivel eye - leader line runs from swivel to jig. There is NO line used to attach the bobber to the swivel ... it's just clipped onto the ring eye of one of the three ring eyes of the swivel. And I don't think they use a very large 3way swivel, either ... you have to take into account the weight of the swivel AND the jig, when using a counter-weighted bobber.
At least, that's my understanding of the how & why of using a 3way swivel.

.... cp

[Grumpy]

Your main line, the Spiderwire, is tied to one ring, then the bottom of the bobber is attached to the next ring, and finally your fly leader is attached to the third ring. Neither of the lines is attached directly to the bobber. Once you get the hand of the cast, its not cumbersome at all--believe me, if I can do it (after a little practice) anyone can do it. The 10' rod is a must when using a 10' or 12' leader.

Grumpy

PS: Looks like Crappypappie and I were posting at the same time.

[redneckshadrap]

Unless you take the time to rig both in a tank(slipped/vs/pegged) you will not understand the difference.

Also on windy days the wind will "horseshoe" line and pull the fly(on a slip bobber) well up out of the depth you were wishing to fish it. If you're not in the wind you should be okay.

The whole purpose of the three-way it to take the bobber our of the line. Also when you work the fly, you'll not be working the bobber.

Like I said get a tank, bucket, sink or bathtub. Fill it up with water and do some testing.

Let me know what you find out.

[biggw]

Sure looks like the three way is taking a beating on here--But i will tell you guys one thing Im sticking with the three way--Its the only way to go-So go out there an have some fun with the FNF GUYS and good luck to you all......And let them Browns tell you what they want

[Bonefish]

You know when that 12+ SM hits you on that 6 lb Flurocarbon leader, I just wish I could watch the sweat and lack of blood flow to the cranium taking that F-N-F Hacker to a "hold new level." I do wish this upon Elwood. After he is back out on the water, he will need something to blow out those arteries. My pictue of the situation would be Elwood hanging this fish and after long and demanding fight, he lips this fish holding only the rod's handle. At that point, regardless of the bobber or knot used, it will be written in the history books.

[Moose1am]

That would be cool to see. I sure hope he gets that surgery done property and fully recovers. I can't hardly believe all the things he has been though in the last few months. Elwood live not far from me for a while and he fished some of the same lakes I fish. I never met him but still enjoyed his posts. He sure likes to fish for small mouth bass. I don't think the cold ever bothers him! LOL

[redneckshadrap]

That would be cool to see. I sure hope he gets that surgery done property and fully recovers. I can't hardly believe all the things he has been though in the last few months. Elwood live not far from me for a while and he fished some of the same lakes I fish. I never met him but still enjoyed his posts. He sure likes to fish for small mouth bass. I don't think the cold ever bothers him! LOL

Elwood's supposed to go home on Monday. We tried to get online at the hospital, but it was too aggravating.
I'm going down there to see him afterwhile. I'll see if I can't pull this thread up again so he can read it.

When it gets up and going we plan to do some filming at Dale.

Billy