When using a dropper fly in front of a plug or swim shad, do you generally use a weighted fly or fly without added weight?

Welcome.
Without.

First of all they are a pain in the ass but secondly there are nights when they take all the fish.

Also, there are nights when bass take only the plug but ONLY when there is a teaser in front. WEIRD.

Some times it is that little extra thing that seems to trigger fish to strike...sometimes it doesn't matter.

I use a salt water fly that is generally unweighted. (most times a sand eel imitation of some kind) Also I find by attaching it to the (extra long) tag end of a improved clinch using floro, it tend to keep the fly from wrapping around the main leader.

I only tend to fish with droppers when I am have poor luck with lures alone and start digging thru my bag-o-tricks to find something that works.

Lastly, for me, I find the dropper tends to attract smaller fish for the most part. I don't think I have ever caught a bass larger then 20# on the dropper itself.

The dropper fly has a fairly big saltwater hook in it so while there is no weight per say , it does have some mass.

I like to use a weighted fly like a clouser. It does not get hung up on the main leader as much as an unweighted fly.

Welcome to the site.. I like to use a dropper when the fish are fussy. Sometimes it is the only thing that takes fish. When rigging the dropper, I like to use a heavier line from the main line. It seems to cut down on tangeling.:humpty: