Flyfishing Without An Indicator

[jwpage]

Like most of you all, I went fly fishing on the Lower Illinois this past weekend. I have learned to fly fish mainly with a nymph and indicator. I really would like to wean myself off of the indicator and fly fish without it. It seems to be a crutch that I can't catch anything without. Any advice on some tips and things I should look for. I tried it this past weekend and had no luck. Fly tips and fishing tips would be greatly appreciated.

John

[Gavin]

Nymphing w/o an indicator is all about maintaining contact with your fly or flies using visual cues or by feeling them tick across the bottom. Visual cues can be anything, a twitch in you leader, a pause in a drift, seeing a fish move or open its mouth near where you think your fly is, etc....Might want to try it with two flies at first...one you can see underwater like a glo ball and something else a foot or so behind that till you get a feel for it..Adjust your weight for every run. If your looking for a book...Joe Humphries Trout Tactics is worth a read. It discusses nymphing w/o an indi at length....plus lots of other helpful info. Cheers.

[laker67]

That is some really good information that Gavin passed along. The only thing that I would add is, don't be afraid to use a longer leader/tippet combination. The less contact that your fly line has with the water, the better. I use a 15 foot leader/tippet combination. With about 2 feet of fly line hanging out of your rod tip, you will be aware of everything that going on under the surface. Let's us know how you fare.

[jwpage]

The info is great. The fifteen foot of leader - tippet combo is really a good idea. I hadn't thought of that. What about flyfishing with other flies. I tried a woolly buggar and a stonefly with no luck. Everytime I thought I was getting hits, nothing. A little frustrating but I am determined to catch a trout without an indicator, whether nymphing or otherwise.

[fly2fish]

Since 90% of my trout fishing is done at night I am going strictly by feel, usually at night they hit harder than in the day. But when I did fish mainly in the day I watched the end of my floating flyline the best I could and tightened up at the slightest movement forward. You can see this long before you would feel anything and you could detect a strike with even a bow or slack in your line such as after mending. Hi vis line would help also.

When I do use an indicator during the day I make sure it has a hook in it, like a foam hopper or beetle that floats high. I have had to many fish come up and engulf the foam strike indicators wishing it had been a dry fly or mouse or something with a hook.

F2F

[Bman]

Nymphing w/o an indicator is all about maintaining contact with your fly or flies using visual cues or by feeling them tick across the bottom. Visual cues can be anything, a twitch in you leader, a pause in a drift, seeing a fish move or open its mouth near where you think your fly is, etc....Might want to try it with two flies at first...one you can see underwater like a glo ball and something else a foot or so behind that till you get a feel for it..Adjust your weight for every run. If your looking for a book...Joe Humphries Trout Tactics is worth a read. It discusses nymphing w/o an indi at length....plus lots of other helpful info. Cheers.

That is some really good information that Gavin passed along. The only thing that I would add is, don't be afraid to use a longer leader/tippet combination. The less contact that your fly line has with the water, the better. I use a 15 foot leader/tippet combination. With about 2 feet of fly line hanging out of your rod tip, you will be aware of everything that going on under the surface. Let's us know how you fare.

These two posts contain some real jewels of insight, and reference.

One point, about my personal preference about a positive for strike indicators. They can help you get a better drift. It’s more of a tool to get a better drift when spot fishing, as a last resort, a strike indicator, of the traditional use.

[FishinCricket]

Wait, you guys use bobbers? What? Don't that kinda defeat the purpose of "being one with the fly"..?

(jest teasin' boys.. I quickly put away those "thingymabobbers" after correctly identifying them as a crutch.. So good luck buddy)

[laker67]

These two posts contain some real jewels of insight, and reference.

One point, about my personal preference about a positive for strike indicators. They can help you get a better drift. It’s more of a tool to get a better drift when spot fishing, as a last resort, a strike indicator, of the traditional use.

This is a really good point Bman. Most newcomers to the sport are unaware that it can be used for more than a visual reference preceeding a strike. Most are so focused on the indicator, that they are unaware of what is below the surface. I like your reference as a "tool". Pin point drifting, sighting in, depth control, and the ability to lace an entire run of water. I started out fly fishing without an indicator, and like the old dog and new tricks, that's me. Heck, indicators weren't even on the drawing boards back then. Good to hear from you again.

[Rolan Duffield]

John:

If your fishing moving water, fishing without an indicator is easy, assuming your using a wet fly such as a scud. Cast upstream at about a 45 degree angle. Let the fly sink for a few seconds, then raise the rod tip to a 45 degree angle to the water. Now watch the belly in the line for any unusual change in direction or movement as the fly moves downstream. Be sure you let the rod tip travel with the speed of the current as the fly travels downstream. This is a very effective technique. Many of us learned to fly fish in this way years ago as we didn't have or know about strike indicators then.

Watching the bow in the fly line is the key to this type fishing.

If fishing still water, this method still applies though it's slightly harder to see a strike until you become accustomed to watching for changes in the bow of the line. Any strike is easier to see if your stripping in the fly line.

Rolan

[Buzz]

Great question and great responses. I have been learning to fish without an indicator too. As the pros have noted, if the fly line is out of the water and you detect the slightest hesitation in it's movement downstream, it may be a slight pull or it may just stop it's downstream path, set the hook. I have gained a lot of confidence in this method, especially in faster water. Good luck. It is just another form of presentation, but it is highly productive and sometimes more realistic.