Indicator Position

[Flyflinger]

I tend to tailor my water to my nymph rig. What I mean by that is that I simply won't use a regular nymph rig in some types of water, especially the slower runs. In that water my smallmouth fishing roots come into play and I'll put on a streamer and fish it aggressively.

So most of my nymph fishing is done in faster water, 1-5 ft. deep. I am a firm believer in weight. I want my weight ticking the bottom, with the strike indicator being carried a little faster by the current so that it's always downstream of the nymphs. The faster the water, the more weight I'll use, but one or two BB size split shot is my usual amount of weight. The way I rig is, I'll tie on a piece of tippet to the end of my leader, about 18 inches in length. My split shot goes on just above the knot, so that the knot keeps it from every sliding on down to the nymphs. Then I tie on the topmost nymph about 6 inches below the knot, using a palomar knot so that the last 12 inches of the tippet is the tag end of the knot. Then I tie on the second nymph at the end of that long tag end. The leader is usually 7.5 ft., and I put the strike indicator about 4 feet up from the split shot if I'm fishing the shallower, faster water, and up to 7 ft. above the shot if I'm going to be drifting through deeper water.

If the fish don't seem to be feeding on the bottom, instead of an ordinary nymph rig I'll use a big dry fly with a small nymph and a very small piece of shot for a dropper, usually 2-3 feet below the dry fly. This is my alternate rig for those slow, smooth runs.

Thank Al...I like the idea of useing a palomar knot. I am goin g to have to try that.

[Flyflinger]

These guys speak a language unknown to me, I agree cricket! Their process reminds me of an old algebra teacher of mine that was so excited about the equation and couldn't give 4 f****ks about the result.

Now what in the world do you have against flyfishing?

[flytyer57]

I just don't have time anymore to learn anything new. I certainly don't think you're an elitist snob. If this whole invasive species thing keeps getting worse, we won't have anything to talk about in 10 years anyway. So it will all be a moot point quicker than we think.

No smallmouth, no trout, I fish for the invasives.

[Mitch f]

No smallmouth, no trout, I fish for the invasives.

Now that's funny!

[Greg]

I think that old rule dates from the time when most fly fisherman used unweighted or lightly weighted nymphs. If that is what you are using i think that 2 to 2 1/2 times rule would probably be valid. But I tend to use a lot of beadhead nymphs and I tend to set my indicator pretty much dead on with the the depth of the water I'm fishing. It seems to work well for me.

I sometimes wonder though if at times an unweighted nymph or scud would work as well or better? The theory being that an unweighted nymph floats more naturally and has more action. The problem with that though to my mind is that it takes a loooong time to get the fly down to the feeding zone so you need a really long drift and your fly isn't in the feeding zone as long. Still I'd like to give that a try.......

Greg

[Mitch f]

Now what in the world do you have against flyfishing?

nothing, i just love to hear people use buzz words unique to their group and no one else knows what they are talking about. Translated: indicator= bobber, nymphimg=small bugs in the water? midging= Who Knows? it's just funny to me, that's all. Don't get upset.

[flytyer57]

nothing, i just love to hear people use buzz words unique to their group and no one else knows what they are talking about. Translated: indicator= bobber, nymphimg=small bugs in the water? midging= Who Knows? it's just funny to me, that's all. Don't get upset.

Just wait till we start using the latin names instead of the common names.

Then you will really be confused.

[Gavin]

Mitch let me translate..........Keep your candy in the water till something eats it...if your not catching in a reasonable amount of time, fiddle with your rig a bit and/or change your candy. Get it back in the water as soon as possible because your not gonna catch a fish while tying knots. Cheers.

[Terry Beeson]

Is that like a drop shot or a carolina rig? (Whatever those mean...)

[ness]

I just don't have time anymore to learn anything new.

Want me to give you a ride over to the nursing home? Sounds like you're done.

I certainly don't think you're an elitist snob.

I've come to believe there are far more non-fly fishermen talking about fly-fishing snobs than there are actual fly-fishing snobs. As a matter of fact, I can't really think of anyone who is a snob, but this topic comes up all the time here.

The different lingo has developed because the processes are different. It's not in an attempt to elevate one method over another. There's a real difference between a typical bobber and a typical indicator. And, that's because the thing on the end of the line is different.