To Indicator Or Not To Indicator

[Zach Bearden]

I'd tie on my underwear if I thought it would help me catch fish...

Funny story, caught a pair of undies on one of my sessions in Slovakia. Come to think of it, also caught a brown trout from the same hole, he sure didn't fight much...

[laker67]

I voted no indicator. Back when I started fly fishing, indicators were not invented at that time. At an early age, I learned to fish the creeks by sight fishing for bass and perch, so it was a simple process to convert that to trout fishing in the early 60's. I occasionally use a lighted indicator at night, when fishing taney and the norfork. Indicators definately have some good qualitys in some situations. If you're looking for a controlled drift in a run of water, then thats the way to go. However, they have some disadvantages also. In shallow water, they have a tendency to put fish on guard, mainly larger fish.

[dennis boatman]

Bobberless....

[Bman]

I use an indicator, but not necessarily to detect a strike. I use an indicator to get a good drift.

[rainbowtrouttracker]

I use an indicator, but not necessarily to detect a strike. I use an indicator to get a good drift.

cool. I never thought of that.

[Zach Bearden]

I use an indicator, but not necessarily to detect a strike. I use an indicator to get a good drift.

Then how are you detecting your strikes?

[ozark trout fisher]

Then how are you detecting your strikes?

There are other ways. Watching for a flash in the water that may be the take of a trout, or waiting for the line to twitch.

Indicators (okay, I'll call them bobbers) aren't the only way-although they may be the easiest and most effective way. And I agree with Bman-they can help tremendously with getting a good drift.

[flytyer57]

...or waiting for the line to twitch.

Wouldn't that be like watching an indicator?

The best use of an indicator is to suspend a nymph at a certain depth.

[ozark trout fisher]

Wouldn't that be like watching an indicator?

It sure would be-but some people don't like the indicator because it kinda ruins the casting motion, especially the larger ones.

[flytyer57]

It sure would be-but some people don't like the indicator because it kinda ruins the casting motion, especially the larger ones.

I've seen those "thingamabobbers" in the store and I've always wondered how anyone could cast them. Also gotta think about the loud splash they make when they land on the water.

I normally use a little round corkie that's no more than 5/16" in diameter.