On Indicators and whatnot

[John Berry]

The only place where I encounter really spooky fish that would be bothered by the strike indicator is in the Catch and Release section below Bull Shoals Dam. The water is slow and skinny giving the trout plenty of time to examine the offerings. In this situation, I would recommend using using a dry fly with the hook cut off at the bend (doubles are illegal in catch and release water)as an indicator.

[Mikey]

WHen fishing a dry as the indicator (without a hook), where do you tie in the tippett? I can't imagine in my head a convincing way of rigging it so it's not as much an eyesore as the twist on.

Mike

[LostMyWife]

Dry-fly Indicators. To use a buoyant dry fly as an indicator, tie it to the end of the tapered leader, tie tippet material to the bend or eye of the dry fly, and then tie a small nymph, emerger, or dry fly to the end of the tippet. Variations of this basic formula are endless. The tippet can range from five inches to five feet long. The dry fly can vary in size from #22 parachute to a #4 Royal Wulff. Just make sure the indicator dry fly can support the nymph. Large dry flies can support moderately weighted nymphs. Obviously, this isn't a deep-water technique, but it works well in depths to five feet. Anglers with poor eyesight can use large dry-fly indicators to help them fish tiny (#18 and smaller) dry flies. Just watch the bigger bug and set the hook if it goes under, or a fish rises near the indicator fly.

[fishinwrench]

I should know better than to even step in this puddle because I've been in lengthly arguments before about this...but. I truly believe that leaving "bobbers" in the truck, and learning to fish without them improved my fishing skills considerably. In most all conditions I think they create more problems than they solve, and I continue to be confused about WHY truly skilled fly anglers continue to use them.

[Snow Fly]

I guess the answer to the question is "Do what makes you happy". Everyone has their own skill levels, thus you have different levels of experience participating in this forum. Its like calling a Glow Ball an Egg Pattern fly, some people use them others wouldn't be caught dead using them.

[crappiefisherman]

oh boy

[Snow Fly]

I Agree!

[Danoinark]

Okay, so I think what I'm going to do is get a balloon, tie it with some floating yarn to a turn on indicator at a distance equal to my left hand from my wife's nose, and for good measure fish a dry fly with a bb at my tippet knot. If I can't hook up with something on that rig then maybe I'll stick to beer and night crawlers.

Mikey

Oh, that's good!!!!

WHen fishing a dry as the indicator (without a hook), where do you tie in the tippett? I can't imagine in my head a convincing way of rigging it so it's not as much an eyesore as the twist on.

Mike

You could certainly tie it to the eye of the "hookless dry" too. After you tie on the dry just run some tippet through its eye, the tie on the dropper.

I also like big foam hoppers, chernobyl ants, etc for indicators. I have also seen small bass bug poppers used as indicators also.

Dano

[Mikey]

Its like calling a Glow Ball an Egg Pattern fly, some people use them others wouldn't be caught dead using them.

Now wait a minute...I've got this so called 'egg pattern' in my fly box. Have to admit, it's only caught one trout for me (a wee little brownie). Then again, I was fishing it with no weight, downstream in swift water. I'm learning, thanks to everyone at this forum.

Mikey

[brittsnbirds]

I've held out long enough. I agree to a certain degree with fishinwrench but.......... When I was at BSP over the holidays I caught a ton of fish using a pinch on foam float over a green streamer/midge that I tie. I caught some in the skinny water sight fishing but in the deep cuts the indicator was the only way to go. I fished right next to a guy who was using a similar (color & pattern) fly. I was catching 3 or 4 to one more fish than he was. I believe indicators have their place as another device or tool to catche trout. Just like using flourocarbon over regular tippet.

As far as floats go, my preferance are the round balls with the rubber band or white pinch on, depending on the fly and conditions!