Sunday 9/4 report and question

[MOBass]

Late report and nothing earth shattering.  Morning was slow fishing at the island up past the Branson campground.  Afternoon was much better, rainbows were stacked in front of the landing.  I held the boat in 11-13' of water and fished spinners, jigs, and spoons for several back to back fish. Left at 3PM with the fish still on the bite.  Fish were healthy, pulled hard, and decent size with just a couple little silver bullet rainbows mixed it.

I do have a question.  I watched a guide fishing longer rods with an interesting indicator sort of looked like a cigar slip float with a string below it attached to something else.  Could someone share some insight on the indicator?

[Bill Babler]

The rig is not a slip float.  It is a carrot float.  Several of the guides are now using this float method developed by Rick Lisek and here is the formula.  Usually have 6 lb. test mono or 10 to 20 lb. test small diameter braid spooled on the reel.  ie braid floats and puts no downward pressure on the indicator.   From the reel thru the first float and then a short section of shrink tubing usually about 8 inches to a very small fly fishing oval strike indicator  the shrink tubing prevents the tangling of the two indicators.  Anyway that's it's purpose.  Without it the twin indicators will wrap most everytime on a splash cast.  On the terminal end of the small fly fishing indicator they join by either a double surgeon or a very small swivel their tippet material, from 5X to 7X depending on how fussy the fish are.  They can fish this rig, and better yet throw it using the 10' plus rod for extreme distance.

This method along with rods up to 10' 6" allow the clients to fish their small fly, powerworm or jig deeper and still dead drift it and maintain the correct posture of the bait.  The tandem float with the tubing makes such a light rig easier to throw for distance and the small indicator on the end detects the light strikes better in the guides opinion.

This method has been around now for at least 7 or 8 yrs.  I don't use it, i have tried but for me it is a disaster when it breaks and just to much for my clients to handle.  It does however work well if you have the method perfected.  Steve Dickey uses it with braid with great success and Rick uses it with mono, probably with better success.  If you watch these guides they will be casting for their clients lots and lots during the trips.  All of this stuff can be a challenge to throw for novice fishermen.

 There are a few others that use it but still most of us old timers just use a single indicator with 6X and we seem to get along pretty good.

 

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9 minutes ago, Bill Babler said:

There are a few others that use it but still most of us old timers just use a single indicator with 6X and we seem to get along pretty good.

Can you break down your rig, Bill?  Including brand of indicator.

[MOBass]

Great information Bill and that makes perfect sense after seeing it.  Are the carrot float/indicator combos available commercially or are the guides building their own?

I did some Google searches and couldn't find anything.

[Bill Babler]

You can get everything at Lilleys except the shrink wrap and you just buy it at WalMart in the smallest diameter they have.  It's only function is to keep the floats seperated to prevent tangles and add a bit of weight for the cast of long light materials.

I'll post my set up for you with pictures when I can.

[MOBass]

Ah.....Got it.  Carrot float goes on the line followed by a section of shrink tube to keep things from getting tangled and then the indicator goes on as a stopper.  I was thinking the carrot float and indicator were actually hooked together by the shrink tube for some reason.  You explained it well, but my brain was not computing it so well.

I think I'll put together a couple of set ups and see how it goes.

[Seth]

@Bill Babler any reason why you don't use the round 3/4-1" round weighted floats? I always used the carrot floats in the past until Duane turned me on to those round weighted floats. I'm not sure I even own a carrot float now. The extra weight with the round weighted floats really helps with the casting distance if it's needed.

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9 minutes ago, Seth said:

@Bill Babler any reason why you don't use the round 3/4-1" round weighted floats? I always used the carrot floats in the past until Duane turned me on to those round weighted floats. I'm not sure I even own a carrot float now. The extra weight with the round weighted floats really helps with the casting distance if it's needed.

Post up a brand link please??  Or picture.

[Seth]

I think this is the brand. Walmart carries them. If the water is off, I like the 3/4" size. When there is water running and I need to add a little more weight to get the pink power worm down, I will bump up to the 1" size.

[Gatorjet]

Ijust pinch on a small split shot under the carrotfloat, or more recently the split floats from Trout Magnet. I don't use any swivel between my main line, and 2# fluorocarbon leader. Just attach the leader to the Nanofil main line with a triple surgeon's knot.

One question for Bill though. What do you do n shallow water with the 7 1/2' tippityou are using? Without the swivel I can shorten the distance between the float and bait. I've actually caught quite a few decent sized bows in 3 or so feet of water.