Yarn Indicators

[NCL]

I am not trying to get the whole indicator debate going. I like to fish dries but at certains time, places and conditions I have found that fishing a nymph under an indicator is much more effective, at least that's my story. I like to use yarn as an indicator and have used several different types of yarn holders or stops and have found that most are OK but all seem to allow slippage on the line. I have also used the slip knot method to hold the indicator in place and find that also works OK. My question is there a product or method that really holds the yarn indicator in one place without any slippage? :whazzup:

[KillerDave]

Leave a short tag on your slip knot so you can periodically tighten it.

[Blue Tip Spinner]

if you use the type of indicator where you run the line through the hole and then bring it back over, just put a twist on the line before looping it back over. that is how i keep mine from slipping down the line. if you don't understand what i mean, maybe someone else can explain it better.

[NCL]

Thanks, the info is appreciated.

[Gizmo Man]

I know you said you like yarn, but have you tried using corkies. I found that you can change the size of the corkie to suit your need, small for real small flies to 2 large corkies to float a heavy fly.

You can slide them up and down your leader to suit the depth you are trying to hold the fly at.

Secure with a toothpick.

I found that they are much easier to cast than yarn.

Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Giz...

[Gettin' Birdy]

I second the "twist" advice. I was watching a program last weekend and they were fishing the Bighorn River in Montana. They use small balloons over there, blown up to the diameter of a dime. They inflate and use a leader tag end to fasten to the line. Pretty ingenious for big water rivers. No floatant required and they fish all day long without a change unless there is an errant cast into some brush.

Gonna give it a try for steelies I think when I'm nymphing with stoneflies for them.

-GB

[NCL]

Giz,

I actually do use corkies quite offen. I do like using corkies but I am always losing the toothpick. I just pick up several of those wrapped toothpicks in a restaurant that I think I will put in my vest. I was just wondering if there was a good way to secure the yarn.
Blue Tip Spinner
I had never heard about using a twist, that makes good sense and I will have to try that.
Gettin Birdy
Any idea where they get ballons that small? That sounds like a good idea.

[MarlinMark]

Balloons! I love it. I'm going to love hearing the purist whine over this one. :smile: I had a buddy in college that used the statement "floats like cork bobber" for a lot of things, not just fishing. :-) He was the type of guy to try something whacky just to [petunias!] someone else off. He won a bet one time by catching a steelhead on a cig. butt. He painted it pink with nail pollish but, it was a butt he picked up off the street.

Mark

[Gettin' Birdy]

I'm not sure where to get them, maybe a party supply store. They were really small but high floating, visible, and easy to cast by the looks of it.

It's really ingenious if you ask me. I've fished a lot of plunge pools in heavy freestone streams and my indicator ALWAYS sinks.

And yeah, I am waiting for the inevitable from the purist lot. Where are you all??? :smile:

-GB

[Blue Tip Spinner]

And yeah, I am waiting for the inevitable from the purist lot. Where are you all??? :smile:

-GB



they are probably too busy smoking their pipes with their smoking jacket and knickers on and having a good 12 Yr old scotch to waste time on this... :grin:

[TheCamel]

I saw the same show, and was intrigued by their indicator's. They said that it was the "water balloon" type of balloon. Should be available in the party goods section of many variety type stores.

[Stew]

:lurk:

[Blue Tip Spinner]

is that a Scottish coat of arms i see as your avatar?????

[Gettin' Birdy]

LOL! I knew it was coming and braced myself...

Any good and patriotic American would know that bobbers and worms are as patriotic as apple pie and SUV's but SOME may insist that they, too, are another attempt at a coup from our communist neighbors...oh Lord...did I just say bobber and worms on a flyfishing forum???? Oh, the humanity :smile:....

[Stew]

is that a Scottish coat of arms i see as your avatar?????


Yes it is! That is the Scottish lion

[Slow and Low]

I second the "twist" advice. I was watching a program last weekend and they were fishing the Bighorn River in Montana. They use small balloons over there, blown up to the diameter of a dime. They inflate and use a leader tag end to fasten to the line. Pretty ingenious for big water rivers. No floatant required and they fish all day long without a change unless there is an errant cast into some brush.

Gonna give it a try for steelies I think when I'm nymphing with stoneflies for them.

-GB



Try the frog hair reusable. The big ones will float your anchor. Also very adjustable.

Don't you just tie an in line know for yarn? I don't know since I can't cast tehm.

[NCL]

Let me see if I got this right, use the balloon and anger the bait guys for catching more fish and as a bonus you also anger the fly purist for improper use of fly fishing equipment. Might be more fun than the day the firehouse burnt down...LOL. Now where did I put that scotch?

[Gettin' Birdy]

Lol! Nothing like this forum to lighten your day. Now if only there was a way to secretly swap out the scotch in their flasks for some post-dated Natural Light?

-GB

[Abalone]

Strike indicators are for losers......... :clap: :bricks:

[Blue Tip Spinner]

Strike indicators are for losers......... :clap: :bricks:



and so is lake fishing!!! :wink: :grin:

[McKenzie]

I've been a corkie fan myself for many moons. I've tried yarn, i've tried the stick on foam indicators...nothing beats the corkies. I use em two different ways - one is to peg it on the line with a toothpick or small piece of stick found streamside. The other is to run your line through the corkie twice. All you have to do to adjust the depth is to back the line through a little, slide the corkie to the desired position, and tighten the line back. Simple.

I've also seen videos on the balloon inidicator method - I'll stick with my corkies. Never lost a corkie yet. :smile:

[Abalone]

I met a guy once. He used his floating line for a strike indicator. Don't laugh ! It worked. :wink:

[Steve L.]

And yeah, I am waiting for the inevitable from the purist lot. Where are you all??? :smile:

-GB



they are probably too busy smoking their pipes with their smoking jacket and knickers on and having a good 12 Yr old scotch to waste time on this... :grin:



I'm sorry I missed what you wre talking about. I spilled a bit of a great 15yr old single malt on my pipe and was trying to keep it lit :cheers:. Fortunately didn't get any on my clothes

Actually I don't use indicators for one simple reason. If I'm going deep I'm probably set up one of two ways. Either with a waker pattern and a trailing wet fly or a wet fly with a trailing small wet or egg. With that on the end of my line the last thing I need is more stuff tied on. I may miss fish, but I spend less time untying trailing knots than I would otherwise :wink:

[OutTrolling (ot)]

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/strike_indicator3.jpgI was talking to a fellow a couple of nights ago who had just come back from a fishing trip. He mentioned about using a stike indicator and what he has come up with that he has found works quite well. I've tried to use the paint program to make a pictorial to illustrate what he explained. (Hope it makes sense)He is an orthodontist and uses the little rubber bands that attach to the braces. He says that most ortho's will give you some to try if you ask kindly and would probably sell a package quite reasonably. He said they will slide on the line but will not slip easily. He gave me a couple of bands which I will try. Hope this might help some. At least its not expensive to give it a try. Good luck and happy fishin.

Old fishermen never die, they just smell that way!

[NCL]

OT,

That is a great idea. When I was young I wore braces and I remember using those little rubber bands. Great illustration, the only part I am not clear on is how the rubber band attaches to the line. It looks like in the illustration the line is just run through the center of the band. Are the bands small enough to grip the line, I remember them as small but I can't remember how small? Do you need to fold the band over the line? Thanks for a great idea. Mitch

[OutTrolling (ot)]

The one he used to illustrate with was quite small-maybe a quarter inch O.D. Then he put two fingers inside the I.D. and stretched it open, inserted the folded line as shown in the drawing and wound the folded line around one side of the stretched band about four wraps. He released the band from around his fingers, inserted the strike material into the loop formed by the folded line and pulled the line taunt, cinching down on the band and strike material. The way he did it was really slick. It was moveable up and down the line but didn't slip very easily. I hope I haven't forgotten anything in the process. I haven't given it a try yet but hope to soon. Hope this helps.

[NCL]

OT,

Thanks, that makes sense now. I had interpreted the four wraps as the yarn and not the line. I would think it would be easier to strech the rubber bands with a small forceps.

[PittsburghD]

Uh oh, here we go. For the record, in an effort to save the world, I would like to pose this weighty information. Anything BTS says about indicators or flipping loops across the Nile River is gospel. (He didn't pay me for this post by the way). The way you schooled us on the Big D that Spring day a couple years back, with your nymphing self was truly amazing. I'm a twist guy now too.

--D

[mandinga]

I'm going on Strike.

Me and my barbour jacket.