A strike indicator is not a bobber?

[BuKuBass]

What's the diff, Biff? (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jhtml?id=0011255316018a&type=product&cmCat=pe rf&rid=0180101070502&xpid=k18331&cm_ven=Performics &cm_cat=The%2DBest%2DE%2DShopping%2Ecom&cm_ite=DDI %20link)

[AndyK]

Depending on how they are used. But yes, they are very similar.

However, you can’t fish an indicator on a fly rod like a spin/bait caster fishes a bobber. With a heavy fly line, you can’t lift the line off the water without causing drag on the indicator, spoiling the drift. I have seen many spin/bait casters free line their bobber so they get a longer drift or get their bobber to hang in a pocket.

Last spring I watched an “expert” bobber fisherman catch two steelhead in a matter of minutes out of some pocket water I had just finished fishing with my fly rod. He free spooled the line and let the bobber hang in a pocket. I have tried and can’t get the same drift/presentation with a fly rod.

[KillerDave]

A bobber has bait under it.

Next question...

[BuKuBass]

Tell that to one of our sponsors (http://www.ifish.net/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=685526&page=0&view=collap sed&sb=5&o=1&fpart=1) . I guess the difference between a jig and a weighted fly is all where you place the lead, altho to be legal, the lead can't be molded to the fly.
I'm not trolling here; altho I have caught fish that way. It's just when I saw this product, I couldn't help but snicker. I flyfish as well but "I don't need no stinkin' "strike indicator"".

[Airborne]

A bobber has bait under it.

Next question...



:laugh: :jester: :laugh: :cheers:
Well said...

[mandinga]

bobber or no bobber I like to do almost anything I can to increase my chances of not missing fish...


The biggest difference is what is beneath the indicator....as stated above.

[Slow and Low]

Guys,

Get serious! A strike indicator is a bobber. That being said I am a guy using one even when they are taking dries. It catches fish. About the bait...what about a bobber and jig? They took that one out of the nymph fishermans book.

Do what catches fish...as long as it's on a fly rod. By the way the Huge Rainbow thread are not doing that.

[AndyK]

Get serious! A strike indicator is a bobber. That being said I am a guy using one even when they are taking dries. It catches fish. About the bait...what about a bobber and jig? They took that one out of the nymph fishermans book.

Do what catches fish...as long as it's on a fly rod. By the way the Huge Rainbow thread are not doing that.



I couldn't have said it better!

:bowdown:

[mandinga]

Guys,

Get serious! A strike indicator is a bobber. That being said I am a guy using one even when they are taking dries. It catches fish. About the bait...what about a bobber and jig? They took that one out of the nymph fishermans book.

Do what catches fish...as long as it's on a fly rod. By the way the Huge Rainbow thread are not doing that.




For argumental purposes only...what bobber is made of yarn? I think most are made of something a little more buoyant....
That being said, cork or wooden indicators I wold consider more of a bobber, but If you fish a yarn indicator I think it takes ALOT more skill to keep it drag free and at the right depth...alot of people dont know how to fish yarn indicators, if there is even a slight drag that indicator is going under...

anyone else agree?

[SilverFly]

I think if your using the strike indicator to suspend the fly, it is essentially a bobber (not that that's a bad thing!). But not all indicators have the bouyancy to actually do that, especially if you using a weighted fly. The diff is bouyancy. The intended purpose of an indicator is simply a visual aid which is not affecting the presentation, and therefore does not qualify as a bobber (or float). And yes, I do use indicators sometimes.

I read on another board about someone using flourescent mono for the butt section of their leader to act as an indicator. I like this idea, anyone else tried it?

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[TillamookChinook]

On certain famous rivers in New Zealand the rule says that strike indicators may only be made of yarn.

TC

[tbird]

I use a small corkie painted half gray for camo and orange on top. A lot of the time I find my corkie completely submerged do to the current pulling it under. As long as it is a dead drift. Like other people say it is simply a visual aid. Besides why make it hard on yourself, its still a floating line, and when its used for steelhead your still using small flies leaders tippets and floating line. Must be nymph fishing. :shrug:

[Abalone]

For what it's worth..

Some old times I know that have been fly fishing since the beginning of time, say that fly fishing without all the fancy new frills is becoming a lost art and regard Strike indicators as a crutch. I think we could all agree that not everyone is good at nymphing the Deschutes without a strike indicator, but I promise my old time friend will outfish you any day of the week using only a Dry fly line and a Nymph. Ultimately it doesn't make any difference to me what you use, a fish is a fish and if using a strike indicator turns you on then By all means do it.. I do both..and have to admit I catch more fish with a strike indicator....

So what ? I prefere to use a dry fly for my indicator. Now if I could just learn to tie a knott that will slide like a strike indicator does.

[Blue Tip Spinner]

i used to argue with people over whether or not an indicator (regardless of what it is made of) is a bobber. i don't anymore. they are the same regardless of how you use them. a strike indicator is a bobber.

[MikeT]

You guys have got it backward.

Bobbers are strike indicators. The inverse isn't necessarily true, however. :grin:

Mike

[mandinga]

It seems somewhat logical to me that if you use floating line you are indirectly using an indicator...highly visible floating line that suddenly goes under the water "indicates" that there is something on the end of your line...


:smash:

[Blue Tip Spinner]

It seems somewhat logical to me that if you use floating line you are indirectly using an indicator...highly visible floating line that suddenly goes under the water "indicates" that there is something on the end of your line...


:smash:



i wouldn't know... i always use an indicator/ bobber!!!! :grin:

[Abalone]

It seems somewhat logical to me that if you use floating line you are indirectly using an indicator...highly visible floating line that suddenly goes under the water "indicates" that there is something on the end of your line...


:smash:



I will drink to that ! :cheers: :cheers: :laugh:

[tbird]

Abalone, If you find a knot that will slide your dry fly like an indicator please post it because I would definately use it. :cheers:

[mandinga]

It seems somewhat logical to me that if you use floating line you are indirectly using an indicator...highly visible floating line that suddenly goes under the water "indicates" that there is something on the end of your line...


:smash:



I will drink to that ! :cheers: :cheers: :laugh:




:cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :shrug: :jester:i love these little things... :cool:

[PharmDoc]

If it suspends an offering of some sort (be it fly or bait) at a set depth, it's a bobber! or indicator! They are one and the same. Fly fishermen call 'em indicators, conventional tackle folks call 'em bobbers. Likewise, I do the same. When fishing bait or a jig I call it a bobber, when nymphing I call it an indicator! :yay:

[AndyK]

If it suspends an offering of some sort (be it fly or bait) at a set depth, it's a bobber! or indicator! They are one and the same. Fly fishermen call 'em indicators, conventional tackle folks call 'em bobbers. Likewise, I do the same. When fishing bait or a jig I call it a bobber, when nymphing I call it an indicator!



So, if I suspend a nymph below a dry fly, the dry fly is a bobber or an indicator :hoboy:?

[lilnorthfork]

A bobber may be an indicator and an indicator may be a bobber, but indicator fishing ain't the same as bobber fishing. If somebody wants to show me I am wrong, they will have to demonstrate by taking their fly rod and, with a rod's length of room for a backcast, cast their fly and indicator 80 feet, quartering upstream, keep their line off the water and take up the slack until their indicator draws even, mend once, lift the line off the water and, keeping it off, feed a hundred feet of line downstream allowing their indicator and fly to finish out the drift. Now that I want to see. lnf

[Blue Tip Spinner]

A bobber may be an indicator and an indicator may be a bobber, but indicator fishing ain't the same as bobber fishing. If somebody wants to show me I am wrong, they will have to demonstrate by taking their fly rod and, with a rod's length of room for a backcast, cast their fly and indicator 80 feet, quartering upstream, keep their line off the water and take up the slack until their indicator draws even, mend once, lift the line off the water and, keeping it off, feed a hundred feet of line downstream allowing their indicator and fly to finish out the drift. Now that I want to see. lnf



when do you want to go??????

[Blue Tip Spinner]

If it suspends an offering of some sort (be it fly or bait) at a set depth, it's a bobber! or indicator! They are one and the same. Fly fishermen call 'em indicators, conventional tackle folks call 'em bobbers. Likewise, I do the same. When fishing bait or a jig I call it a bobber, when nymphing I call it an indicator!



So, if I suspend a nymph below a dry fly, the dry fly is a bobber or an indicator :hoboy:?



i would say yes to the above question because i use a stimulator for an indicator/ bobber on the Big D during the salmon fly hatch. :flowered:

[Abalone]

Lets rename them.



Bobdicators or Indibobs, catirbobs, bobonthis...

[mandinga]

A bobber may be an indicator and an indicator may be a bobber, but indicator fishing ain't the same as bobber fishing. If somebody wants to show me I am wrong, they will have to demonstrate by taking their fly rod and, with a rod's length of room for a backcast, cast their fly and indicator 80 feet, quartering upstream, keep their line off the water and take up the slack until their indicator draws even, mend once, lift the line off the water and, keeping it off, feed a hundred feet of line downstream allowing their indicator and fly to finish out the drift. Now that I want to see. lnf



when do you want to go??????




If you can roll cast 80 feet upstream with an indicator you would be the best caster I have ever seen. It may be possible with a spey rod, but i doubt a regular rod would be capable.

The rest of the drift is easy...but saying that you can cast as far as a gear guy with a bobber is crazy.

[mandinga]

If it suspends an offering of some sort (be it fly or bait) at a set depth, it's a bobber! or indicator! They are one and the same. Fly fishermen call 'em indicators, conventional tackle folks call 'em bobbers. Likewise, I do the same. When fishing bait or a jig I call it a bobber, when nymphing I call it an indicator! :yay:




sorry that analogy doesnt work with how I was taught to indicator fish. I am not suspending my fly, the fly is meant to be on the bottom just like a normal drift without an indicator. The only reason I use an indicator is to see when a fish strikes...although lots of people fish with indicators to suspend their flies, but they also do that with dries as well.... :shrug:

[Blue Tip Spinner]

A bobber may be an indicator and an indicator may be a bobber, but indicator fishing ain't the same as bobber fishing. If somebody wants to show me I am wrong, they will have to demonstrate by taking their fly rod and, with a rod's length of room for a backcast, cast their fly and indicator 80 feet, quartering upstream, keep their line off the water and take up the slack until their indicator draws even, mend once, lift the line off the water and, keeping it off, feed a hundred feet of line downstream allowing their indicator and fly to finish out the drift. Now that I want to see. lnf



when do you want to go??????




If you can roll cast 80 feet upstream with an indicator you would be the best caster I have ever seen. It may be possible with a spey rod, but i doubt a regular rod would be capable.

The rest of the drift is easy...but saying that you can cast as far as a gear guy with a bobber is crazy.



i never said i could.... :grin:

[PharmDoc]

If you're not using the "indicator" to suspend your fly, why use one at all. I don't see the point. You can just watch the tip of your floater. I suppose it might be easier to see the indicator, but its not all that difficult to watch the end of the fly line. In addition, its much more pleasurable to cast w/o the indicator on. It seems that some of us flyfisherpeople have an issue with the label of "bobber fishing." Ultimately, it doesn't really matter what a person calls it. If I use a thill "float" and fish water that's 4 feet deep, yet I place a prince nymph 6 feet below it, am I bobber fishing or indicator fishing? How about the new "indicator floats" that are just mini-bobbers? Perhaps we should also look at the new Orvis "indicators" that are just a corkie with a thin piece of plastic through the middle. Apparently since it is meant for fly fishing, the proper nomenclature is indicator.
As for the "dry fly indicator," it may be a fly, but it is acting as a bobber with a hook on it. My point is to make the observation that there really is no clear line that is drawn to stipulate the difference between bobber, float, and indicator. :rolleyes: I guess we've pretty much beat this one into the ground. :hoboy:

[Slow and Low]

Amen!

By the way, a dry fly as an indicator is also being fished, not just used as a bobber.

[SilverFly]

I guess we've pretty much beat this one into the ground.



Yes, but it was beaten into the ground with style! This kind of friendly repartee is one of the reasons I like this board.

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[mandinga]

If you're not using the "indicator" to suspend your fly, why use one at all. I don't see the point.


As for the "dry fly indicator," it may be a fly, but it is acting as a bobber with a hook on it.




Like i said, I use it to indicate when a fish strikes...I cannot see as well as most people and there is a delay when you watch the line...when I see my indicator dip under I know immedietly that there is a fish...or a rock on.


A dry fly as an indicator is as far away from a bobber as you can be...its a dry fly....insect imitation...not even close to a bobber.

I dont think there is a clear resolution, each flyfisherman has a different approach and view of this subject.