FAVORITE STRIKE INDICATOR

[luckycrank]

JUST CURIOUS WHAT EVERYONE USES FOR INDICATOR

I LIKE LEFTIES YARN FROM LOON IND. BUT NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO IT UNLESS I ORDER IT WAS GOING TO TRY SOAKING REGULAR YARN IN SCOTCH GUARD BUT I AM HAVING DIFFICULTY FINDING THE RIGHT TYPE OF YARN> ANY SUGGESTIONS

[Muddog]

I use Poly Indicators. At $3.50 per 4. Why make them. Why use SCOTCH GUARD ? Use Floatant for dry flys. After all, that is what it is.

[DEADhead]

find some polypropylene yarn, bend it in half and use tying thread around the yarn to create a loop. whip finish and violá. treat it with flotant if you want to, but the poly fibers shouldn't absorb any H2O. If you could find some small polyethylene rings,you could use that in the yarn loop as well. For as easy as they are to make, 4 indicators shouldn't cost $3.50 +

[turiprap]

I can see some advantages to yarn indicators, particularly in delicacy of presentation, but in my very limited experience with them, I had difficulty in getting used to them, especially in casting with them. I mostly use replacement Lindy floats in fluoro orange/lime. I saw a slot in them with an Xacto hobby saw and peg them with a flat toothpick. I like the color contrast - it's easy to track on the water and I like to think I'm more able to detect subtle changes in drift. That's probably not empirically so, but confidence is everything and it's what I choose to believe.

[Nate McVey]

I use rastaman indicators. They are foam and don't need any "float juice" to stay on top. They are cheap (less than a buck a piece) and go on and off quickly. I have used the yarn ones in the past, but like these better.

[JohnS]

I like Loon strike putty or just a green Amnesia leader butt.

If you want to make your own yarn indicators, get some macramé yarn from your local craft story and a few tiny o-rings from the plumbing section of the hardware store. Cut a section of the yarn, pass it through the o-ring, double over the yarn, wrap the doubled yarn with thread and whip finish.

[Quickstrike]

i like the foam ones with a peg, i use the ones with a slit down them so they are easily removable.

[macgruber]

what's the method of attaching the yarn indicators to the line? i've always used cork cuz i've never been properly trained in on the yarn variety......

the various sizes in the lightning cork indicators do help with spooking tricky fish (their smallest variety) and they have bigger ones to float more weight...... only thing that pisses me off about 'em is getting rigged up and realizing i forgot the indicator..... have to remove weight and fly and begin again.....

i've wanted to try yarn to see if it compares in the small stream department with spooking fish.....

[beavflick]

it really depends for me if i am throwing biger flys with nice current like on the Brule i use the Corky style with a peg, but if i am fishing smaller streams and nymphs i will use yarn. i also will use a nice bright floating dry fly above the nymph for an indicator

[JP Z]

macgruber,

You take a loop of your leader and place it through the loop on the yarn indicator. Then put the loop of your leader around the indicator and pull tight.....very easy and no worries if you forget it, as you can remove or add with out cutting.

[so haaad]

I think I've used almost every kind of indicator over the years. When I lived out West, I used lots of yarn. They work great for highsticking or short casting. My experiences with them is that less (yarn) is better. Don't over-do it with the yarn, or it will impact your castability. Especially if you go with the store-brand yarn indicators with the big elastic loops. When in doubt, downsize.

I also don't recommend the foam tab indicators with the adhesive because they can't be readjusted or re-applied very easily. And they can leave a sticky residue on your leader.

In most cases I'll go without a indicator and just watch my line. If I do need an indicator, I also prefer the foam and peg ones.

[macgruber]

thanks, jpz.... i'll give 'em a shot and see how it goes.... i've also been thinking about going indicatorless, but for some of the slower, deeper pools round here the takes are so subtle that an indicator really helps to see the slightest bit of movement in the line.... fer now i'll keep using my stinkin bobbers in cork and yarn varietals....