Indicators

[Ggrove]

What sorts of indicators do you use? What kinds for what situations? There are so many types out there, and I would imagine they each have their pros and cons. I personally just use the standard bright styrofoam ones because its all I have gotten my hands on, but I have seen all sorts of different ones.

 

[Beweav]

My favorite is a Dorsey Yarn Indicator. Someone on here told me about them and I really don’t use anything else at this point. They are really easy to make so I don’t have to constantly buy new overpriced foam ones. They float well and land like a dry fly so they don’t spook fish as easily. The only time I’d use something else is if I’m trying to suspend a really heavy fly.
Here’s a article about them if your interested.
https://troutbitten.com/2017/03/30/dorsey-yarn-indicator-everything-need-know-little/

 

[Tfhough]

Generally I don't use them on familiar water, but when I do feel I need one, its EVA foam. Available everywhere, including as wasteful throwaway packing material. I cut it up into M&M sized chunks and run a hole through it with a carpet needle. I store the chunks in a small container along with the carpet needle that is used to pull a leader section through the premade hole via the needle's large eye, where I want the chunk/indicator to be. A quick loop knot holds everything in place and moving/removing the chunk is a breeze. Reusable, old ones go in a pocket and are tossed back at home.

 

[hooker-of-men]

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Easy on, easy off, and they don't destroy your leader with a bunch of kinks

 

[The Rodfather]

I use the Oros strike indicators. Found them on Amazon and they work pretty well for what they are without just using a small bobber.

 

[dudemanspecial]

For general trout fishing I like the yarn / wool types. Dorsey or New Zealand doesn't matter.

I do keep a few sizes of airlocks in my vest and use them if the water is really ripping to the point I have to add enough weight to sink a yarn indicator, but I think they are generally too heavy for normal trout rigs.

Airlocks for heavy steelhead rigs too.

 

[tomgamber]

 

[CRB]

I have a vast assortment of indicators that have been collected on the Lake Erie Tribs. The popular red & white plastic to the advanced oros package of 6 I found last fall and everything in between from yarn to foam.

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

View attachment 1641240319

personally, i've always been drawn to the orange ones coz they look more high tech and modern. i feel fish appreciate that sort of thing.

 

[Bamboozle]

I use three different things depending on the situation and size fly:

1. Orvis Strike Putty, unfortunately discontinued (fortunately I have a lot 🙂) but 1000 times better that the Loon stuff. I use it almost exclusively to suspend the tiny (size 24 - 32) midge pupa I tie and fish.

2. Lightning Strike footballs, most often the two toned versions but I have a few in yellow, orange & white or the Fish Pimp version in yellow, red & white which is even lighter. Both are easy on/easy off, adjustable and the small size barely makes a splash.

3. Plain old egg yarn in florescent yellow, orange and plain black (yes, black) that I treat with Camp Dry waterproofing spray in advance and store in short 10" lengths in a small 6 compartment Myran box that also holds my strike putty, Soft Lead & paste floatant.

Because I pre-treat the yarn with silicone spray, it floats great. I cut off a small piece and attach it to my leader with a super simple double loop knot I sort of invented that when done MY way (not the YouTube versions), doesn't kink the leader. In addition, the short section of yarn can be moved or removed easily so I typically remove the yarn when I don't need an indicator, stash it and reuse it hours or days later.

In regards to a black yarn indicator, don't knock until you try one when the sun is angled in such a way the surface of the water looks like a mirror and a yellow or even a red indicator becomes invisible. 😉

 

[Patroutfly]

Agree with Dorsey Yarn Indicator!

 

[rancid waders]

Nz yarn for me. Wait till the kids learn how make their own Aboline floatant.

 

[KeviR]

Orvis Strike Putty, unfortunately discontinued (fortunately I have a lot 🙂) but 1000 times better that the Loon stuff.

I have been using the Loon stuff for years and like it OK in certain situations. What is it you like about the Orvis stuff better? (FOMO) There are a couple other brands I have seen, do you know anything about how they compare?

 

[bdhoover77]

I definitely prefer the Dorsey-style yarn indicator as my go-to method. It is without doubt the most sensitive indicator I have found and easy to cast as well. I’ve been using it along with a method I found on the Red’s Fly Shop YouTube channel where I place the indicator above a perfection loop to which I attach a tippet ring to allow for a hinge in my tippet.

I also like the extra small Oros indicators when I need a little more for weighted nymphs. But the yarn is my preferred method.

 

[NbTurk]

What sorts of indicators do you use? What kinds for what situations? There are so many types out there, and I would imagine they each have their pros and cons. I personally just use the standard bright styrofoam ones because its all I have gotten my hands on, but I have seen all sorts of different ones.

Have not used any in decades. Watch the end of my fly line
and when it hesitates, set hook.

 

[NbTurk]

Have not used any in decades. Watch the end of my fly line
and when it hesitates, set hook.

 

[Bamboozle]

I have been using the Loon stuff for years and like it OK in certain situations. What is it you like about the Orvis stuff better? (FOMO) There are a couple other brands I have seen, do you know anything about how they compare?

The Orvis stuff was/is way denser, almost clay-like so you need less, it takes up less room and it sticks way better and not on your fingers. You can also easily use a very tiny amount like I do when fishing tiny midge pupa a few inches below the surface on a slack leader. When I'm fishing this way I use an indicator about the size of a peppercorn.

It also came in a glow-in-the dark white version which comes in handy once in awhile and it never dries out so it is reusable indefinitely and therefore it lasts a long time.

For example, I fish with a couple of different set-ups and use another discontinued product called a Fly Trap, a small ventilated aluminum box with ripple foam inside used as a fly patch. Inside the bottom of both of my Fly Traps are little blobs of Orvis Strike Putty that I've used and reused MANY times for many years.

Bottom line, I tried the Loon stuff way back when I was experimenting. I didn't like it at all in comparison and threw it away. Once I tried the Orvis Strike Putty, I stocked up and never bothered to look for a replacement or try anything else.

 

[wbranch]

What's an indicator?

 

[Letort]

On pressured water, none or New Zealand wool indicators.

On stockies, etc.,oris, as I like the leader going through the center of the indicator.

Also, do not discount dry dropper. Pick a high bouyancy dry fly and you will pick up fish on the top over the course of a season.

 

[Swattie87]

I use the Airlocks, typically in the smallest size. If I’m using a ton of weight (like several split shot along with the weighted flies), sometimes I’ll use the next size up, but I’d say 90% of the time I’m using an indicator, it’s the small ones. My most common setup is two fairly heavy nymphs and a single BB split shot. The little ones float this easily.

I used Thingamabobbers before the Airlocks and their performance was similar, but the Airlocks are gentler on the leader, and IMO are easier to make adjustments to, but that’s probably a personal preference thing. Just have to be careful about the screw on caps and washers. That’s the advantage of the Thingamabobbers, one piece design.

As with most things in FFing, pros and cons. I landed on the bobber style ones though simply as a matter of buoyancy and a desire to keep the indicator small. The classic bobber style ones just float better than yarn of a similar size. The foam style ones float decent enough, but they’re harder to see IMO and are just a total PITA to use and adjust.

Color, I don’t think it really matters that much. If the water is fairly clear I go white. If it’s off color, whatever the first one I grab out of my pack is.

Edit: As alluded to above, indicator nymphing is more of an early season/higher water tool for me. Once you get to low/clear Summer flows, dry/dropper (or just dries) is my go to, or if you want to stay completely subsurface strip the weight and indicators off and nymph old school.