"Thingamabobber" ??

[tracker12]

I really like the "Thingamabobber" but hate the way they attach to the leader. Anyone have any niftE ways to attach them?

 

[ryguyfi]

Explain what you don't like about them.

 

[SBecker]

Trapper 🙂 Some guys use toothpicks. I have not, so I do not know how they would work.

 

[wbranch]

I also don't like the kinks it puts in the butt end or how it slides down somtimes if you are placing it on the thinner end of the leader. I was up at Bass Pro on Sunday and Thingamabobber has a new twist; they come with a little tapered pin, the same color as the bobber, attached to the body of the indicator. You slide the indicator up your leader to wherever you want it and then stick the tapered pin into the little grommet.

I have also successfully used those little rubber bobber stops that bait guys use to control where their bobber is. They come with one of those little wire gizmos with a loop on one end and the stopper at the other end. You stick the end of the leader through the wire loop and then slide the stopper off the tool and slide it as far as you want on the butt, then put the Thingamabobber on the leader and put a stopper on the other end and slide it up to where the bobber is - now you have a stopper on either side of the bobber and you can make height adjustments simply by pulling the stopper up or down the leader and it doesn't kink the butt secion.

http://westwaterproducts.com/thingamabobber.html

Link to a bobber stop manufacturer below

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Danielson_Rubber_Bobber_Stops_10pk/descpage-DANBOBR.html

 

[tracker12]

I like them! Just not the way the slide on light mono and difiicult to put my steelhead furled leadrs thru them. Figured there is a better way to attach them. Thinking rubber bands in some configuration will work.

Wbranch
I tried some of the new ones with the pin this weekend in Erie and they did not work worth a hoot. Pin kept coming out after a few casts. I ended up cutting them off.

The bobber stoppers look like they may be the way to go.

 

[jayL]

Imo you are asking for trouble if you place one on thinner sections of leader. That will absolutely cost you fish. I use an amnesia or curled butt on all my nymph leaders and have had no problems with placing thingamabobbers on them.

 

[trowpa]

jayL wrote:
Imo you are asking for trouble if you place one on thinner sections of leader. That will absolutely cost you fish. I use an amnesia or curled butt on all my nymph leaders and have had no problems with placing thingamabobbers on them.

Agreed - putting a loop in your thin tippet puts a weak spot there - also magnifies my biggest beef with thingabobbers - the way they put kinks in your line.

If you spend a few hours fishing and adjusting a thingabobber your leader is mangled...and that is magnified the thinner the tippet on which it is placed.

My leaders for nymphing usually consist of two sections:
A: tapered section (down to 3 x or so)
-- tippet ring --
B: straight mono secction (4x-6x)

I try to keep the thingabobber on the thicker tapered section as high as possible depending on conditions/depth.

But even so - still only use thingabobbers when i want something with ALOT of bouyancy - for more delicate work i prefer the foam indicators with the rubber "grabber" things. (until it gets cold and they get brittle). Nothing's perfect...

 

[wbranch]

Tracker,

"The bobber stoppers look like they may be the way to go."

The bobber stops work well as you slide them up towards the heavier butt diameter, say .015" - .023". At those diameters you can roll cast pretty forcefully without them sliding down but on the thinner diameters they do slide. But I seldom have them closer than 7' from my flies so it doesn't slide down.

BTW - I see there is a major rain event going on today and tonight up in Erie. The creeks will be blown out all day tomorrow and maybe part of Thursday but it could be fantastic from the afternoon all through Friday and Saturday. The forecast on NOAA is 1" - 2" of rain.

 

[pcray1231]

Yeah, I never put them on thinner tippet, they always go on the butt or thicker sections, which is typically Maxima Chameleon. Works just fine for me. Yeah, they kink it, but a quick stretch straightens it right back out.

I could see where it could be an issue if you use a furled butt right to the thinner tippet. I don't do that, so I have no suggestions.

 

[jayL]

My phone corrected "fueled" to "curled". Anyway, I don't use the curly deals. Not a fan. Furled leaders don't really present any issues with the thingamabobber in my experience.

 

[tracker12]

Trowpa hit it on the head. Nothings perfect. I should know better. Conditons are going to be great tyhis weekend. Would love to head back up but Sat is the opening of the Maryland Gun season and "we" get to hunt on Sunday. I'll be in the woods saying a prayer for the Booner to walk by.

 

[JackM]

Sorry if a repeat, but they kink the leader, no doubt, Here's an idea:

Attach thingamabobber to 2X or 3X tippet. After thingamabobbber, tie a perfection loop; Change tippet length as needed to get depth corect. Impaired typing aplocgies iffere]d.

 

[mcwillja]

Jack that sounds similar to a right angle leader but not quite. A right angle leader setup would be a good choice if you're fishing water with the same depth throughout.

 

[RowJimmy]

Thingambobbers are great if you tie your own leader specifically for fishing nymphs. When using store bought tapered leaders I don't care for them.

 

[Heritage-Angler]

Anybody try this?

You can buy these balloons at party supply stores - they're also useful for water balloon fights. 😎

These indicators are even more sensitive than thingys, but they only last a day or two. The knot allows them to be moved by just pushing the ends together, removing the balloon, and retying the knot elsewhere on your leader.

 

[willscreek]

I was bummed out when I saw them in a store because I came up with a dry fly that I gave that name to. My last name is Bobb (really) and I thought I had a fly worthy of my name. Instead it's a copywright infringement.

 

[tracker12]

When I stopped at the Fly shop the guy there showed me the balloon rig. He thinks they are even more sensitive than thinkamabobbers. I do like the half hitch tie

 

[PACOFRANSICO]

Coat the eye in rubber cement let dry and poke a small hole though the eyelet on the 'bobber. No slipage

 

[jdaddy]

tracker12 wrote:
When I stopped at the Fly shop the guy there showed me the balloon rig. He thinks they are even more sensitive than thinkamabobbers. I do like the half hitch tie

I know a lot of guys that were using balloons before thingabobber came out. When introduced to thingamabobbers they quickly converted.

I don't like the kink in the butt of the leader. I think wbranch idea of using the slip dudes like on the new fangled Frog Hair indicators is a pure win. Why not?

 

[Grey]

I've never understood why floatmasters aren't more popular. To me, it is the best of everything.

Creates a right angle, is super easy to take on and off, just as easy to move on the leader, and doesn't create any kinks. Works on light tippet or heavy diameters. Comes in all manner of colors and sizes. Even in the summertime, you can usually get away with casting a small one in low water conditions. If they fish are spooked at all, I just go dry dropper.

http://www.floatmasterco.net/

Grey