The unibobber

Have any of you guys tried these things? My local shop just started carrying them, They're basically a micro version of the thingamabobber indicators designed to be integrated into the fly itself. I couldn't resist buying a package to play with. The following pics are what I've come up with so far. I was wondering if you all might have some thoughts or ideas.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...2/IMGP5931.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...2/IMGP5933.jpg

Any ideas? These are all pretty big patterns (the pheasant tail is a 10, the other two are 6's) so I may have to wait til the water warms a little here to let you know what the fish think of them.

Oh good grief!

That second one looks pretty neat, Tim! I'm guessing some poor bluegill or bass is gonna make that one pay.

The suspended version looks interesting with the clear bobber. I know a #16 Black Gnat wet on 6" of flourocarbon, tied to the bend of a #12 EHC is deadly. It's like they don't even see that EHC getting twitched and get tunnel vision on that Gnat:^)

Sorry Tim, this baby's too far out for me.
What will they think of next? :roll:
Mikey

Okay I'd like to see the pictures but the reply from Lady Fisher is posted right over it!!

Fatman

Thats whats happening to most pics I try to view also ,the pics are split by a post

my first reaction...OMG! but then it'd be a way to not use hackle. pix are fine here in firefox.

I dont really understand all the Haterade being dumped on these things...its just another way of using another material. Betcha the people that scoff at this dont do the same to foam flies...or hi-vis zelon parachute posts...

PS. Google Chrome displays the pictures and posts just fine...as if there was ever any doubt. :P

Tiny blue-striped screens here.

But is this a fly with an inicator tied on top? If so, what's the point?

A couple of inches above the fly, put one of those stick-on foam indicators. An unweighted nymph will drift at the surface and you can use the indy to see the take.

Solution in search of a problem.

Craig Matthews and his guys at the Blue Ribbon Fly shop in West Yellowstone have created a Thingamastone and a Thingamahopper, and claim that you can tie Parachute Anythings with these mini bobbers.

Here's links to a couple pictures from their newsletter that I just received this week:

http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs029/...0/img/1294.jpg

http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs029/1101259169490/img/1300.jpg

John

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fatman

Okay I'd like to see the pictures but the reply from Lady Fisher is posted right over it!!

Fatman

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If you click on the post # the page will refresh with the photos displayed correctly - at least on my computer.

Tim

Personally, I think they look kind of odd...but bubbles float and that's pretty much the point here, as far as I can see.

They will work to keep the fly floating. With bright colors they will make the fly easier to see. Both are desireable under certain conditions.

For folks that don't want to use foam, don't want to mess with an indicator in front of a dry fly, and fish areas where keeping the fly on top is an issue, they will solve that problem nicely.

Heck, you could thread the larger one onto a hook, snug it next to the eye with a couple of thread wrap, tie on a tail, and have a decent little bluegill bug in about two minutes.

We should of seen this comming when the 'thingamabobber' showed up. Eventually they will get the technology and price down to where they can make them really small. Then you may see them on #18 adams and #20 midges....maybe they can make them have a light source in them, so that us old guys with tired eyes can see them easier....

Buddy

I am using them as floats , just like the regular thingamabobber. I could see putting on on a Mormon cricket, deerhair hopper or something like that. howeverI will only use them as an indicater, they work good for that

How about hanging on a bare hook and putting a worm on it...something I did as a kid:roll::roll:

Duckster,

I often wonder if we all shouldn't maybe go back to the reliable old worm once in a while.

Soemtimes I think we get awfully bound up in all the acoutrements of our sport and forget the simple truths that founded it.

There is a calming simplicity to the worm on a bare hook. The lessons we can learn from it are timeless and can benefit our fishing in many ways.

Plus, of course, it works really, really well.

Buddy

Those ties look great! The bobber thingy will pretty much guarantee the fly will never sink without a fish on it! :)

.... there may be some advantage derived from the unibobber. And as a form of indicator, whether used separately or incorporated into the fly, it will be a big advantage for a lot of folks.

What struck me, when I first saw some flies ( mostly stimulator type flies ) tied this way in a local shop is: (1) it is going to add weight to the fly; (2) it is going to add cost to the fly; and (3) why would you want one on a dry fly above the point that the fly is floating in the first place, e.g. as an indicator or the post for a parachute, especially on a fly that is reasonably visible without a unibobber ??

Not meaning to sound negative, but I also wonder about the "castability" of a fly using the unibobber, and whether a bubble of some unusual color on the fly, or above it when used to suspend a floating nymph or emerger pattern, will put down some, maybe a lot of, fish ??

I'll qualify my comments by noting that I fish moving water for trout almost exclusively - moving water from small creeks to some of the medium sized rivers in the Intermountain West. Also, I like to keep things simple, and the unibobber just kind of runs against that principle for me.

It will be interesting to see if the market for it develops to the point that it will be available over the long term. I am inclined to check them out, but more as a small indicator for certain nymph fishing situations than incorporating them into a fly either for floatation or visibility.

John

just a minor fyi
I have no probs with the posted pictures. Nothing overlayed on them. Come up just fine as in any other thread. I guess I am using IE 7...don't really know...but everytime it comes up saying "download IE 8" I skip it and say ask me later. So whatever version I am using...the pics come up just fine.
Jim

Aha! Now "I" see the problem with the overlay post on a post. Was just on "Fly Tying" board. John Scott's thread showing trout and the PMS fly...I guess....I have the next post posted over the latter half of John's post.

Whatever this is....it ought to be fixed. Bummer.

Jim

No disrespect but but i gave up watching bobbers of anykind when I switched to fly fishing over spin fishing,but they do look cool, maybe the bobber and bare hook as a egg pattern also thank you Tim on the tip about the pictures I clicked on the post # and the page refreshed showing full pic

No problem viewing from my end

I like the fly idea a very nice way to set the fly at the right depth and also makes for nice strike indicator
at the same time.

I like the idea. Why add just an indicator when you can add a dry fly with indicator built in. Even a well tied stimulator will sink eventually, but with a thingamabobber on top it will stay up and stay visible. What really needs to be made to make this idea shine is a hook with an oversized eye so it can be moved up and down the leader just like a normal indicator. It won't float naturally, or look as nice as a normal dry/dropper rig, but it will be adjustable for times when the top fly is mainly an indicator, but you want a hook on it just in case an odd fish decides to hit something on top.

John--

I had the same thoughts about using them on dries as you did, but on flies that sit low in the water like hoppers and stones just the vivibility and durability might be worth the trouble. I started playing with the nymph patterns because of all those times I've wished I could get a nymph to run not in the film, but just under it.

joe cool--
now there's an idea! hmm, back to the vise I go...

.... just out of curiosity, how and at what point in the tying sequence do you tie in the unibobber ?? For the different style flies you've shown ??

John

P. S. Don't know if and / or when it will hit the FOTW, but I think kglissmeyer is going to submit his parasol emerger. I've seen a couple variations on that fly ( and herefishy sent me one of her renditiions to try out on DePuys Creek ), and it is similar to the nymph you show hanging below the unibobber. But in the parasol version, the floatation device is a fluff of poly yarn. Same idea, different materials.

John--
So far, the unibobber has been the first thing I tie in. The back of the package shows how to tie it in (basically figure eight wraps). I usually do it that way with parachute posts as well. Kind of helps me judge proportions on the rest of the fly.

I've done the poly parasols, too. What I was hoping for was a parasol I didn't have to dress with floatant to keep up. Also, the bobber should let me work with bigger bugs. The tale will be told when I get it out and cast it.

For me it's about money.
Unibobbers are 50 cents each.
For the cost of two unibobbers you can cut hundreds of foam equivalents from a 3mm sheet. Think about the foam tag on the top of a Chernobyl ant.

You've definitely got a point there, CoachBob, but for me it's also about seeing how far I can take a new material and finding out what it will do once it gets there that something else might not do as well. Brings out the magpie in me I guess.

Lots of great comments. I knew I could count on you all!

What are the guys that come up with these gadgets smoking now days?

I like the idea ....where is the most inexpensive place to purchase?
Thanks

still using them as an indicator when fishing midges @ 40 feet.

Buddy said:

"Heck, you could thread the larger one onto a hook, snug it next to the eye with a couple of thread wrap, tie on a tail, and have a decent little bluegill bug in about two minutes."

If a person wanted to fiddle around with these types of flotation gadgets here are a couple of ideas.

1. Get some floating jigs. I have tied them as buddy suggested and they work fine.

2. Get some small corkies. They are about a dime each which is cheaper than the unibobbers. They also are excellent floaters.

Tim

PS - Thought I would add a picture. Bottom bug (green) is a floating jig. I think walleye fishers use them. Center bug is a corky on a size 8 hook awaiting action. Top bug was like the center bug until a bundle of bass, both large & smallmouth beat it to death.

Tim

Tim I was in the shop today and thought I would pick up some of the the Unibobber's. I thinking of tying a "Royal Wulff" the other day, and since I can't stand tying the calf tail wings I thought of using the "Unibobber". Then creating the "Uni - Wulff".
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/i...isc/pencil.png
Attachment 3971Attachment 3972

Larry--

That could be very interesting indeed. Can't wait to see how it fishes!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bluegill222

but for me it's also about seeing how far I can take a new material and finding out what it will do once it gets there that something else might not do as well. Brings out the magpie in me I guess.

Lots of great comments. I knew I could count on you all!

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The best answer of them all. If it works and you like it, go for it. Thinking outside the box.