FLY TYING TIP - FOAM STRIKE INDICATORS - EOTG - November 1, 2010

[rtidd]

FLY TYING TIP - FOAM STRIKE INDICATORS

I have been a fly-fishing guide for a long time and I cannot count the number of times I have been in a fly shop and looked at the jar of foam strike indicators setting by the cash register.*

[fishdog54]

Two things, no make that three things: 1. Very nice collection of patterns - love em. 2. You can get a life time supply of craft foam at places like Wally World for less than ten smackaroonies (dollars). 3. Why does anyone use a strike indicator like that foam thingy when you can use something that may catch you a fish - like A LARGE FLY??? I'm asking because I really just don't get it!

Best Regards, Dave S.

[lastchance]

That is one of the most excellent and useful articles I've read lately. Very nice ideas for pattern, too. Good job and thanks, Bruce

[Normand]

nice article but all i'm seeing here is the addition of the word "indicator" before any foam pattern

[Buddy Sanders]

Dave,

I'm with you on the foam. Getting foam from indicators that are already made for $1-$1.50 EACH when you can buy a whole sheet (the BIG 11X14 sheet) at the craft shop for ONE DOLLAR does not strike me as inexpensive. You are paying not just for the foam, but for the labor to cut it up, assemble it, and market it, plus the fly shops mark up. With a straight edge and a razor blade you can cut up a whole sheet in just few minutes. You'd get ten or more 'indicators' from one 'sheet' of material. Plus the added benefit of being able to cut the foam into the size strip you need...sometimes different uses require different widths.

All that being said, it is a way to get small strips of foam without any labor other than cutting off the 'O' ring. That may appeal to some. The industry likes it when we see a price tag of 'just a couple of bucks' and think it's a deal on ANY fly tying material.

As far as 'why' use an indicator rather than a 'large fly': There are times when it's either impractical or just not allowed. It's impractical when you need to change the location often. Most indicators attach so that they can be moved easily up and down the leader. Usually with some kind of looping or light clamping to the leader. It's not intended to hold tightly or to weaken the leader. When you tie on a fly, you usually don't want it to be able to slide. Knots are always the weak link, and avoiding extra ones (like tying in a fly and then tying to the bend/eye/loop/wherever for the dropper) when possible is always a good idea. Many folks are using light tippets with small midges under indicators...6x and 7x stuff isn't all that strong.

Also, if you are trying to support a lot of weight for fishing relatively deep, say over five feet, or in fast water, very few flies will support it. Then there's the whole visiblilty and sensitivity thing. The 'keys' to successful indicator fishing are visibility and strike detection. You have to be able to see it, and see it well, for it to work at all. Plus, you need to be able to 'read' your indicator. Not all strikes are 'indicated' by the indicator being pulled under the water. It can be, and often is, much more subtle than that. If the indicator is properly designed, how it floats can tell you several pieces of information about how your fly is drifting. A skilled indicator angler can detect very light strikes based on how the indicator moves or hesitates. This is predicated on using the same type of indicator over and over again to 'learn' it's tells.

You may also run into areas where the number of flies you can fish are regulated. If you feel you are better served with fishing the allowed number of flies near the bottom, using up one of them for the indicator might not be as productive. Trout don't always, or even mostly, feed on the surface.

There are times when the 'hopper-dropper' is very effective, but it's not somthing that works all the time.

Good Luck!

Buddy

[FishnDave]

I liked this article. It is interesting, informative, reasonably creative, and gives all of us something to think about and expand upon further if it suits our fishing/tying styles.