Nymphing: Strike Indicator or not?

[sagefisher]

Nymphing: Strike Indicator or not?

I know some fly fishers who nymph prefer a High Stick method when nymphing and I suppose most Tenkara style do that as well (Question: Do Tenkara fly fishers ever use strike indicators?). I prefer to use a strike indicator when fishing most of the larger rivers out west. There are times when I am simply high sticking my nymphs. I use an 11 foot fly rod and it allows for a decent drift, but only when it is close to the drift boat or close to the shore or gravel bar where I am standing. I often think that I may as well be fishing with a Tenkara rod or simply high sticking my nymph through the water. But then there are the many times I end up casting a relatively long way with my nymphing rig, long by my nymphing standards, like 40 or 50+ feet. I do that to reach a certain seam in the water, or drift my nymphs along a ridge line under the water or to get next to a soft pocket of water or do a very long drift, like 100 feet or more, along a really great looking seam. That is when I know that I really need my strike indicator. I believe that by using a strike indicator I open up many more areas for fishing. Why limit myself to just the area around my feet?

Just an observation.

Larry ---sagefisher---

[herefishy]

I think high sticking, as least as I have tried it, takes too much shoulder muscle for my old joints - just can't do it. I have a Tenkara but have only tried dries with it, so can't say about that, but years ago when I discovered indicators for my long distance nymphing, my strikes went up at least 100%, so I'm squarely in the can't live without 'em camp.

[planettrout]

If one is in their teens or 20's to about 45...they go on Forums dissing others who use strike indicators...then... they get old


PT/TB

[Uncle Jesse]

That made me wish for a "Like" button.

[Buddy Sanders]

I always use an indicator that I can easily remove.

There are times when I want the indicator, and times when I don't want the indicator. It depends completely on the situation on the river.

And, for those who 'diss' others about using an indicator...I just don't get it. There is nothing ignoble, wrong, or even suspect in the use of an indicator. Some presentations require it. Fishing without one does not make anyone a better fisherman than someone who uses one. Quite the reverse, actually. Using an indicator well is an exceptional skill, far above something simple like drifting a dry fly, and certainly far more skill is needed to use an indicator properly than it takes to tight line drift a nymph. You'd think that anyone claiming skill at this endeavor would aspire to being decent at ALL of these techniques...

Buddy

[The Chronicler]

Buddy,

I agree with your conclusion that it really doesn't matter and that a person that does not use an indicator is a better angler than someone that does. Normally I do not use one but I don't spent much time fishing nymphs down deep in the water column. Most of my nymph and emerger fishing is 'sight nymphing' with close casts in clear water. Each discipline has its own requirement and skills. Let's all learn to live together and enjoy what we enjoy without putting others down.

The Chronicler

[sagefisher]

Greg,

The fly fishers from old Europe all used very long 'rods' which were often thin green saplings that were tied together to form a very long pole and had a horse hair line tied to the end. If they got a fish they simply walked backwards until the fish was flopping around on the shore. Reels wouldn't be invented for hundreds of years after people first fished this way, or maybe I should say thousands of years if you want to follow fly fishing back to the area of the birth of civilization.

Larry ---sagefisher---