I’ve tried several store bought indicators but not really happy with the way they work. I’ve heard people making their own and would like to give that a shot.
If you have good “recipe” or where I can find info for making your own, would appreciate it if you could steer me in the right direction.
thx’s
Mike
People do make Yarn indicators but i find they do not cut it, i use corkies the ones with the toothpick, http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0017527316520a.shtml, and as the toothpick gets wet it swells and holds its self in place better
Nick
I use these Lightning Strike, similar to corkies.
http://littleriveroutfitters.com/store/product.php?productid=17215&cat=966&page=1
Easy to adjust with a toothpick. I don’t like the yarn indicators, too wind resistant and hard to adjust.
thanks guys, I’ll check those out 
appreciate it.
Mike
Hello Mike,
Like Nick, I wasn’t too keen on yarn indicators, until I found and used these:
http://globalflyfisher.com/fishbetter/indicators/
Simple to make, very visible, lots of color combinations (two colors of yarn make them easier to see in different water conditions) and float extremely well. I like to brush some Frog’s Fanny floatant into them for extra bouyancy.
Cheers,
Richard in Plano, TX
I use the smallest water balloons you can buy and tie one to an “O” ring . Easy on / off . Also I use the tape backed foam for more delicate situations . When it gets windy or the water deep and / or fast , I’ll go without an indicator .
Here’s where I learned to do mine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo5ZvPlHcp0
I like yarn indicators. The key is getting the right yarn. Try to find some polypropylene macrame yarn. A lifetime supply can usually be found on ebay. Here is a link that shows basically how I make mine, except I chuck a needle up in my flytying vise and tie them on that.
some great ideas for making you own indicators 
!
thx’s again,
Mike
I use three different types of strike indicators, all for different reasons. The first are Frog Hair indicators. There are re-usable and one time use type. The indicators and the rubber stops are on threaders that make them easy to use. They float like nothing else and are adjustable.
The second type are Cortlands stick on foam indicators. They float really well for how little they are and the color does not fade. I usually have one or two fish hit these when they are taking chironomids on the surface. Other brands of stick on indicators come apart easily but these are very durable. The third type is the like the tooth pick type, but the peg is hollow and the line goes through it. You catch a loop of line between the indicator and the peg, when a fish the loop slips and is free to move, very effective when deep water chironomid fishing. I have never used yarn indicators, but I just might try them. Hope you find what you need.
loufly
Hi,
Empty a spray can of silicon water proof spray into a jar (put some plastic wrap over the jar, and a spray tube on the can, poke into jar and spray until empty). Then, put in some yarn to soak it up. If there’s some left, put in some more yarn. Do this in small batches to ensure that the yarn is well water proofed. Let the yarn dry. Cut it into short 1 - 1.5 inch lengths and put this in a film canister.
On the water, you can attach these to your leader by forming a loop, then passing another loop up through the first. This isn’t a knot as it will just fall apart if you let go (the loops are not tied loops, just loops like in a roller coaster), however, if you stick one of your lengths of yarn through the 2nd loop (the one sticking up through the first), then when you tighten up, the yarn prevents it from pulling out and you’ve got a strike indicator that you can remove and shift to any place on your leader.
thingamabobbers
I’ve heard you can cut small lengths of surgical tubing, make a small slit part way through the middle of the length of tubing. Pass your leader or tippet through the tubing. Bend the tubing in half and pull a loop of line out through the slit. Then stick a piece of yarn, like Jeff describes, and put it in the loop of line you pulled out the slit in the middle of the tube. Pull the line tight. It’s supposed to hold good, float good, and move easier.
I echo what Nick said about corkies & a toothpick. Corkies can be bought for about 10 or 15 cents on sale and a couple will last you all year. A word of caution. If you use a toothpick on a tapered leader that you have tied there is a possibility that you will not be able to slide the corkie past the knot where the leader strength is changed. Also when you cut off the toothpick leave just a little wood sticking out so you can grab the toothpick with your pliers when you want to remove the corkie.
Tim
Hadn’t heard that one before…sounds like it should work unless the tubing is too heavy???..thanks:idea:
I like Lightning Strikes. I double the leader and push it thru doubled and adjust to the length I need in front. By doubling I can take the whole thing off without removing my fly.
Loufly,
I’ve been using these stick on indicators myself on a couple of small ponds I fish, not much current unless a strong wind comes along, and they do work quite well and very visible for as small as they are. The one drawback, for me, is once you put them on, once you peel them off the leader, they can’t be used again. But for the price and how much they give you in each pack, I guess I can afford to use a few of each time 
Mike
I generally make my own with polypropylene yarn and a small orthodontic rubber band.
make a loop with your leader, wrap the elastic band around the loop several times ( 6 or 8) to secure the loop; stick a 2 inch piece of yarn through the loop; tug on each end of the leader – this will shrink the loop down and secure the yarn to the leader; comb out the yarn and apply floatant (like mucilin), swish the yarn around in the water and reapply the floatant ( if you apply too much floatant, the yarn gets stuck together and it is useless) and your ready to go. The indicator can be moved up or down the leader very easily.
I have used the thingamabobs shown above for certain applications and found them to be very good in the 1 inch size – very usefull for nymphing out of the drift boat.
Mike -
This is the model I used for my yarn indicators. Instead of spending bucks for the O-rings, I just use a piece of 15lb leader material.
Make a perfection loop in the leader material, about 1/4" in diameter. Clip the ends of leader material about a 1/4 to 1/2 inch from the knot.
Take a couple pieces of poly yarn ( I like chartruese and red combination best ) about two inches long and thread them through the perfection loop. Pull the yarn tight to the top of the loop and start some 3/0 fly tying thread. Wrap it enough to secure it and then apply a liberal coat of head cement.
Clip the yarn to the desired length. I use the same approach and amount of material for very small indicators for single nymphs in small streams to indicators large enough to float with a couple size 6 weighted stonefly nymphs.
The indicators will float for hours with only an initial application of floatant ( I like Loon Aquel ). And they are nearly indestructible - will last many, many outings.
Attaching these indicators to the leader can be done with the “loop to loop” technique shown in the link or with a simple overhand knot. I generally use the loop to loop technique when fishing with a furled leader, and the overhand knot when fishing big nymphs on mono leaders.
Lots of people don’t like overhand knots - but they will only weaken the leader if they close on themselves. Since the overhand knot is not closing on itself, just wrapping around the loop on the indicator, it doesn’t damage the leader. Also, the overhand knot ensures that the indicator will not slide down the leader, and it is very easy to adjust the distance to the first fly below the indicator.
If you want a photo, let me know.
John
John,
if you have a picture, that would great. Sounds like a real easy way to make your own indicators
Mike