Makeshift strike indicators

[Jeffrey Silvan]

I went out to the Canal yesterday to chase some carp. As you can imagine, it was chocolate milk from the recent rains. I saw plenty of feeding fish, but couldn't actually see the fish in most of the cases, so I figured I was destined to do some indicator fishing if I wanted to catch anything. I quickly came to the realization that I not only forgot to bring any strike indicators, I didn't even have a popper or dry fly to use in a pinch. All the yarn I had was at home too - I literally had nothing. I started thinking a bit on how I could improvise, and ended up plucking a blade of grass and tying it using an overhand knot above the surgeon knot on my leader. It worked like a charm, and first cast, I saw the twitch and got a fish. 

I'm actually thinking that at least in the canal, it will be my go-to indicator. It makes absolutely no splash when it lands, so reduces the chance of spooking the carp. It also isn't big enough to catch enough air resistance to mess with your cast. The only draw back is it doesn't float, so if it breaks the surface tension, it won't pop back up. It isn't that durable either, but grass is pretty plentiful. I have no idea if this would work in current of any significance.

Anyone else have any makeshift indicators they have used?

[TurbineBlade]

That ain't chocolate!  

Reach down into your shoe, grab the packet that says "do not eat!" and crush it up and dust your grass with it -- that would work even better!  I prefer frog's fanny, but we're talking "pinch"!  

Gene

[namfos]

You could snip some of the rubber from the elastic waistband of your u-trou....boxers or briefs?

LOL

Mark

[Matt S.]

A few times high-stick nynphing I found if I've just left several inches of the tag ends from a blood knot in the leader, it provides me a better visual reference to see strikes. Obviously doesn't float super well and would be better at close ranges. But it's stealthy and works in a pinch.

In the same vein but slightly more complicated (so maybe not "makeshift"?), you can wrap a length of tippet material tightly around a pencil 6 to 10 times, put it in some hot water for a few minutes (you could probably skip this step if you were on the water) take it off and you have yourself a little slinky indicator you can tie into a section of your leader. There is a name for these things but I can't remember what it is. I've only tried it a few times but it worked OK. I suspect the type of material in diameter would make a difference.

[TurbineBlade]

I think that's a french-nymphing system.  Unfortunately, I don't care for any of the Euro nymphing, or polish, or whatever they call it.  Not from a moral perspective, but from a "this is stupid on a fly rod" perspective (I'd rather use a spinning rod for stuff like that).  

I meant to say that the grass thing is actually pretty neat -- being able to adapt on the fly is useful!  

Gene

[Greg Feder]

Matt --

 

There's an article on Gink and Gasoline about the slinky indicator:  http://www.ginkandgasoline.com/fly-fishing-tips-technique/get-slinky-with-your-indicator/.

 

Great minds!

 

Cheers,

 

Greg  

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From: Matt S. <grous...@gmail.com>
To: tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, July 8, 2015 7:46 AM
Subject: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Makeshift strike indicators

A few times high-stick nynphing I found if I've just left several inches of the tag ends from a blood knot in the leader, it provides me a better visual reference to see strikes. Obviously doesn't float super well and would be better at close ranges. But it's stealthy and works in a pinch.

In the same vein but slightly more complicated (so maybe not "makeshift"?),  you can wrap a length  of tippet material tightly around a pencil  6 to 10 times,  put it in some hot water for a few minutes (you could probably skip this step if you were on the water) take it off and you have yourself a little slinky indicator you can tie into a section of your leader. There is a name for these things but I can't remember what it is.  I've only tried it a few times but it worked OK.  I suspect the type of material in diameter would make a difference.

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