Recommend an indicator

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Viewing 20 posts - 1 through 20 (of 22 total)
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  • Nov 10, 2007 at 8:45 pm #2571
    spencer ballard
    Member

    I am looking to try some new indicators this season.

    Nov 10, 2007 at 9:21 pm #21076
    jeff miller
    Member

    I have switched to the palsa stick on indicators and I haven’t looked back.

    Nov 10, 2007 at 10:11 pm #21077
    Mark Landerman
    Member

    I like these.

    http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=&id=0030008318208a&navCount=0&podId=0030008&parentId=&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IH&rid=&parentType=&indexId=&cmCat=netcon&cm_ven=netcon&cm_cat=N/A&cm_pla=N/A&cm_ite=netcon&hasJS=true

    Nov 10, 2007 at 10:41 pm #21078
    spencer ballard
    Member

    Lando, I am going to give those frog hair ones a shot.

    Nov 11, 2007 at 12:02 am #21079
    grant schofield
    Member

    I have used the Frog Hair indicators for a few years now and while they are nice, they slip a lot on anything below 4x. I am trying out the Rio Kahuna Twisty indicators and I think I like the design better overall.

    The nice thing about the Frog Hair indicators is the ease of making changes for depth, but I got to fed up with them slipping after 30 minutes of fishing. Lightning Strike also offers a similar style to Frog Hair, but they are a little more bulky.

    Grant

    Nov 11, 2007 at 5:21 pm #21080
    bloom
    Member

    I like the frog hair ones too, but had big problems with them slipping (it’s worse for me as I usually use stright tippet for nymphing).

    Nov 11, 2007 at 8:37 pm #21081
    Zach Matthews
    The Itinerant Angler

    Balloons are almost unbeatable.

    Nov 11, 2007 at 9:30 pm #21082
    Tim Pommer
    Member

    Balloons (bigger ones) work well for MI steelhead rigs but I tend to stick with the good ole’ thill ice fishing bobber.

    Nov 11, 2007 at 10:34 pm #21083
    Avatar photonone
    Member

    Balloons are almost unbeatable.  They are very hard to break, can survive spey casts, can be resized according to conditions, can float heavy split shot or multiple fly rigs, can be seen from a distance, can’t swamp, and cost next to nothing.  

    I’m sure balloons are effective but I have a hard time seeing balloons as a part of fly fishing.

    Jay

    Nov 11, 2007 at 11:10 pm #21084
    Avatar photoSteve K.
    Member

    I’ve been using Palsa indicators for years. This past summer while fishing the S.F. of the Snake, I had a guide tie a balloon onto my leader. It worked great. Unfortunately I did not pay close attention to how he attached it. We were fishing from a driftboat in fast water.

    How do you suggest attaching the balloon to the leader?

    Nov 12, 2007 at 1:28 am #21085
    Zach Matthews
    The Itinerant Angler

    Jay –

    Everybody draws their own line.

    Nov 12, 2007 at 1:30 am #21086
    grant schofield
    Member

    Drifter:
    Check out Zach’s video about balloon indicators in the video section.

    Grant

    Nov 12, 2007 at 1:58 am #21087
    Tim Pommer
    Member

    Different indicators are good for different situations.

    Nov 12, 2007 at 3:20 am #21088
    nemoblackdog
    Member

    Though I’m going through a dry/dropper and tight-line nymphing phase, when i do use an indicator, balloons it is.

    Lightest available and therefore the most casting-friendly, super sensitive and can be made from very small:

    to as large as, well, a balloon.

    They’re dirt cheap (always a plus!).

    I tie them on two ways.

    Nov 12, 2007 at 3:20 am #21089
    Eric DeWitt
    Member

    I’ll second Tim’s advice on the thills and also on talking to the guys at BBT in baldwin.

    Nov 12, 2007 at 1:07 pm #21090
    Mike Anderson
    Member

    I’ve yet to find anything better then mcfly foam treated with scotch guard when depth change isn’t required every other cast. For floating a river with varying depths I like the football style..

    Nov 12, 2007 at 2:40 pm #21091
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I have tried a half dozen different kinds/styles.

    Nov 13, 2007 at 3:28 pm #21092
    Avatar photoMark Schafer
    Member

    Had a rep in our shop last week that dropped off some new indicators.The one(thingamabobber) is very similar to Zacks balloon except in 2 sizes,more sturdy and reusable. The other one is a larger version of the Rastaman foam style and comes in custom sizes depending on the use. I plan to use both on some Erie Steelhead this week I’ll post some pictures and review when I get back.

    Nov 13, 2007 at 8:03 pm #21093
    Avatar photonone
    Member

    Jay –

    Everybody draws their own line.

    That’s fine of course! It’s just how I feel.
    The first time I fished the Bow river I was shocked the size of the indicators (= half the size of golf balls) the locals use… Don’t forget the size of the San Juan worms too! 😀

    Jay

    Nov 14, 2007 at 4:07 pm #21094
    Steve Dally
    Member

    Fished with the Thingamabobbers yesterday, small ones, 1bb shot, easy on but on 5x towards the end of the day they slipped bad. Up on the thick stuff they didn’t move so much.

    I was hopeful of the small ones they are working on but they won’t be much chop. Im guessing pretty decent for the heavy line heavy rig scenario tho.
    Kinda windresistant too.

    Cheers
    Steve

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