Fishing Strike Indicators

Using strike indicators is a delicate technique. Some people think fly fishing with strike indicators is "cheating" and some go even further and say it's no longer fly fishing.

I like many others disagree! Using strike indicators is a method that needs plenty practice. Things such as turning over the fly for a good presentation and the depth the strike indicator is set at all take time to master.

In this short article I hope to cover the basic technique of fly fishing with strike indicators and ultimately help you catch more fish.

Like them or loathe them a strike indicator of some sort is just about essential when fishing nymphs and or buzzers static. And believe me they can increase your strike rate tenfold.

So how do you use them?

Strike indicators come in a few forms such as putty which is gently pinched over the line to mold it, yarn or wool is also used but the most common and east to use is little polystyrene balls which slip up the leader to your required depth and can be moved all the time allowing you to change the depth of the fly when needed.

Usually when fishing lakes or still waters I set the strike indicator to a depth of about two to three foot depending on the depth of the area I'm fishing (try keep it about a foot or two off the bottom or a foot above weeds) then cast by the weeds and really slowly retrieve the fly or leave it static and strike at the tiniest movement of the indicator.

Another method is the "clothes line". This is when you set up your leader with two droppers and on the point use a "booby" (lure with big foam eyes that make it float) as the point fly.

This is even better then the last as you will find the odd curious trout will inspect it and at time even eat it. As the booby is a fly it has a hook unlike the other indicators which can mean an additional few trout to your total.

All the methods mentioned should be used with a floating line preferably WF or SH. Your leader should be fluorocarbon but this is not a must I find it works best.

If you are starting or if you're new to this technique then it's probably best to use only one dropper and the booby as a point fly.

When fishing with strike indicators the most productive method is using a team of nymphs or buzzers but remember the more flys on your leader the higher chance of tangles.

Now you know the basics it's time to put the theory to practice! So get catching those fish!

Good luck and tight lines.