Many seasoned fly fisherman and some
purists say that using a strike indicator when fly
fishing is cheating, but for beginners and in certain fishing
conditions, a strike indicator could mean the difference between
detecting a strike and not knowing when to set the hook.
When
feeding, some fish delicately sip their food without making a
dramatic movement. Trout, for example, sit behind a rock or
other obstruction in a slow moving river or creek and wait for their
food to come to them. These fish hardly make a movement to
take their prey so it makes it hard to determine when to set the
hook. By using a strike indicator, it is easier to see any
hesitation or movement of the line when the fish takes the
fly.
Inexperienced
fly fishermen should start out using a strike indicator every time
they go fishing to help them learn how the line moves and what
happens with a fish takes the fly. A great tip for beginners
is to set the hook any time the strike indicator makes any kind of
unnatural movement. Any time the strike indicator speeds up,
slows down, hesitates, pause moves to the side, etc... set the
hook! Even if there is no fish to be had on the end of your
line fly fishing is all about the experience of casting the fly line
so your hook sets will not be in vain.
As
more experience is gained, the use of a strike indicator is less
necessary unless you are fishing in low light conditions or making
very long casts to get to the fish making it difficult to see the
fly line.
There are
many types of indicators that are used in fly fishing. Strike
indicators are made from hard or soft foam, yarn, putty or a larger
dry fly. When fishing in a heavily fished area, the fish learn
not to hit a fly that is following a large bright strike
indicator. I this case, it might be beneficial to go without
one or use a dry fly. To use another fly as an indicator,
simply tie on the dry fly then use about 12" to 18" of
tippet line tied to the bend of the dry fly or "attractor"
then to the end of that line tie on the nymph you will be fishing
with.
