[BBoat16]

I was using all sorts of flies recently with my fly rod - but really nothing was going on. However, several fish came up and gulped down my wooden 2 inch strike indicator. It has a bright orange tip to it. Any ideas on what would have worked that resembled the indicator?

 

[troutpocket]

Hoppers, stimulators, foam-body terrestrials can all be good "indicators" that will catch fish as well. Tie a dropper off the bend of the hook at whatever depth you need.

TP

 

[Rip Lip]

This does happen from time to time. Put a trailer hook on your indicator, i'm kidding. If fish are striking at your big gaudy indicator I would throw a dry fly just as big and gaudy. Those mentioned above will work well and it is coming into the time of year when Hoppers will really start taking fish. Hopper/ dropper is a good combination. If the fish are coming up for your indicator I think it is because it is an attractor and it is not neccessarily a hatch they are keying in on. I would just throw a big attractor dry fly, big meaning size 10 or 8. They will ride high in the water and be easily visible and are good options for a dropper. Did you experience this just before dark or what time of day was it? The fish have most likely been taking dries the last couple of weeks and are looking up, but if the hatch has slowed, they still will come up for a big meal. Try it next time.

 

[motorep]

I always use some kind of fly as an indicator, usually a hopper, but also elk wing caddis, winged ant, or even an emerger. It's never made sense to me to do it any other way.

 

[DavidK]

I've used several types of indicators, but my favorite is the Fish Pimp. The main reason why I don't always use a dry fly as an indicator is that with something like the Fish Pimp you can easily and quickly change the depth of the nymph. On some waters, that's critical. If you are fishing a stream, for example, and moving from hole to hole then it is a real drag to have to change your rigging every time the depth of the hole changes-- which could be every 5 minutes!

On the other hand, if the depth that you're trying to fish is consistent, and somewhat on the shallow side, then a dry/dropper is perfectly appropriate.

In the case of BBoat16, if the fish are striking the indicator then that's a sure sign that it's time to use a dry fly or terrestrial, with or without a nymph. And my money would be on "without a nymph".

Most if not all of the time you need to let the fish dictate what's on the end of your line. And if it's saying that it wants an indicator, then by God you should give it an indicator with a hook on it!