Are they seeing the sighter ?

[Northcountryman]

Hey guys;

Past few times Ive gone fishing, its been on a stretch of river for stocked Rainbows . normally, when I have success, I use a 2-3 fly rigup with various nymph patterns as to p 2 flies and a vladi type wprm fly with a bead on the point. Past couple times Ive gotten skunked, though. I talke with a couple of other fly guys like me and they were also getting skunked, yet a few of the spinfisher guys are getting fish using worms and/.or those power baits.

Upon reflection, I was thinking that my highvis bicolor sighter section might be spooking the fish ; reason why is, Ive been throwin on a thingmabobber and fishing slower water with some deeper holes here and there. Maybeb with that hi vis line drifitng in the water column theyre seeing the line and its spooking them or is that a non- issue? Also, what flies might imitate the berkely power bait chunks the spin guys are using with decent success? I guess they kind of look like the pellets used at the hatchery to the fish?

 

[toxo]

Not only is power bait bright it also stinks attracting fish to it. There are a lot of egg pattern flies that you might try.

[MGHunter66]

A little confused about your set up…. Sighter and thingamabobber? Are you using a euro leader? 

[Northcountryman]

3 minutes ago, MGHunter66 said:

A little confused about your set up…. Sighter and thingamabobber? Are you using a euro leader? 

 

Truth be told: I was bein a little lazy and in  a hurry, threw my bobber onto my hi res euro leader to get fishing quicker but I think i ended up spooking them cuz the leader was entirely underwater and waving around cuz I I was indy/bobber nymphing at that point.  I had never done that before and didnt think it would matter -think  I was wrong 

[MGHunter66]

20 minutes ago, Northcountryman said:

Truth be told: I was bein a little lazy and in  a hurry, threw my bobber onto my hi res euro leader to get fishing quicker but I think i ended up spooking them cuz the leader was entirely underwater and waving around cuz I I was indy/bobber nymphing at that point.  I had never done that before and didnt think it would matter -think  I was wrong 

Ok😂yes hi-vis=no good. Save the euro stuff for shallow riffly water. In deeper moderate flows with clear water use a nymph leader. My indicator set up is pretty simple ans I use it for stockies to steelhead. A 10” butt section of 15lb blood knotted to a 6’ section of 10lb which is tied to a tippet ring then attach tippet of your choice. I have found the traditional 60/20/20 total crap for nymphing, you need too much weight to compensate for the long butt section and get drag because if it even when continually mending. My set up keeps a basically straight down drift from indicator to tippet ring. And don’t be afraid to tie on a size 8 hook and rig a pink berkley power worm. You can be a purist or catch fish😂decision is yours

Edited May 5 by MGHunter66

[electricstart]

I use poly yarn as an indicator. Dorsey yarn make my own, Tied to leader with small rubber band, Orthodontist band . The only thing under should be clear Mono or fluorocarbon. Sometimes I use a piece of Dacron fly line 1 inch tied to leader with a uni knot or nail knot as indicator, But that stays above water, 602020 leader only a guide line you adjust to your set up and river or stream you are fishing. I do my leaders very similar to MG hunter . I also use the mono rig  but you need long tippet and sighters do not go in water. 

[Bucksnbows]

Just say NO to the bobber!  If deep water nymphing, learn to feel the fly (flies) at the end of your line.  One of the most frustrating thing for me when I guided was clients that insisted on using a bobber yet never once set the hook when the bobber indicated a take from a trout. The bobber takes away the feel of the fish eating your fly. 

[nmc02]

53 minutes ago, Bucksnbows said:

Just say NO to the bobber!  If deep water nymphing, learn to feel the fly (flies) at the end of your line.  One of the most frustrating thing for me when I guided was clients that insisted on using a bobber yet never once set the hook when the bobber indicated a take from a trout. The bobber takes away the feel of the fish eating your fly. 

We will disagree on this forever..........a novice fly fisher (anyone you are guiding) will miss twice as many strikes without an indicator. There are few fly fisherman that can see or feel a bite EVERY time without an indicator. 

[Bucksnbows]

38 minutes ago, nmc02 said:

We will disagree on this forever..........a novice fly fisher (anyone you are guiding) will miss twice as many strikes without an indicator. There are few fly fisherman that can see or feel a bite EVERY time without an indicator. 

A novice fly fisherman will miss EVERY strike if all they do is watch the bobber bounce up and down without setting the hook. I agree that using a bobber for newbies is the way to go, but once past that newbie stage, try to do without. 

[electricstart]

There are times when to use indicator and times when not to use. rough water or rapids pretty much useless. Low water again useless..  The older I get and my eyesight failing the more I use indicator. Also, sensitivity of rod. You can feel everything with a good fly rod. If you can see good watch your leader or fly line you can do without indy. Line stops or feel a bump set the hook. I think what Brian is saying novices are always setting the hook or do not watch the sighter. If you make your own leader or Monorig you build  the sighter in . I use the Dorsey yarn (hate bobbers) to keep nymph just off bottom. I also use a little bigger dry fly to do the same with small nymph as second fly .. Again in very fast water it is useless.  I do understand what nmco is saying I do catch more when I can see my line or indy. This is why mono rig works well no slack in line. You feel everything and see with sighter line. But it has its disadvantages too. I do still like traditional with fly line and leader. Especially for dry flys. With fly fishing you have to set up or ready for a lot of different situations. Which is what is so cool about it. Like traditional archery really. 

[MGHunter66]

While I agree you can lose an indicator when fishing close, you will miss 75% of the takes in deep water when having to reach a seam 80’ away like in this video. The slight hesitation of the indicator is so valuable, most would have never seen this take and the fish would’ve expelled the fly without most anglers even knowing it

 

[Northcountryman]

On 5/5/2024 at 2:32 PM, MGHunter66 said:

Ok😂yes hi-vis=no good. Save the euro stuff for shallow riffly water. In deeper moderate flows with clear water use a nymph leader. My indicator set up is pretty simple ans I use it for stockies to steelhead. A 10” butt section of 15lb blood knotted to a 6’ section of 10lb which is tied to a tippet ring then attach tippet of your choice. I have found the traditional 60/20/20 total crap for nymphing, you need too much weight to compensate for the long butt section and get drag because if it even when continually mending. My set up keeps a basically straight down drift from indicator to tippet ring. And don’t be afraid to tie on a size 8 hook and rig a pink berkley power worm. You can be a purist or catch fish😂decision is yours

How many flies you like to run on your rig?

[Northcountryman]

9 hours ago, Bucksnbows said:

Just say NO to the bobber!  If deep water nymphing, learn to feel the fly (flies) at the end of your line.  One of the most frustrating thing for me when I guided was clients that insisted on using a bobber yet never once set the hook when the bobber indicated a take from a trout. The bobber takes away the feel of the fish eating your fly. 

Youre saying no indy whatsoever? Blindstrike with a countdown then?

[Northcountryman]

7 hours ago, electricstart said:

mono rig

Whats a mono rig ; is that s pecific kind of rig or you mean just using mono line in your rig?

 

[electricstart]

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34 minutes ago, Northcountryman said:

Whats a mono rig ; is that s pecific kind of rig or you mean just using mono line in your rig?

 

https://troutbitten.com/ Dom will explain it better than me. just type monorig in search bar . Also you tube has his videos . 

Edited May 6 by electricstart