How do you peg the indicator?

That video says special fly line for best results fishing kronomid how many use this a regular floating line not as good.
 
As someone that chooses to roll on the cheap, any floating line will work just fine. There are specialized indicator lines that work better at zipping out long casts with the drag of an indicator attached, but for me it's not necessary in most conditions. I do suggest you stretch out your line when setting up, so the line doesn't curl up on the water. A tight line connection will give you a fraction of a second more time to get a hookup on light biters. This can be the difference between a 5 fish day and a 20 fish day at times. Another tip that works for me is making sure I have enough weight to have a direct connection from the fly(s) to the indicator. If the fly's are very light it creates a moment when the bonce of the indicator causes slack between the two and can allow a fish to lick and spit without you knowing you are getting bit.
 
As someone that chooses to roll on the cheap, any floating line will work just fine. There are specialized indicator lines that work better at zipping out long casts with the drag of an indicator attached, but for me it's not necessary in most conditions. I do suggest you stretch out your line when setting up, so the line doesn't curl up on the water. A tight line connection will give you a fraction of a second more time to get a hookup on light biters. This can be the difference between a 5 fish day and a 20 fish day at times. Another tip that works for me is making sure I have enough weight to have a direct connection from the fly(s) to the indicator. If the fly's are very light it creates a moment when the bonce of the indicator causes slack between the two and can allow a fish to lick and spit without you knowing you are getting bit.
Great comments. I've found as long as the floating line works well with the rod it will work fine for this technique.
 
Also super annoying to go through all the gyrations to get that 17 foot leader airborn, work out some line in a false cast, accidentally touch the water in the backcast and power forward only to rip the indicator loose and have reset it and start all over.
Lift kit for your float tube?? :D
 
I take the regular indicator and drill it out and epoxy in a firm plastic tube that the black peg fits into. This gets away from the annoying expanding hole problem of the conventional indicator. This also means the pressure to hold the indicator stays the same and I can get it dialed in so it won't come loose when casting.
I peg my indicator from the bottom. If I do happen to peg it a little on the firm side I just bring the indicator up to the rod tip and give it a gentle tug and this trips the indicator when I have a fish on.
 
Last edited:
I will add to this and call it good. Didn't mean to hack this thread. It's a good one.
Doesn't bother me. I got some good feedback and it looks like you picked up some ideas as well.
 
OK, time to start another controversy. I've been fishing release style indicators for two years now. Now I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I'm really starting to think I'm silly (an idiot?) or overthinking things, and just wanted to check with the group.
The indicators come in the package like this;
View attachment 11383
So like a river float I set it fat side up;
View attachment 11384
Now I was watching this Phil Rowley video
and he rigs the indicator thus, the line to your left, fly to your right.
View attachment 11385
What drew my attention was my thought that he should know better, that loop will just catch your flies or tippet and tangle if the winds blows or you cast like a spaz like me, just a place to hang up. Then I realized it was not an issue because it was pointing at the fly. Have I been doing this wrong all along? Orange rigged like Phil's.
View attachment 11386
Sink test. The yellow lays sideways like I'm used to seeing it. I can see the black peg in the down position will now stop at the ring and keep the float away from the fly in the fishes mouth.
View attachment 11387
Probably over thinking it, fish are stupid right? I'll have to play with it. What are your thoughts?

Tom... I just love indicator discussion! Depending on how you answer you could almost get burned at the stake, hahaha...

So, here we go... first I don't like those kind of indicators, I am used to some that are a bit heavier. And I am a Pegin in that I use round indicators, homemade. I can pick my color (marking) and size depending on the need, and I can use a sharpie to add marking if I feel like playing around. Some guys (@Irafly and @troutpocket were fishing by us once, and someone was like "HOW do you see that little thing!" not sure if he was talking about our indicators hahahah) like specific things because they can see movements, shimmies, twists, etc. and this all depends on how well you see at a distance and lighting conditions.

I will say how I peg depends on the use of the indicator, shallow water or deep water. If I am using it shallow and want to make sure once I find the zone the fish are holding then I JAM it in from the top. I can make quick 6" adjustments and then finding the zone, JAM it in and catch as many as you can! If I am fishing deep water and using it as a quick release indicator, I PEGIN the bottom, and set it loose so that when I see it indicate that something is going on down below either my lightning fast set or the weight of all my fish pulling it down and me ripping it will 99% of the time release the indicator. (hahaha)

(P.S. my wife loves me enough that while she was on a vacation she went to a fishing tackle store shopping for indicator making supplies!)

Indicator stash.jpg
These will be sanded, drilled, vinyl tube insert glued in and ready to peg! ( and apparently like many things there is a shortage because she didn't get everything I asked for )
 
Here is my medium size indicator cast (and actually fishing)

IMG_20220323_085739724_HDR.jpg

Here is the same indicator on a lightning set that almost took my head off... (notice that it is pegin bottom, but also sharpie'ed on bottom side to leave just a slight florescent green strip to indicate a change. ) it turned into a "macramé project"

IMG_20220325_114733427.jpg
 
Here is my medium size indicator cast (and actually fishing)

View attachment 11481

Here is the same indicator on a lightning set that almost took my head off... (notice that it is pegin bottom, but also sharpie'ed on bottom side to leave just a slight florescent green strip to indicate a change. ) it turned into a "macramé project"

View attachment 11482
Thanks for your input Shawn. I'm familiar with your project, made a few myself. The trick to saving it seems to be to STOP. Every rod movement just makes it worse. Often with a selective snip it can be rerigged relatively quickly.
 
Here is my medium size indicator cast (and actually fishing)

View attachment 11481

Here is the same indicator on a lightning set that almost took my head off... (notice that it is pegin bottom, but also sharpie'ed on bottom side to leave just a slight florescent green strip to indicate a change. ) it turned into a "macramé project"

View attachment 11482
While we're talking about macrame projects; let me admit it has happened to me many times, the longer the leader, a bit too much "W", whatever, it happens. Sometimes the tangle is so severe, the only way I can see my way to untangle the mess is to be El Chopo and cut the flies off. Usually that's enough to get the tangles out. Once (maybe twice ;-)) I've had to do more than cut files but rebuild the deep water leader.

Shawn - I really like your idea on your bobbers, if I recall, you sleeve them.
 
While we're talking about macrame projects; let me admit it has happened to me many times, the longer the leader, a bit too much "W", whatever, it happens. Sometimes the tangle is so severe, the only way I can see my way to untangle the mess is to be El Chopo and cut the flies off. Usually that's enough to get the tangles out. Once (maybe twice ;-)) I've had to do more than cut files but rebuild the deep water leader.

Shawn - I really like your idea on your bobbers, if I recall, you sleeve them.
I figure it's gonna happen, so I may pack a rig ready to go from the ring down, especially in the tube or cold weather.
20220412_184850.jpg
 
While we're talking about macrame projects; let me admit it has happened to me many times, the longer the leader, a bit too much "W", whatever, it happens. Sometimes the tangle is so severe, the only way I can see my way to untangle the mess is to be El Chopo and cut the flies off. Usually that's enough to get the tangles out. Once (maybe twice ;-)) I've had to do more than cut files but rebuild the deep water leader.

Shawn - I really like your idea on your bobbers, if I recall, you sleeve them.
Good morning and yes you are correct. I got in a nylon tub. The "sleeve" stops the breakdown of the inside foam. Also, these "hard shell" corkies don't break if in a lightning swing and miss the indicator hits your rod, boat, oar or sunglasses.

IMG_20210115_163756261_2.jpg
IMG_20210115_164916419_2.jpg

And I keep my loop below the top of the peg.

IMG_20210128_101201605_2.jpg

(PS this indicator was for example only, I don't like this color)
 
Back
Top