Cheap indicator.

Wetswinger · Jan 11, 2023

I was surprised how fast my styrofoam slip indicator fell apart recently. The hole would compress quickly and the line would slice into the foam. So, me being the cheap ass that I am looked on the internet for cork balls. Found some cheap with free shipping. Just as I was congratulating myself on my thrifyness I looked at my junk pile and noticed the pile of wine corks I'm supposed to be recycling. What if? So I took out the bread knife and sliced one up. Found my drill and made the appropriate sized hole and, voila! a cheap indicator. Of course, you have got to hold on to your old pegs for this to work...I'll report back after I actually use one. Ya, I know, us retirees are always looking for something to do....

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Matt B · Jan 11, 2023

Wetswinger said:
I was surprised how fast my styrofoam slip indicator fell apart recently. The hole would compress quickly and the line would slice into the foam. So, me being the cheap ass that I am looked on the internet for cork balls. Found some cheap with free shipping. Just as I was congratulating myself on my thrifyness I looked at my junk pile and noticed the pile of wine corks I'm supposed to be recycling. What if? So I took out the bread knife and sliced one up. Found my drill and made the appropriate sized hole and, voila! a cheap indicator. Of course, you have got to hold on to your old pegs for this to work...I'll report back after I actually use one. Ya, I know, us retirees are always looking for something to do....

Buy Cork Balls - All Sizes of Cork Spheres - Bulk Discounts | WidgetCo

Cork balls can be used in crafts, sporting goods as well as floats for fishing and many other uses. Cork balls for sale in agglomerated and natural cork. Choose from a variety of sizes. All of our cork products are made from pure European cork. Fast and free shipping to 48 states. Buy in bulk...

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Can we see this homemade indicator, carved with a bread knife after polishing off a bottle of wine?

Islander · Jan 12, 2023

Back in the day before “fancy” indicators, they had smaller holes and came with a half a toothpick to jam the line. God, I’m starting to sound like Oldman Jim!

Buzzy · Jan 12, 2023

Wetswinger said:
I was surprised how fast my styrofoam slip indicator fell apart recently. The hole would compress quickly and the line would slice into the foam. So, me being the cheap ass that I am looked on the internet for cork balls. Found some cheap with free shipping. Just as I was congratulating myself on my thrifyness I looked at my junk pile and noticed the pile of wine corks I'm supposed to be recycling. What if? So I took out the bread knife and sliced one up. Found my drill and made the appropriate sized hole and, voila! a cheap indicator. Of course, you have got to hold on to your old pegs for this to work...I'll report back after I actually use one. Ya, I know, us retirees are always looking for something to do....

Buy Cork Balls - All Sizes of Cork Spheres - Bulk Discounts | WidgetCo

Cork balls can be used in crafts, sporting goods as well as floats for fishing and many other uses. Cork balls for sale in agglomerated and natural cork. Choose from a variety of sizes. All of our cork products are made from pure European cork. Fast and free shipping to 48 states. Buy in bulk...

www.widgetco.com

I use the teardrop shaped orange/white slip (Iracators) “bobbers” - you’re right about the foam compressing - to the point the the peg won’t peg anymore. I started coating and curing using UV resin inside the foam bore. My bodkin works well for applying the resin, a couple applications, a peg test fit and my bobbers are functional again.

Brute · Jan 12, 2023

Do you think trout prefer Pinots over cabs?…

Tom Butler · Jan 12, 2023

I made some out of wine corks a few years ago. After the knife they were still really lopsided so I did a bunch of work with the Dremel. I glued a little plastic tubing inside like @Shawn Seeger does with his corkies. Just never quite happy with them. The foam pear shape seem more sensitive to me. I found when I started using the foam ones I was pushing the peg in way further than it needed to be to cast and release. Running the peg down on the little end can increase the life (a 2nd life?) and the float can't get below my ring. I do have a couple beat up ones with adhesive inside like @Buzzy mentioned and they seem to still work fine.

Scudley Do Right · Jan 12, 2023

I think I’ve heard of people drilling out the foam and gluing surgical tubing in to make them last longer.

Old406Kid · Jan 12, 2023

If you're wearing out quick release indicators the real root of the problem is that you're catching too many fish.

ifsteve · Jan 12, 2023

My fix is simple. When they don't work anymore I throw them in the trash and use a new one.

Old406Kid · Jan 12, 2023

ifsteve said:
My fix is simple. When they don't work anymore I throw them in the trash and use a new one.

Oh sure...and in no time at all America's landfills will be piled high with used up indicators.

Buzzy · Jan 12, 2023

Old406Kid said:
Oh sure...and in no time at all America's landfills will be piled high with used up indicators.

I prefer to call them bobbers

Divad · Jan 12, 2023

I made the nieces and nephew true corkies from the 8mm cork balls. Hole drilled and spray paint, they work great!

I did this too @Wetswinger The 20mm serve as their makeshift bobbers, hole drilled and loop knotted. I don’t feel so bad when they lose them to the trees.