How do you peg the indicator?

Tom Butler

Grandpa, Small Stream Fanatic
Forum Supporter
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;
20220411_151753.jpg
So like a river float I set it fat side up;
20220411_151935.jpg
Now I was watching this Phil Rowley video
and he rigs the indicator thus, the line to your left, fly to your right.
1649717891256.png
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.
20220411_154012.jpg
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.
20220411_154318.jpg
Probably over thinking it, fish are stupid right? I'll have to play with it. What are your thoughts?
 
Last edited:
I go peg on bottom. I am a bit of a heathen, I run like 10 pound flouro to a swivel where I'll use 6 pound flouro. If I break off below the swivel, and I peg from the bottom, I don't loose my float.
 
By indicator. I assume you mean. An RPM indicator. Often called a tachometer. I peg it by putting my right foot on the gas pedal and press hard.. it usually pegs around 7000 rpms.
:)
That's funny right there. My MG doesn't have a functioning speedo at the moment so I have to look at the tach and do math. It's old so I've never tried to peg it.
 
Good thread, only done this twice. Peg on top first time. Was thinking that was wrong. No wonder wouldn't pop.
 
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?

See that peg on the left under the water, that is a no go for me. That peg acts as part of the system I use to detect a strike. I actually retried a round indicator again this weekend, and hated it. I keep the peg up. Phil puts it down to keep down tangles, and yes sometimes a cast will cause the tippet to lay on the line above the peg and if that happens it can cause a brief tangle, but it is not enough of a trade off for me.
 
See that peg on the left under the water, that is a no go for me. That peg acts as part of the system I use to detect a strike. I actually retried a round indicator again this weekend, and hated it. I keep the peg up. Phil puts it down to keep down tangles, and yes sometimes a cast will cause the tippet to lay on the line above the peg and if that happens it can cause a brief tangle, but it is not enough of a trade off for me.
Thx
 
Good thread, only done this twice. Peg on top first time. Was thinking that was wrong. No wonder wouldn't pop.
If it doesn't release it's too tight, try backing the peg pressure off just a touch. It should release fine with the peg on top. If I got a good depth with fish hitting less than my rod length deep I'll tighten it down so I don't need to reset.
 
If it doesn't release it's too tight, try backing the peg pressure off just a touch. It should release fine with the peg on top. If I got a good depth with fish hitting less than my rod length deep I'll tighten it down so I don't need to reset.
It's great fun when I have 15-feet of leader pegged, a good fish on, and I pegged the indicator too tight.... usually I win that fight but the last time I was indi fishing I broke two good fish off. Had a bad day guessing the right peg set... part of the game, part of the fun.

And I do it like Irafly does and use two-tone indicators
 
And I do it like Irafly does and use two-tone indicators
I found one more set in my bag, but when I order I think I'll get the white ones with the red stripe. And a couple sizes. I too have become accustomed to watching the peg and noticed when I put on a large balanced leech the other day it sat upright and low.
 
I dunno Tom, I was going to hit you up for some fishing if we happened to make over that direction for some wine tasting (during my HS reunion festivities).....with all of that indicator talk, now I'm not so sure. :LOL:
 
I dunno Tom, I was going to hit you up for some fishing if we happened to make over that direction for some wine tasting (during my HS reunion festivities).....with all of that indicator talk, now I'm not so sure. :LOL:
I got to do something until the rivers this way open back up. Besides, I'm not just watching the bobber sit there. I feel that fishing with an indicator on the stillwaters is almost as active, and requires as much concentration and focus, as stream fishing.
 
Last edited:
I got to do something until the rivers this way open back up. Besides, I'm not just watching the bobber sit there. I feel that fishing with an indicator on the stillwaters is almost as active as stream fishing.
Well, at least you have until Sept/Oct to get your act together....:LOL:
 
Well, at least you have until Sept/Oct to get your act together....:LOL:
Big white streamers are about as far from indicators as we can get!
 
It's great fun when I have 15-feet of leader pegged, a good fish on, and I pegged the indicator too tight.... usually I win that fight but the last time I was indi fishing I broke two good fish off. Had a bad day guessing the right peg set... part of the game, part of the fun.

And I do it like Irafly does and use two-tone indicators
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.
 
Back
Top