Indicator fishing / Stillwater

Indicator fishing for trophy trout

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When you're sitting on the lake trolling or casting and you've only had a few fish all day...then you see a guy reeling in fish after fish under the indicator...that's the motivation you need. I had that experience a few years ago on my local lake and I decided to commit to only bringing indicator rods for a few months to force myself to dial it in. I went from averaging 5 fish per trip on that lake with a high of about 15/day to averaging 15 with days over 40. I'll still go back to trolling/casting sometimes at that lake, but nothing beats the indicator for efficiency...especially when the fish are cruising the bottom for food.
 
I have never been about catching the most fish nor the biggest fish. It is to get away from everyday stress and get back to nature.

Yes, I luv catching fish. No doubt about it.

But I enjoy nature and all its splendor more. Probably why I enjoy dry fly fishing the most. Watching a fish come out of the depths and taking the fly is exhilarating.

As I have said previously, my wife and I adopted 2 girls from China. We hosted an annual gathering at our place for 22 years. One summer iI took all the girls from our adoption group fishing before lunch. They all caught fish. After lunch asked if anyone wanted to go back out
Vivian was the only one. We fished a couple of hours more and she caught more fish. About 2 weeks later I got a handwritten note from her, whose does that, and was finished by 'I like tugs'.

That is what fishing is all about!

I have fished my lake a lot while trolling. On one trip around the lake I caught perch, crappie, bass, trout and a catfish on the same fly!

Fish what you want, for the reasons you have, and enjoy your successes.

I was fishing RS lake near N Bd. I had a flotilla complaining about it was catching their fish. One even brandished a gun.

Fish for what you want,. how you want, enjoy!
 
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Matt B said:
I have gotten slightly annoyed before with needing to re-set a slip indicator at 20+ feet over and over and over from my float tube. But then I remember that the reason I have to keep doing it is because I keep catching yet another fish every couple of minutes or so, and that helps take the sting out of it.
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Although there is only a couple lakes I fish indicators , have always used a slip indicator , until last year . Granted the two I do fish indicators , I don't fish any water deeper than 15' . Anyway to the point , last year got a call from a friend in Big sky , meet me at Hebgen, we fished no water deeper than about 12-15 foot. He use only a fixed indicator Oro or whatever , I too decided to use a fixed . 15' of leader , indicator set at anywhere from 11-14' . Surprisingly had no problem landing the fish from his Lund fishing boat . Granted that would be near impossible from a float tube or pontoon , but standing in a boat , with a long handled net not a problem . Plan on doing the same in Montana here shortly with my boat , no slip indicators .
 
Hard to beat the action of a leech pattern hanging under an indy in wind, the rocking motion from the chop during the retrieve well mimicking an actual leech.
Conversely, with zero wind yesterday, chironomids suspended under an Indy in 14' of water a foot off the bottom did the trick, using a smaller strike indicator that barely floated the nymphs below = transmits takes better.
On calm wind days using lighter nymphs such as callibaetis in shallow water I use poly yarn indicators I tie, soaked in silicone and then dried out before going into use...the slightest take below will indicate.
 
Dry - dropper works on lakes, too, when fish are up in the water column. And in Stillwater you can get away with a smaller dry to float the dropper. I’m curious—Is there anyone who eschews the indi, but embraces the dry - dropper? If so, why is that better?
 
kmudgn said:
It's fishing with flies, but not fly fishing
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Do you fish lakes? You might be a fly fisherman.
If you do fish lakes do you cast and strip only? You might be a fly fisherman.
If you do fish lakes do you cast out then "fin flip around" with your fly in the water? You are not a fly fisherman.....lol
 
You will no doubt find this difficult to comprehend but there are many who derive the greatest pleasure in just relishing their chosen process without feeling the need to amass the largest possible body count so that they can post about it on the innertubes.
 
Matt B said:
,&:,*"* ["?, c3kv,coke - dropper works on lakes, too, when fish are up in the water column. And in Stillwater you can get away with a smaller dry to float the dropper. I’m curious—Is there anyone who eschews the indi, but embraces the dry - dropper? If so, why is that better?
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Me! I'll hang a bugger or something under a big bass popper to keep it from hanging up and catch most of my fish on it. But sometimes a toad comes up to eat my bobber and I like being able to stick it!

It's active, and im fishing the popper not the dropper. Strongly recommend for bass fishing when you also like catching bluegills
 
Matt B said:
Now there’s a story I think I want to hear more about. Brandishing a weapon over truck trout? That’s some real Washington sh*t right there.
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I have seen more than one side arm come out during winter steelhead season, and I don’t even fish in Washington!
 
Matt B said:
Dry - dropper works on lakes, too, when fish are up in the water column. And in Stillwater you can get away with a smaller dry to float the dropper. I’m curious—Is there anyone who eschews the indi, but embraces the dry - dropper? If so, why is that better?
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once the weather warms at a fave lake where deeper water transitions upto 10' inshore ledges, floating a small tan foam hopper with a red PT jig 6' below at the transition can be a killer set-up with both flies getting taken.
 
albula said:
You will no doubt find this difficult to comprehend but there are many who derive the greatest pleasure in just relishing their chosen process without feeling the need to amass the largest possible body count so that they can post about it on the innertubes.
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You will no doubt find this difficult to comprehend, but there are many who derive the greatest pleasure in just using a variety of methods to catch as many fish as they can, because they like to catch fish. They also like to share their success with other people. It might be equally difficult for you to comprehend that others find pleasure in their sharing and in giving them kudos for theirs effort.
 
Stonedfish said:
Ira,
I assume the clear tubing helps keep the hole from compressing and widening over time. Would that be correct?
What size tubing?
SF
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The insert in this case is a straw which is still in the prototype phase. Yes it is designed to keep the peg tight over a longer period of time. @Shawn Seeger started this whole idea using rubber tubing. That tubing felt slightly heavy while casting, thus the attempt at plastic. We will see.

The biggest issue now with the inserts, is they do work to prolong the life of the indicator, but the paint chips off before the indicator fails. I’m working on that as well.
 
Irafly said:
The insert in this case is a straw which is still in the prototype phase. Yes it is designed to keep the peg tight over a longer period of time. @Shawn Seeger started this whole idea using rubber tubing. That tubing felt slightly heavy while casting, thus the attempt at plastic. We will see.

The biggest issue now with the inserts, is they do work to prolong the life of the indicator, but the paint chips off before the indicator fails. I’m working on that as well.
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Thanks.
I look forward to future episodes of “Pimp my Indicator” as you move towards the final design. 😉
SF
 
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