Stillwater indicator line

[Buzzy]

My deep rig is an old 10’ 5wt Echo 2 lined with a SA 7wt Titan floater. I can roll cast or water load a 30’ leader, indi, and a pair of weighted bugs ….if I am standing up in a boat and the W is cooperating. The hardest part is getting the whole mess up on the surface before attempting to “cast” it.

I think it was your partner in cccccrime, Mr. @Irafly, who demonstrated his technique for getting a loooong indicator leader and fly out of the water. His technique works for me (most of the time). I've given up on 30-foot indicator leaders but can usually handle 25-feet if conditions are just right. One of the most limiting factors for me in successfully getting the fly into the air (flies and sometimes split shot) is keeping the fly and sinker weight low. It's an ever changing game. And fall is coming..........

 

[troutpocket]

Under the right circumstances I will hang a static type 7 straight down and work a deep indicator rig at the same time. Might sound weird but sometimes the fish have a preference. In general, the indicator gets more takes with a little chop on the surface and the static line gets the action when it’s flat calm.

 

[Ronbow]

Getting down to brass tacks (or tungston beads, but I digress) on a looong indicator leader.

False casts are your enemy. In your floating craft, once depth and indicator are set up, strip out fly line and pull out from rod tip, leave it in lake, and keep your flies in hand, or for pointy safety, in a fly card, cork or whatever. Just don't let them sink.

Now you can do snake, figure eight, or eventually single spey so the aerial circus gets aloft and shoot it out releasing flies at just the right time. Then depending on skill level, and since everthing is lined up and on surface, either roll cast or load up a cast, let it straighren out behind, and when you feel the load, let it all extend with shoulder roll (double haul as skill allows). I like to raise tip sharply a bit to put a small loop in line that snaps the turnover.

When picking up, bring in sharply leaving fly line head beyond tip, and get leader out of water. Don't strip in too far. One roll cast, then pick up, wait, wait and upon pressure to rod in hand, wash, rinse, repeat.

But, fish don't care.....

Ron