Using Fly Fishing "Indicators" Bobbers

Two guides breaking down various indicators and how to fish and use them.
James Garrettson www.abouttrout.com
Marcus Rubbo www.fisheadsofthesanjuan.com
Marcus Leader Formula: 1:40
3ft 10Lb Maxima Ultra Green
2ft 8lb Maxima Ultra Green (blood knotted to 10lb)
4ft 4x Flouro Carbon of your choice (triple surgeons knot to 8lb)
Micro Barrel Swivel 7mm (attached via clinch knot)
Currently I've just been running 5ft 10lb ultra green triple surgeons knotted to 4ft 4x terminating in a barrel swivel.
Indicators and how to rig them:
Oros 4:30
Air-Lock 5:15
Tactical Corq Size Medium 6:37
Corq 8:05
FullingMill Pinch On 9:10
Yarn 10:24
10Lb Maxima Ultra Green amzn.to/3FaEksC
8lb Maxima Ultra Green amzn.to/3GcbQjz
4x Flouro Carbon amzn.to/3tahL4O
Micro Barrel Swivel 7mm amzn.to/3qZk34h
Air-Lock(1/2 inch) amzn.to/32Wc3sU
Tactical Corq Size Medium amzn.to/3Gebtou
Bulk bobber stops for tactical corqs amzn.to/334ecT5
Corq amzn.to/3Gely4K

[@OutdoorsPodcast]

One of your best videos yet James! So much good information, loved the table top detail, the actual fishing techniques and the great footage. Cheers bru!

[@billyeastman7144]

Thank you for all the good useful info. Much appreciated James and Marcus 😉🤙

[@davedbolt]

Nice info guys & proven on the water today with James About Trout. Great day on the water James, lets do it again soon..

[@fishhandsfranky]

Great video James! I’ve been locked into NZ strike indicators for almost all of my fishing. Your insights and recommendations have me thinking differently. Bless it!

[@AboutTrout]

Appreciate you

[@pabloh58]

Great info as always. Hope to hope to make my way to your area next year and have you guide me!!

[@mackieredd5503]

Hey James, nice job. Appreciate all the info. See ya on the water.

[@8234catch]

Best one yet. Thanks!

[@FullingMillTV]

Great video, James!

[@robertmrivera]

I like the foam pinch on tBs I use two different colors at the same time separated by a few inches. This allows me to see the direction the flies are flowing.

[@AboutTrout]

Huge fan of pinch ons. I really have enjoyed the FullingMill ones as they don’t slip and are more durable than the open cell foam.

[@TJRainbowWarrior]

Thanks James and Marcus. Great info!

[@AboutTrout]

Glad you liked it!

[@dantheman7624]

Thomas with a cameo. Great show guys. I use hand tied leades as well, any where from 7 to 15 feet long, depending on where i am fishing. See you on the water boys.

[@worange6208]

Just ordered some Oros indicators! Cant wait to use this inline indicator. Heard a lot of good reviews!

[@AboutTrout]

I should have a review out on them soon as well.

[@worange6208]

Awesome! Your videos are just great, keep up the good content.

[@marcburrows5783]

Great as always James

[@AboutTrout]

Thanks brotha!

[@Toddcm]

Nice tutorial!

[@peterharrison-edge6493]

Great job, thanks for that.

[@johnmadia5229]

Best indicator vid ever!

[@AboutTrout]

Appreciate you.

[@brucenewton5389]

Thanks James, Good stuff!

[@AboutTrout]

Thanks Bruce!

[@decolonizedmeateater]

Perfect video. Thanks! Also what sunglasses are y’all running? I need to replace my broken ones and yours and Marcus’s are slick . Thanks again

[@AboutTrout]

I’m wearing the smith highwaters. It’s my second pair and I love them. Chromapop lenses and they also have a built in sunglasses leash. Thanks for checking out the channel.

[@overthehillandoverthemount2925]

I am such a big fan of you guys. My question is when you have 10 pound test line with a perfection loop are you ever afraid that it’s going to cut into the loop on the fly line. This is something I always wanted to do but was afraid to do it.

[@AboutTrout]

You can cut the welded loop and nail knot in a heavy short butt section to the fly line. I’ve personally but running it off a welded loop and haven’t had it cut. You can “double” your perfection loop and it definitely won’t cut. I like to do that fishing 1x with streamers to a sink tip as the costing likes to delaminate.

[@juddthalman1422]

Love it. Quick question. Do add weight and then 2 flies in line? Do a dropper tag or put the weight on the bottom with 2 tags? Wondering about pros and cons of weight and fly placement in deep nymph rigs. Thanks!

[@AboutTrout]

Weight then two flies inline. I have back bounced before with weight after flies but I’d be lying if I said I was well versed with it.

[@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy]

There are quite a few misunderstandings about physics when it comes to fly fishing and some remarkable understandings at the same time. Like the thicker leader and drag being one that is understood well, (though if the indicator and the line are moving WITH the current at the surface there isnt any drag...and the thinner bit being at the bottom where the water is slower is fine if you want the fly to be pulled through the bottom at the same speed as the surface with less resistance...hmm...) The one thing I think most fly fishers do not understand yet repeat constantly is that the bobber/indicator will pull your flies to near the surface. Yes it will but there is gravity, mass, and drag that all must be considered. The mass of your flies will counteract the drag, and pull them closer to the bottom. If you've got a really heavy fly, it will be really close to directly beneath the bobber, but will be traveling faster than the water around it. lighter flies will be closer to the surface. There is no way to make your flies travel at the same speed as the water on the bottom, not even in euro nymphing. But with thin tippet, and heavy flies you can greatly reduce the drag. ....sorry for the book =) there is a mathematical formula (several) that describe this all.

[@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy]

ok I had to .....The mathematical formulas that explain how the weight of a fly will impact its position relative to an indicator when floating down a river are related to the drag and lift forces acting on the fly. The drag force acting on the fly is determined by the drag equation, which is: Fd = 1/2 * Cd * A * p * v^2 where Fd is the drag force, Cd is the drag coefficient, A is the reference area of the fly, p is the density of the fluid, and v is the velocity of the fly. The lift force acting on the fly is determined by the lift equation, which is: Fl = 1/2 * Cl * A * p * v^2 where Fl is the lift force, Cl is the lift coefficient, A is the reference area of the fly, p is the density of the fluid, and v is the velocity of the fly. The weight of the fly will impact its position relative to the indicator because it affects the lift and drag forces acting on the fly. If the weight of the fly is greater than the lift force, the fly will sink. If the weight of the fly is less than the lift force, the fly will float. And if the weight of the fly is equal to the lift force, the fly will be in neutral buoyancy and it will stay at a constant depth relative to the indicator. Additionally, the weight of the fly will also affect the drag force acting on it, if the drag force is greater than the lift force the fly will be pulled downstream faster, if it is less the fly will move slower. Keep in mind that the calculation of the lift and drag forces depend on the fly's design, the flow of the water, and the velocity of the fly, and these equations are based on some assumptions and simplifications. again...sorry for the book.

[@m.b.h.c9543]

Actually I think you answered me already! Thanks

[@m.b.h.c9543]

James, awesome video! Def gonna give it a try. Just to make sure I get the concept... 3' of 10# Maxima 2' of 8# Maxima 4x (length?) Micro barrel swivel Tippet to flies (length?) Length of 4x? Length of tippet after micro swivel to first fly? (off of tag)

[@AboutTrout]

Formula is in the description. Spacing depends on lots of factors but in general 14” between weight first fly and 14” between second fly is a good place to start. We’re fishing the flies in-line in this video either eye to eye(#18 and smaller) or off the bend of the first fly. Thanks for checking it out.

[@gregoneal1]

Great video. Very informative. I really wanted to like the Oros indicators but they slide on 5x and smaller for me. How do you prevent that?

[@AboutTrout]

Cut the leader and tie a blood knot where you want it to stop to prevent slippage.

[@gregoneal1]

AboutTrout Thanks for the tip, but I think I’ll just stick with the Airlocks. They don’t slide. I may check out the Corqs too, based on your recommendation.

[@ezrakurzban5354]

I have a couple questions. First of all great video, but really curious on knot choice, and indicator placement. I know you said triple surgeon from maxim to 4x, but what do you use between 10lb/8lb lines? And where on the leader do you usually let your indicator rest? Above 8lb section?

[@AboutTrout]

Blood knot. Indicator placement depends on the situation.

[@ezrakurzban5354]

@@AboutTrout ok for example, in a couple months I'm going up to fish the North pleezy. Mostly nymphing, avoiding redds duh. I'm probably going to be fishing 8 ft indicator to bottom fly. Would you prioritize having just 3/4X in the water to minimize drag, or keeping a shorter/more manageable leader up to the indicator? Do you like the "tag line" system? Would love to see another video about everything beneath the indicator, y'all did such a good job showing us your systems up to that point. I know it's more subject to change, but could use some advice! Trying to move from intermediate to supa advanced bobber watcher.

[@philipsmith7859]

Hey guys, at the bottom of the barrel swivel, what’s tied on? If you want to fish a 2 fly rig

[@AboutTrout]

Your favorite two flies!

[@amyschmitt6340]

Thanks for the tips! What's the average distance you place between your bobber and top fly/split shot when drifting the long soak from the whorehouse down to Biscuit @ T-hole?

[@AboutTrout]

That can change wildly but 6ft is a good place to start.

[@TheSlounsBerry]

Quick question/clarification about the leader: Is the idea that the section of 4x is where you’d attach your indicator and then you’d just have a level section of 5x or 6x or whatever from the swivel to the fly? So the 4x section gives you some room to move the indicator around while still having a mostly level connection to the fly? Thanks!

[@AboutTrout]

The whole thing is the leader other wise you’d end up fishing a super long leader. Think of the barrel swivel as a place to add in tippet and a break point that keeps the leader in tact a la a tippet ring. The barrel swivel also acts a stop to keep your split shot sliding down if you’re using it.

[@TheSlounsBerry]

@@AboutTrout Makes sense, I guess I was thinking you’d have a few feet of tippet between the swivel and your flies but good point about that becoming a really long leader. If you were fishing a couple nymphs would you tie them both right off the swivel and not worry too much about the swivel being too close to the shorter dropper/tag/whatever the right term is fly?

[@AboutTrout]

@@TheSlounsBerry thing of the swivel as where you would crimp split shot if you were fishing shot. I crimp it above so it doesn’t slide. If I’m fishing weighted flies the swivel just serves as a break point like a tippet ring. I’ve also used the swivel to tie flies off the top ring and tie weight below like a back bounce rig. Most times I use it like a tippet ring and not a place to add a dropper fly.

[@ColorfulCOFlyFishing]

All the guide at my fly shop took the white oros indicators so I got stuck with pink

[@AboutTrout]

They’re popular!

[@m.b.h.c9543]

Sorry but I'm still wondering what you rig after the swivel? How much tippet? Thanks

[@AboutTrout]

Just saw this now. Sorry for the delayed response. 12”-18”

[@gregb8824]

I like yarn whenever possible.

[@AboutTrout]

Definitely. I have an on again off again relationship with it. Tons of advantages especially with the NZ system. I my experience heavy rigs and constantly greasing it up and trimming it up can get tedious at times. I don’t think there’s a better system for spooky technical fish.

[@jds4935]

flyfishing which indicator do you use that you can pull it through the rod guides?

[@AboutTrout]

I like to use a slip indicator if I’m nymphing that deep. I use them a lot when I lake fish.

[@jds4935]

🙏 👍

[@ColorfulCOFlyFishing]

Is that the duck camp guide hoodie?

[@AboutTrout]

It is I need to review it soon I live in it.

[@ColorfulCOFlyFishing]

@@AboutTrout sweet. I got the mallard hat from them for Christmas

[@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy]

I comment the hell outta your vids =) KZbin better notice!

[@AboutTrout]

Thank you!

[@prestongizzi2210]

Word, word. Seems like a lot of work. You guys should give Euro a try 😜

[@AboutTrout]

Sometimes euro isn’t the answer 🤯

[@stephencunic3580]

How about Ghostech floats big bugs like those ball indicators but hits the water like wool. Plus you don’t need to dress them with floatant. Best Of both worlds. Plus no more lost nuts you don’t take the nut off to attach them.

[@AboutTrout]

I haven’t tried the ghost techs personally. Glad you have an indicator system that works for you.

[@futuremetz1]

I use ghost tech. They’re ok. True you don’t have to take the nut off but my tippet always gets wound up around the nut/bolt. Not as clean at the oros. They do splash/plop less then sphere indicators. So shrug I guess?

[@stephencunic3580]

@@futuremetz1 that’s interesting I rarely have that issue. I wonder if it’s because I’m using it with a stiffer tippet length

[@gladegoodrich2297]

Just messing with you. 😊 Only way to catch those big tigers and browns is watch that little red ball like a hawk.

[@AboutTrout]

😂 the San Juan is actually an incredible dry fly and streamer fishery. Nymphing bobber rigs is the most accessible way to fish it with new anglers.

[@lastcoyote2355]

I eliminate the perfection loop ….. ( a lazy persons knot ) learn to tie knots . Maxima is the best , not sure why it isn’t used more . I remember years ago when Mr . Abe Chavez introduced me to yarn indicators .

[@AboutTrout]

I’m curious on why a perfection loop is lazy?

[@lastcoyote2355]

@@AboutTrout well think about it for a second . For as long as you’ve been fishing when did the perfect loop start showing up on leaders , fly lines , in the late ‘70’s Nd early ‘80’s the only time you used or saw a loop to loop connection was in Spey fishing . It was used to make quick connections while changing to different heads or lines . If a person is in that much of a hurry fly fishing….. then maybe consider bait fishing 😅 . I wonder what is next pre assembled fly to tippet rigs ? Or better yet have a robot built to do your fishing for you …. Maybe in the year 2525 . Just my opinion 😅

[@AboutTrout]

@@lastcoyote2355 for full time guides, like Marcus and I, perfection loops are important because we are constantly changing our clients leaders through the season due to wear and knots in the system. Maxima is great, especially in leader building. It’s thickness to break strength is why it’s not really seen used outside of leader making, streamer fishing, salmon/steelhead. It’s perfect for when you want a thicker diameter for turn over but a low break strength. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@lastcoyote2355]

@@AboutTrout very true . I understand stand from a guide perspective it is very important to get a fishing rig back in the water . I should have been more clear that I notice more and more fly fishers have no knowledge of fishing knots . I’m sure you notice that as well . My opinion was not directed at guides as that is a money making business and I understand . When ever I put a new fly line on 1st thing I do is clip the loop off and tie ….. tie on a butt section , then a leader . While taking the time on the river tying on a leader or tippet I find it not only relaxing but also get the opportunity to scan the river . Peace to all and tight lines

[@phoult37]

Fly fishing elitism is douchee. Don't be that guy.

[@glenndotter5065]

Why use a bobber at all? Either you are a real flyfisherman or a bobber fisherman.

[@AboutTrout]

What’s a real fly fisherman?

[@Saahdud]

What's wrong cat got ya tongue lil bud lmao?