Double Indicator

This edition of tips and techniques brings you a new method of rigging a strike indicator for nymph fishing.  We’re focusing on how to determine proper drift strategies and how to track your drift and detecting the subtleties of a strike. 

The technique of utilizing 2 strike indicators has a number of advantages that will make any of the just mentioned tasks easier.  I like to use the McKee Corkies or the Thill indicators for my strike indicators.  Both are extremely buoyant and both can visually show the angler what’s going on with their drift as well as where the flies are and when a fish takes the flies.  For my use with the 2 indicator system, I like the smaller spring creek size indicators unless I’m fishing with extremely large or heavy nymphs OR I am fishing in really heavy currents.  Start out by first determining the depth at which you hope to find the fish.  Generally speaking that’s going to be 1 ½  to 2 times the actual water depth.  So if you are fishing 3-4 feet of water on average, you will want to set your indicators roughly 6-8 feet from your flies.  Starting out with a 9 foot leader, this is setting the indicators clearly in the upper third of your leader.  I attach my indicators using a simple half hitch method.  It’s easy to do and it allows for 2 things: the indicators stay where they are put BUT I can also move them up or down easily.  To make the proper half hitch, loop your butt section in half at the location you want the indicator and push that loop through the hole in the indicator until the loop comes through the other side.  Take the terminal end of the leader (where the fly is tied) and pass that through the loop and pull all the remainder of the leader material through as well.  Snug up the half hitch and you’ve done it.  Now add a second indicator just like the first one immediately below the original you just put on.   Keep this indicator 5-10 inches from the first.  Now add flies and or additional weight as desired.  You’re set to go!

   

Fishing the double indicator rig is actually very easy and I think you’ll be amazed at how well the double rig will show you what’s going on under the water.  The first thing you should try to do in your drift is to get the  two indicators to float in  line with one another.  Do so by mending your flyline and leader in the appropriate manner to allow the drift to line up the indys.  By accomplishing this,  it becomes a much more simple matter of being able to track where your line is in relation to your flies.  The in-line indys will show you when your flies are throughout the drift.  The next thing you’ll see is that you will begin to recognize bottom bumps and hits that before may have gone undetected for the most part due to the fact that you were only looking for motion and changes to the single indicator.  Two indicators really show how your line/flies move through the water!  Subtle ticks and hesitations as well as the slightest drag is now telegraphed visually.  With this information, you can much more readily and quickly decide to mend, set the hook, or let it ride!

Good luck on your next outing and remember to "get the drift".