Strike Indicators
FlyFishing Colorado
Hi-Viz™ Strike Indicators
Strike Indicators for fly fishing are not a new idea. Pages 24 and 25 in the "The Treatyse of Fishing with an Angle" from the medieval ages describe how to make cork float strike indicators for use with different sizes of horse hair fly lines used back then.
Fortunately, we do not have to make our own strike indicators today. Modern strike indicators are generally made from:
- Foam Strips held together with rubber O rings. These are the style FlyFishing Colorado manufacturers and markets. Besides being highly visible, foam strip strike/drift indicators can be used for long periods of time before absorbing water. If the indicator does become a bit waterlogged, simply squeeze it between thumb and forefinger to remove the water and resume fishing.
FlyFishing Colorado Hi-Viz™ Strike Indicators
Our Hi-Viz™ Strike Indicators are made with 2 inch strips of black, white and high visibility orange foam. Each Hi-Viz™ Strike Indicator consists of four black, four white and two orange strips for added visibility. When folded over and assembled, the indicator consists of 20 - one inch long strips. (2 X 10 - 2 inch strips)
Fly Fishing Colorado's Own Hi-Viz™ Strike Indicators are stream tested. FlyFishing Colorado - Stream Report for 6/4/06, our editor cut the top half of the strips off to test it on a small stream. Bear Creek was only running 12 CFS and water was gin clear. No noticeable spooking of the fish from the indicator was noted. The small stream strike indicator worked just like its larger size. (Making it easy to follow the drift and detect takes.)
FlyFishing Colorado's Hi-Viz™ Strike Indicators >>> Float High, cast easily and the Black-White-Orange Color combination is visible in bright daylight, cloudy conditions and twilight. (This is Fly Fishing Colorado's first product) added 6/2/06
Package of 3 ==> only $2.97 USD plus 2.95 shipping and handling (Ships within 1 to 2 business days after payment)
image of FlyFishing Colorado's Hi-Viz™ Strike Indicators
- High Density foam balls that come in a variety of colors such as fluorescent yellow or red. Our editor personally likes the Sierra Pacific 1/2 inch red model of this style strike indicator. This type strike-indicator is held to the leader with a small piece of rubber band.
Other shapes of foam held to the leader with a small piece of toothpick. This style tends to not cast as well as the other styles of drift/strike-indicators. - Polypropylene Yarn that is formed into an indicator with rubber O rings or is tied with fly tying thread. The main disadvantages to this kind of strike indicator are becoming water logged, require floatant to stay buoyant and need to be combed out fluffy periodically.
- Using a dry fly as point fly and a nymph dropper. With this rig, the dry fly acts as the strike indicator. Our editor has used a large Royal Wulff quite successfully as a strike indicator. Also a #16 Adams Parachute dry fly as point fly with a 22 Griffiths Gnat as a dropper.