If you nymph-fish as much as I do, you know the value of a good strike indicator. It helps you monitor the speed and depth of your fly, and telegraphs the subtle subsurface take of a trout. There are many products on the market that suit the purpose, but some are inconvenient, others are hard to see, and all are overpriced when you consider you can make your own strike indicator for pennies. As with fly-tying and rod-building, there is some small satisfaction of being intimately involved with the pursuit to the point of creating your own custom fly-fishing tackle. Here are the advantages of this particular indicator.

1. Reuseable
2. Won't kink or damage leader
3. Won't slide, yet is easily moved to adjust to water conditions
4. Floats high, and two-tone color is easy to see
5. Can be tied in a variety of colors to match different light conditions
6. Can be tied in different sizes to match different fly sizes, weights, and water conditions
7. Costs only pennies per indicator

Indicators may be made with any brightly colored, water repellant yarn. Select an indicator color that is visible in the ambient light conditions. I often use multi-colored indicators--orange, yellow and chartreuse--that are visible under a variety of light conditions. Some black in the indicator often helps during low-light conditions.

Widows Web, a synthetic that is sold in bundles of loose fibers, is an ideal material because it is very buoyant, has a bright finish and doesn’t mat when treated with floatant. If Widows Web is not available from your local fly shop, nylon craft yarn and polypropylene yarn are suitable alternatives. The only other necessary material is tying thread. I use waxed “A” mono in a color that matches the color of the indicator.

You should attach the indicator to the leader with a loop to loop connection. The point of attachment will depend on water depth. Generally, the length of leader between the indicator and the nymph should be approximately one and a half times the depth of the water. The position of the indicator can be easily adjusted when fishing in variable water depths.

Select an indicator size based on the fishing situation. I often use very small indicators for fishing with small nymphs in tailwaters. Larger indicators are necessary when fishing with tandem, weighted nymphs, or large nymphs; nymphing in faster water; or, in situations that require frequent, heavy mends to maintain good drifts.