Fly Fishing with an indicator

[Kevin]

It's going to be a good while before dry flies get popping around here, so a lot of nymph/midge fishing right now. I'll admit it's not my favorite way to fish, and that's probably because I'm not nearly as successful at it as I am fishing on the surface.

Fly Tier, or anybody else, would love to have some tips on nymph fishing for trout with  an indicator so I can get better at it.

[Fly Tier]

When fishing a nymph,the fly is usually cast straight up or at an angle upstream.You need to attempted to get the nymph to drift downstream in a normal fashion,just as if the current were sweeping it along.Watch the indicator to see if it pauses during the drift, perhaps indicates that a trout has the nymph and is examining it.This examination will be quite brief ,for the trout will quickly spit out anything it believes to be artificial.During the brief pause,you need to set the hook.I use torpedo strike indicators I just slide the leader throught the slot and twist ,I usaully put the indicator about 2" to 3" below the tip of my fly line.I hope this helps.

[Kevin]

Thanks. That's pretty much the way I've been playing it. As you know, up here we have hard running streams, so nothing slow moving except a few small deep stretches here and there. Mostly all shallow flats though. Makes it pretty difficult to see  an indicator twitch, but I do use the Orvis plastic ball indicators.

I do a lot of mending to get a drag free drift. Do you ever weight your leader? I have tungsten puddy, but never really use it.

[Fly Tier]

Yes I would use a split shot on my leader about 6" above the fly this should help slow the down fly ,you may have to add more than one to get a slow drift.