FOTM Concept - Yarn Strike Indicators

[alanb_ct]

How about a different "fly" of the month on yarn strike indicator construction? I have all the materials and know-how I think, so let me know if you want me to do it. I don't know all the methods and secrets, but I found a source for braided polypropylene macrame yarn that I comb out with a paintbrush-cleaning tool. O-rings and all are pretty easy to specify. The yarn is cheap $0.30/yard, so I bought white, black, yellow and glow-in-the-dark.

I can do it as a video if you prefer.

- OR -

I am willing to do the Copper John, but that may require a few video takes.

Let me know.

[AaronJasper]

We have the November FOTM. Night Angler did one of his favorite streamers.... the pine squirrel. I e mailed it to Justin so it should be up soon. We can meet at the shop and try the copper john. I can bring the video camera. Justin can edit it when we are done. We might have to do it in two parts since youtube only allows videos up to ten minutes long. I don't know how long it takes you to do one but it takes me quite a while.

The strike indicator is a good idea. We should try that right before trout season when people are into making things like that ?

Tell me what you think?

[alanb_ct]

OK, hang in there during the delay, just think about those big browns. Hope the scuds and cress bugs produce. It's amazing how big those tailwater fish grow eating those little shrimp. I guess they don't really need to rely on sporadic hatches since the crustaceans are available all year.

I'll do the yarn strike indicator one in February or so. We can do the Copper John together during a winter lull.

[alanb_ct]

Justin/Aaron:

I am getting very busy soon (I took a second job teaching at a local university), so I decided to do the FOTM now. Please use this whenever and however you want, if at all. I hope the quality is good enough, I recorded it directly through my webcam. Photobucket restricts movies to 5 minutes, so I did the FOTM in two parts:

http://s164.photobucket.com/albums/u...ARN_1_OF_2.flv

http://s164.photobucket.com/albums/u...ARN_2_OF_2.flv

Thanks for the opportunity to post.

Alain

[AaronJasper]

Holy crap Alain .... you are my hero!!! Thank you so much for doing that for all of us! I know how much effort that takes. I owe you one this Spring! I am so greatful! It takes a lot of time to put that together. The quality is awesome too. What do you teach a the college?

Thanks again!

Aaron

[alanb_ct]

Starting Jan. 4, I am teaching a graduate course in digital signal processing, a typical course electrical engineers take for their Master's.

Why am I doing it? To fund my fly-fishing habit; I hope to finally buy the 10ft 5wt Z-axis rod this spring and hopefully take a few trips with you all next year!

Glad you like the movies. Talk to you later.

[SlowNDeep]

Great videos Alain. Do you ever use RainX, and does it work? No ill fx on the o-rings?

[alanb_ct]

I used the Rain-X for a while. I soaked the indicators really well (they were dripping) and let them dry overnight. I didn't notice any degradation on the O-rings. Mucilin is best, but you really have to work to fluff up the indicator after application, especially in cold weather. I always have a few pointy toothpicks handy to comb out the indicator or the velcro method works good as Aaron suggests. For a quick solution when the action is hot and heavy, I usually just squeeze a little Gink on to the back of my hand and work it in to the fibers that way (just don't get any on your hand, your cork will get real slippery).

The only problems I have had with the homemade indicators is that occasionally a few fibers come loose and tangle with the leader. I know some people put a little piece of latex glove there, but I haven't tried that yet.

In general, they work well and are far superior to the store bought indicators.

For macame cord, look here:
http://www.carolsrugs.com/fly_fishing_cord.htm
You can even pay with PayPal.

Thanks for the kind comments.

[JUICE]

Alain! Damn! You are so the man. Thanks again for your killer killer non solicited contributions! We really appreciate everything. I hope you get that Z axis sooner rather then later. You deserve it. Just take it easy on the trout, just cause you hold excalibur doesn't mean you have to slay all the dragons.

[JUICE]

Can you e mail me the video? I need that so I can get it up on the site. Thanks again for the instructions I really appreciate what you have done!