Strike indicator
Also called bobber, nymph indicator, float indicator
A strike indicator is a small float or marker on the leader that shows takes and depth while nymphing. It moves, stalls, dips, or shoots sideways when the flies get bumped or eaten.
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What Strike indicator means
Most indicators are foam, yarn, or a small plastic “bobber” style float that clamps or knots onto the leader. You set it a measured distance above your flies, then watch it drift.
It is mainly used with nymphs and a dead drift. The indicator rides with the current while the flies track below it. Adjusting the indicator up or down changes how deep the rig runs, and moving it is part of dialing in a drift.
Some indicators are built to be easy to move and reuse. Others are meant to land softly for spooky fish. In some nymphing styles, a tight-line sighter replaces a floating indicator.
Why it matters on the water
An indicator gives a clear reference for what the current is doing to your rig. If it drags faster than the bubbles, hesitates in a seam, or ticks in a riffle, it is telling you about slack, drag, and where the weight is hanging up.
Depth control gets simpler. If the indicator never pauses, you may be too shallow. If it is constantly stalling or tipping upstream, you may be snagging bottom or running too much weight. Small changes, an inch here, a split shot there, show up immediately in the drift.
Read next
- Dead driftA dead drift is a drift where the fly moves at the same speed and direction as the current, with no pull from the fly line.
- LeaderThe leader is the clear, tapered line between the fly line and the fly. It turns the fly over and gives you a clean, controlled presentation.
- NymphA nymph is a subsurface fly meant to imitate an aquatic insect in its immature stage, or a small food item drifting in the current. Nymphs are fished with or without weight, an indicator, or tight-line methods.
- Split shotSplit shot are small, pinch-on lead or non-lead weights added to a leader to make a nymph rig sink faster and track deeper.
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