San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

My right hand has carpal tunnel and it's been painful casting and stripping line for extended periods of time.

I borrowed a technique used by stillwater guys, using a floating line, long mono leader, and break-away strike indicator. The idea was to adjust the leader length below the indicator to fish a depth right above the vegetation/bottom, make one cast, and then just drift while keeping an eye on the strike indicator. The drift, surface wave action, and an occasional line strip, provides the action.

(Leader construction - 12' of 8lb mono to a micro-swivel, 18" of 6lb fluoro tippet, break-away strike indicator - "Plumbobber")

I wanted to use balanced flies so they ride horizontally while suspended vertically from the strike indicator, but didn't have time to tie up those, so used a standard fly (Kreelex) instead, which rode at an upward angle. Fish didn't seem to mind too much, but the balanced fly would probably look more natural.

Yes, this is essentially bobber fishing, but the key difference is the break-away strike indicator. Once the fish is hooked, the indicator slides down to the fly so you don't have to land the fish with 12' or more of leader outside the rod tip.

Tried it this Sunday and the spotties approved; it cut down the amount of casting and stripping and gave my hand/wrist a break.

Great work. We have been using indicators in the bay sometimes for over ten years and I wrote my first article about the technique back in 2017. As you have found, it works pretty well at times. Fun too.

Some local fly fishing guides have also used the technique. We all started playing with this method in the salt independently.

I like to tie my flies for this technique on Wapsi Super Jig Heads in the 1/64 and 1/48oz sizes. These can be cast with an 8wt line. You can buy them online are locally at Stroud Tackle. I also tie on 60 degree jig hooks weighted with dumbbell eyes.

Hareline makes a weight called an “Insta Jig Head” that is supposed to convert a jig hook into a (somewhat] balanced fly. I bought small zip ties from Home Depot and will try using them to move dumbbell eyes forward of the hook eye on a 60 deg jig hook.

Tailingloop, what brand strike indicator is that in your pic?

The indicator is an "Under-Cator" from Sierra Drifters Guide Service.

https://sierradrifters.com/product/unde ... indicator/

We have them at Stroud Tackle.

For the bay and local lakes they work pretty will with a fixed amount of leader below them. The leader can be wrapped around the threaded plug and tightened down against the O-ring. Or the leader can be threaded through a hole in the stem. They are not indicators that slip on the strike they so don't work as well with long leaders in the bay. In lakes for trout you can put the leader through the hole and very lightly tighten it down and then when you crank the indicator to the rod tip top just continue to crank and the leader comes through. However this doesn't work so well with the more energetic casts needed for saltwater fishing since the cast causes the indicator to slip down the line.

Hareline has two products called "Instajigs". The original teardrop shaped tungsten bead which is put on the hook first before tying on materials. The newer product is the "Instajig 2.0" which can be clipped onto the front of any fly that has already been tied. Piece of wire with a loop on each end goes through the weight. One loop. clips to the fly and the leader is tied to the other loop. Hareline sent us some samples which I tried. Neat Idea. They seem to be more effective when used with unweighted or lightly weighted patterns tied on a standard "J" shaped hook compared using a angled jig hook. I'm still trying to figure out the best uses for them. So far in the bays, I have like using them in front of unweighted bend back style patterns that slide through the eel grass.

I'm not sure how I feel about a bobber for bay fishing. When I use one for trout I have to go to confession afterwards...

CaptJoel wrote: Fri Aug 23, 2024 1:32 pm I'm not sure how I feel about a bobber for bay fishing. When I use one for trout I have to go to confession afterwards...

Ha!

It's a useful technique too when inflammation in the shoulders makes casting any gear painful. Less casting.