I've said it before, but this set up has made such a huge difference to my fishing success, especially on the Tongariro, but in many other rivers and streams as well, so glad I learned it from you 🤙
Try synthetic poly yarn instead of wool for a more buoyant and longer lasting indicator buddy... Also using green or yellow makes picking it out of foam lines easier, especially in the smaller sizes and low light... Another trick I showed Andrew Harding was soaking Tongariro style indicators in heated Muscilin (3mins microwave) and combing out the excess with wire brush or Velcro and popping them into your box, they out-perform normal wool indicators twice their size and float like a cork all day.
Master Class. You're not only a great angler but an ambassador for the sport you love. Very informative video. I'll have to watch it 10 times to get it right!
It is good to go back to your videos and look at your how to make up a leader for the different fishing situations or knots and flys ect. Great stuff. Thank you for your valuable videos.
I may have written this before, can’t remember, I use Alaskan Malamute wool from my doggoes here. First, nice clean sheep wool is hard to find even if there is a herd of the buggers down the road. Second, Malamute wool is abundant especially in the spring shed - easy 10 years supply in one good grooming session. Third, make sure it’s the undercoat wool, not the over and course guard coat. The undercoat wool from the belly, flanks and shoulders has oily-like properties of repelling water so don’t wash it! Fourth, it’s brilliant white! So, it’s dense to protect vital organs from the cold. Comes off in perfect clumps at the right time in Spring and fall shed. Water repellant, sits high in the water and It floats better than a cork! It has worked flawlessly for me here in Alberta.
One of your best videos yet! Keen to work on the South Westland rivers nearby. One question: what was the distance between your fly line and indicator. Thanks again.
Alex my pal . I like that the reel matches the hat .. WAY TO GO BUDDY.. BUT WHAT THE HELL OR WHERE ARE THE FISH .. MAN.. I HEARD LOT OF TALK... IT WAS GREAT.. ALL THE BEST BRO .. BOB .. JUST PLAYING AROUND WITH YA...
I would have such a hard time casting with a leader that long. It would just pile up for me 😔 But huge thanks for the indicator advice!!! Had a Lot of problems with it sinking.
1.5x the depth of the water. So if ur fishing a 1ft pool, put 1.5ft of tippet below the indicator. If it’s 6ft deep, put 9ft below the indicator (for example). Note: if the water is rly fast consider using a larger heavier fly and/or longer leader Bc the flies won’t have as much time to sink. However If the water is slower you should still use the 1.5x the water depth rule. Bc the indicator is always ahead of ur flies so the longer the leader the more likely the flies will get snagged and if the leader is too short in slow deep water, the indicator will just pull the flies off the bottom. Hope this helps
What pound tippet? I have heard you mention 7 lb in past. Do you have any rule of thumb on selecting? I'm in Colorado and will go to 3 wt rod for smaller water. Would you stick with same lb tippet on lighter rig?
Usually I don’t go much lighter than 4X (6lb) but sometimes down to 5X (5 ish lb) I tend to fish as heavy as I can get away with….I can’t comment on your water as I have no idea the size of the fish u are fishing for and the rigs needed to do so
Great vid! I’d like to try this rig out on rivers on the east coast US. Also. What nippers are those? I haven’t managed to find nippers with large enough finger holes.
Hey Alex, awesome info, love the videos and content, your one cool dude who knows his shit! I was just wondering if you have any problems with the loop on the 1X cutting into the loop on the fly line! I usually just use a foot of 20lb nylon and then step down with fluoro from there.
@TrippinOnTrout thanks for the reply... I have another question.. what would you say or recommend as a good all rounder rod.. dry fly and streamer fishing as well.. do you like a floating line for streamers in the typical type of river we see you fish in?? Or a sink tip... and does leader material matter from dry fly fishing to streamers?? Do you use mono .. or fluro for both?