Tips for Big Smallies #8. Strike Indicator

Tips for Big Smallies #8. Strike Indicator

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Smallies can eat and spit a fly so fast, that most bites go undetected, especially when fishing the pre-spawn. After I started using a strike indicator a few years ago, my hookup rate increased dramatically and nowadays I hardly fish without one.

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I like placing the indicator right up against the flyline, and for the most part use a 12-foot 8-pound straight fluorocarbon leader. This set up is used with up stream presentations, either dead drifted or employing a with-the-current retrieve. The bite can be extremely subtle, so if that indicator so much as quiver I will set the hook.

Matt Lourens with a fat smallie caught on a strike indicator rig and home made float tube.
Matt Lourens with a fat smallie caught on a strike indicator rig and home made float tube.

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Surprise catch on the Upper Olifants while fishing a strike indicator rig for smallies
Surprise catch on the Upper Olifants while fishing a strike indicator rig for smallies

2 thoughts on “Tips for Big Smallies #8. Strike Indicator”

  1. Do you gets perhaps know what happened to part 1-5 of this series by Conrad. Can’t find them on the site?

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