indicator set ups

edgeog · #1 (**permalink**) 21-10-2008, 08:31 PM

How much thought do you put into your indicator set ups ?. I was talking to a couple of guys the other week and when i asked what was the reasoning behind there set ups they said "i just clip em on and thats it".So! how much thought and theory do you put into yours ?.
I was fishing a corner bay a few years back and the wind was blowing a hooligan into it,i dropped my baits in the far margin and walked my rods back round,i set up some fox euro swingers on full weight fishing for drop backs,i decided to reposition my baits a couple of hours later and when i picked one of the rods up i wound in some slack line and bent into a fish,it had picked the bait up and dropped back into the deeper water and the strength of the wind just put a bigger bow in my line instead of moving my indicator,lesson learned but problem probably not solved.

daveabbott · #2 (**permalink**) 21-10-2008, 10:05 PM

Think i know what you mean

I use slack lines in open water to try and pin the line to the bottom and prevent spooking fish some times sliding flying backleads down the line to keep things tight to the bottom.

Weed/ snag fishing i tighten up and sometimes fish locked up to prevent the fish geting snaged or in the weed, i dont use backleads or flying backleads to prevent snags and allways have it so the lead falls of on contact.

It depends on the situation really not to sure on the question

edgeog · #3 (**permalink**) 21-10-2008, 10:20 PM

like you said it depends on the situation,i use slack lines myself sometimes but sometimes get a bit paranoid thinking that i might not get good indcation unless i get a screamer.

daws · #4 (**permalink**) 21-10-2008, 10:29 PM

for 90% of my fishing i use fox swingers, most places i fish have pritty flat bottoms with slow drop offs so i try to keep my rod tips as close to the lake bed as i can, i use flying back leads running free but if i know im fishing over a weed bed i use a stop knot to stop the lead flying back to far.
as far as setting up my swingers go, i fish them as light as i can get away with. if it slowly creeps up i simply apply more wieght untill its nicely balanced.
if im cast towards snaggs, all back leads are removed and the reels are locked up, no messin.

edgeog · #5 (**permalink**) 21-10-2008, 10:50 PM

My mate was using backleads one day and when we had a closer look the backleads were hanging midwater and his indicators were just sitting there motionless,if a fish had picked up his bait and not moved off he wouldn't have known,i think it's just so easy to get it wrong.

daws · #6 (**permalink**) 21-10-2008, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgeog

My mate was using backleads one day and when we had a closer look the backleads were hanging midwater and his indicators were just sitting there motionless,if a fish had picked up his bait and not moved off he wouldn't have known,i think it's just so easy to get it wrong.

thats why i need to know what the lake bed looks like, if theres any lumps and bumps the flying back leads can do more harm than good, if your fishing to bars or far margins you realy do have to be careful, using a stop knot 6 to 10 feet from your lead to stop you back lead from flying to far back can make alot of differance.

Hotshot · #7 (**permalink**) 22-10-2008, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgeog

My mate was using backleads one day and when we had a closer look the backleads were hanging midwater and his indicators were just sitting there motionless,if a fish had picked up his bait and not moved off he wouldn't have known,i think it's just so easy to get it wrong.

Backleads were not heavy enough, also when backleading, to avoid fish kiting on a tight line, ensure your indicator has at least a 1" drop, so should the fish kite, the indicator will pull up tight showing movement and giving a few bleeps. When long range fishing, fish a heavy bobbin of around 3-4oz so you can again fish a drop, so it cant kite on a tight line, without you knowing. Just a few mistakes Ive seen many people make over the years, including myself in my early days.

kermit · #8 (**permalink**) 22-10-2008, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daws

i use flying back leads running free but if i know im fishing over a weed bed i use a stop knot to stop the lead flying back to far.

Daws,

I can't really agree with this idea - not sure what rigs you are using, but surely having a knot in your line upstream of your rigs means that there is a chance fish could be left tethered to your end tackle in the event of your main line snapping above the stop knot? Whilst the stop knot slides a little bit, having anything on your line that prevents fish ridding themselves of as much end tackle is not a great idea IMO.

If you want to achieve the same result, but fish more safely, try tying a bit of PVA tape or mesh stocking on your line instead of the stop knot.

Mike.

The Newbie · #9 (**permalink**) 22-10-2008, 08:45 AM

Your problem in the situation you have described is down to your heavy weight on the indicator being set at 2oz. This will make you line like a guitar string and will spook any fish that comes into contact with it. I never use backleads ever if I can help it and the terrain should be a factor if you use them. The weight is for long range fishing as stated by hotshot and should only be used in these circumstances. In this instance I would say the undertow caused the bow.

Most of my fishing is done with slack line unless there is an undertow which will cause big bows in your line and not very helpful. I use 3ft of core with a 20ft flouro leader to add a bit more weight at the buisness end. Added to this is the 4oz lead which will hook any fish on the pick up.

Its horses for courses I'm afraid!

CamoCarper · #10 (**permalink**) 22-10-2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgeog

How much thought do you put into your indicator set ups ?. I was talking to a couple of guys the other week and when i asked what was the reasoning behind there set ups they said "i just clip em on and thats it".So! how much thought and theory do you put into yours ?.
I was fishing a corner bay a few years back and the wind was blowing a hooligan into it,i dropped my baits in the far margin and walked my rods back round,i set up some fox euro swingers on full weight fishing for drop backs,i decided to reposition my baits a couple of hours later and when i picked one of the rods up i wound in some slack line and bent into a fish,it had picked the bait up and dropped back into the deeper water and the strength of the wind just put a bigger bow in my line instead of moving my indicator,lesson learned but problem probably not solved.

How do fella just want to know what you would do differently if put in the same position ?

edgeog · #11 (**permalink**) 22-10-2008, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamoCarper

How do fella just want to know what you would do differently if put in the same position ?

I got it sorted for my 2nd and 3rd fish.I was allready using 4.5 oz leads to hold bottom on the far margin because like i said it was blowing an absolute hooligan into my bay,i added 4oz leads to my allready fully loaded euro swingers (i wasn't using pin down or back leads) and i got slight drop backs and a couple of bleeps.Sometimes you think you've got it bang on,but it ends up needing a few tweeks or you may have it completely wrong,cus there not allways screamers.Like i said in the original question,just wondered how much thought and theory goes into indicator setup's and has anyone learned the hard way.

CamoCarper · #12 (**permalink**) 22-10-2008, 09:58 PM

I think I'm still learning when it comes to fine tuning setups like that but I do sit in the swim for a while thinking how to fish it, ie line lay, flying backleads, captive backleads and how slack or tight I want the line to be, never have liked fishing for back drops, I find myself bobbin watching instead of chilling out reading a good mag.