In Defence Of The Bobber

THE next writer to lay fingers to keyboard and deride bobbermacators as just a device for detecting bites is going to be due for a wader wedgie of serious proportions. Sometimes it pays to take another moments thought before clicking the send button.

Seriously, I really hate to finger Kirk Deeter for the epic bobber fail but he chose the topic for his article on Midcurrent.com. Deeter is one of the best, most influential and most prolific writers/editors running aroung the blogosphere currently. And is thoughts that there are more ways to fish than just bobber fishing is spoton with the way our guides fish, heck they will drag out drys, streamers or traditional wets whenever the conditions arise. But Deeter’s take on indicators is about as sophisticated as buying a  new suburban and harnessing it to Bessie the plough mule.

 Detecting takes is only a small part of the effectiveness of the bobber system, ask any of our guides. But the key to the effectiveness of the bobber system is the ability to get the flies to the depth where fish are feeding ASAP and deliver the fly fisher, or the guide, the information needed to keep it there.

Basically you can stack enough weight on a bobber rig to get your flies to depth fast, but not give it enough “rope” to let it anchor uselessly to the bottom. Astute indicator watchers will also get plenty of information on drift rate, direction on where the flies are and what they are doing.

Greased leader techniques as Deeter is advocating certainly have their place, and on the right waters it can be dang effective, so can swung wet flies, ask any of our myriad of customers swinging nymph-sized woolies.

Having as many “tricks” as you can in your tackle bag is a dang sure way to catch trout when your favored methods aren’t working or you are hitting unfamiliar waters.