YSF Forever Strike Indicator

YSF Forever Strike Indicator

"YSF Strike Indicator" as illustrated by "YellowStoneFly" for the "Idaho Fly Fishers Blog" was not an original design by YSF. It was discussed some years ago in a fly fishing magazine which I probably read on a trip while flying somewhere. I am therefore very sorry that I cannot give credit to the original designer, but I can tell you I have used them extensively over the years and have found that they indeed do last forever as long as your leader does not break above the indicator--which would be very rare.

Click to enlarge to see the anatomy of coaxial cable.

I have, however, discovered multiple other Idaho fly fishing uses for the remaining parts of the coaxial cable which you may find interesting. "Waste not, want not" (1772 Wesley Letter 10 Aug.) means that if you don't waste things, you are less likely to end up lacking in the catching of fish. One of the fun aspects of fly fishing Idaho and other places is that you can find multiple uses for things that you used to throw away; like my dog's undercoat which falls onto the carpet this time of year and makes great dubbing for flies. Use your imagination! I will describe the uses I have found for the various parts of the coaxial cable in later blog posts. So check back to our blog post retrieval page often--better yet save it under your favorites or bookmark for quick reference or sign up as a follower of our blog or to have post emailed directly to you as they are posted (leave your email address in the box directly below the revolving globe in the right hand column). Here goes. Take note.

Cut a piece of cable 1 1/2" in length.

Slit rubber outer jacket lengthwise taking care
not to cut deeper structures.

Begin removing layers.

To remove aluminum tape shield, slit superficailly
with knife and peel back (avoid cutting
deeply). Do not cut into foam core!

To remove copper wire, push in with needle nose pliers on
one end and pull out the other. All 5 layers pictured here
can be used for fly fishing projects (to be discussed
in future blog posts).

Cut a toothpick 3/4" in length.

Place leader (at desired fly depth) through indicator and
insert toothpick TOWARD THE FLY.

Your "YSF Forever Strike Indicator" is now ready for use. It will last forever and you can easily change the depth of your nymph simply by removing the toothpick and sliding the indicator. The only drawback to this indicator is that if you are fly fishing Idaho with a really heavy fly, the indicator will sink. But that is the case with any indicator. THIS IS THE BEST CASTING INDICATOR I HAVE EVER USED--IT CUTS RIGHT THROUGH THE WIND. It is still highly visible below the surface though. For future blog posts, use the rubber outer jacket for stonefly or salmon fly wings, the braided wire for really cool epoxy streamers, the aluminum tape shield for tinsel shank bodies on salmon flies (shiny side out), and the copper wire core for weighting large streamers like the wooly bugger. The foam core is the ticket for nymph fly fishing in Idaho and success. 

Come fly fish Idaho soon. Try some of the suggestions given above for the coaxial cable / Idaho fly fishing connection. We'll see you fly fishing the Bull or Moyie this spring.

IdahoAngler@live.com

Royal Wulff

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