Air-Lock Strike Indicators *From Vise to Water*

Air-Lock Indicators:

Euro nymphing setup:

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In this episode of "From Vise to Water," I share my thoughts on Air-Lock strike indicators. These have found a spot in my vest over the last few years, and in this video, I share my favorite sizes, colors, and water types in which to use them.

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[borsey]

Great tutorial Tim. I'm definitely not ashamed to use my Air-Lok system, even though I'm slowly working myself into Czech nymphing. Been using them for over 4 years now & never leave home without them. Thanks Tim!👍

[andrewsadler]

I have some strike indicators that are big air bubbles like that. I started using a size 12 grey wulff instead, because I had a local fish hit the strike indicator. Broke the tippet line. About a half hour later, downstream, I had the strike indicator show back up, nymph still attached, but no fish. Still an astounding memory!

[_JimS]

I'm just now getting into using indicators. Normally I use a tight line nymph but in some water the indicator keeps the fly from snags and losing them all the time on the rocks. I'm new but learning and having a great time and success.

[codywy]

Love air-locks. As you know now they have switched to biodegradable. Good video . Thanks

[pawoodsnwater]

Hi Tim! Good informative video. I’m sure this will help out a lot of guys. I don’t know if you were at the NJ Flyfishing Show, if you were, sorry I missed you. In the last year, I’ve been killing it on an Isonychia nymph, check out either my tying video or my fishing videos. Maybe you can highlight your Isonychia pattern for comparison. In the beginning I used to tye it with a white stripe down the back, but now I feel it’s not necessary, still catching a bunch of fish without it. I’m amazed at how effective it’s been for me from Summer into Winter. Most nymphs I’ve used in the past 40 years have generally been size 16-20, my ISO is size 12, 3x long, awesome seeing that big nymph hanging out a fish’s mouth. Thanks for your videos!

[garybon.]

Glad you did this. These are my favorite indicators to use. Very informative. Thanks!

[rickywykoff]

Great video and very informative!! Thanks!!
I'm going to try these indicators!! I normally use a large dry pattern but I like the way these easily adjust on your line!!

[joeduca]

Thanks Tim, nice system, except for losing the nuts I like it. I like the 90* aspect too, even though that seems a bit more fussy, especially if you're experiencing sausage fingers in the cold. I've used those stick on foam things but my favorite were those pieces of bright hollow fly line that slipped on the leader as an indicator. Hard to find now. Next year I'm using bright leader sections like Arron Jasper uses.

[BeetleBuns]

It's a bobber, plain and simple. There is nothing wrong with that, it's just another way to present the fly and have fun fishing! I like to use them for fishing longer pools and riffles, they give me a really easy-to-see reference of where my fly is, especially since my eyes are garbage.

[termite]

if im fishing 90 degree angle most the day i build a short butt section about 5-6ft long..at the end of that i will blood knot or triple surgeons knot another piece of tippet the same diameter as the butt section ive made..this piece is about a foot long..i then cut almost all of that 12 inches off leaving just a piece about an inch or 2 long..i attach the air lock to that small piece..so you now have your indicator attached to the end of the leader and directly in front of the indictor is the blood knot..then i take a section of tippet usually 5x and length depends how deep your fishing but to attach the tippet i go rite over top of the leader in front of the blood knot and attach this piece with an improved clinch knot that i slide rite up tight to the leader..when u look at it it is a true 90 degree angle..i then attach my 1 or 2 nymphs and usually there weighted...when u hook a fish the tippet cannot slide past the blood knot...works great and casting a mile is super easy..the 90 degree angle using the air lock indy like you showed ive had many fish break off rite there at the lil black cap and it puts a kink in the leader..the great thing about these air locks you didnt mention is that they will NOT MOVE..that to me is extremly important..even if sumone was to use tippet as fine as 7x for sum reason that indicator will not move..i wish they were as light as a thingamabobber but u cant have everything and if they were soft instead of hard they would be more sensative like the thingamabobbers..low gradient rivers is where they shine so you can cover lots of water when fish can be anywhere and everywhere..low clear water of course they will spook every fish near you as there a bit heavy but then of course dry dropper is the way to go..

[calebsmmith]

Hi Mr. Cammisa! Miss math class with you and fly fishing club

[ggyt]

Is it reasonable to use heavy indicator on mid-flex action 6 wt fly rod? Will it cast properly?

[unionseen]

I don't know why, but I couldn't help but notice your coffee mug, are they for sale?

[dannyjett]

Great video Tim. Thanks for sharing. I'm buying aome online as We speak. Those are very neat from what I have used in the past. Thanks again Buddy.

Danny

[flyman]

Call them bobbers because no matter how you may want to sugar coat the name they are still bobbers!  I don't use them for trout nymphing but do use them for PA steelhead. The PA Erie creeks are full of loose shale and without an indicator (aka bobber) it is easy to lose a dozen, or more, flies a day.  I like the clear, or white, most of the time.  But sometimes when the sun is coming up onto the water in October and November I just can't see the clear or white and then go to a 3/4" pink or orange. I bet the Air Lock Indicators have pretty much put the Thingamabobbers out of business.

[christiannilsson]

sorry - full stop - if you are not having FUN try this.and if this isnt not working...

[flyfishny]

My favorite indicator for ease of But they do tend to land heavy and can spook some weiry fish. Your not finding that yourself compared to other indicators especially yarn

[footballfan.]

M8 put the coffee flask down. No one wants one stop embarrassing yourself.