I'm impartial to this topic but I found this:  http://www.westfly.com/feature-article/0011/feature_370.php#tight

"Note: With this tactic, knowing when to strike is an intuition that is developed only with practice. For this reason, tight-line nymphing is more difficult than fishing with an indicator. That's why some anglers reagard it as "more cool." They might catch fewer trout, but they feel smugger about it."

Flyfishing is an art, And theres no wrong or right way to create art. So if you like indicators use em, If you don't like indicators don't use em. Theres no reason to attempt to force ones opinion on others.

To hell with it. I'm getting my ultralight Quantum with the 5' UL Ugly Stick out, grab some clear indicator bubbles, some beadheads and hit the creek! Might even take the bubble off and tightline it thru some pockets! To each his own, my therapist always says.

SK60 wrote:

---

To hell with it. I'm getting my ultralight Quantum with the 5' UL Ugly Stick out, grab some clear indicator bubbles, some beadheads and hit the creek! Might even take the bubble off and tightline it thru some pockets! To each his own, my therapist always says.

---

 Mind if I join ya SK60 I'll bring the tuna stick !

I think it was Shakespeare, or maybe it was Pflueger, who said  "To indicate or not to indicate, that is the question". As an artist I am always looking for inspiration, so thanks to Papaoak for the idea of the -Chick-in-dicator-,sort of like the  hoppicator on the juice. It is in the pipeline.

I gotta see this ! You guys just might be on to somethin here !

The spinning rod idea has been done already. I got my sister into the biggest trout of her life at a spot near Lake Almanor with a rig consisting of a bobber to a pinch on foam indicator to 6x to the fly I tied up (size 14 ugly brown rabbit dub, heavily weighted with a copper rib.)
We had the hot fly that year it looked like a turd. Her fish ran way down the bank and an older gentleman who was flyfishing netted the fish for us. As soon as she had her fish and was reviving it he frantically groped at the net to find the fly. He took it into his hands and looked at me funny and said "You're using THAT!" he immediately left.
I would have given him a couple flies but he was so shocked that his smart wary trout would be so dumb as to take a fly that wasn't even a real pattern that I never got the chance. I have no qualms about using a huge ball of polypro yarn to float my shot if I need to get down quick.

Tie the fly. Drift the fly. Catch the trout. Repeat.

Fishing crowded spots can be pretty much the norm. in this area at this time of year since the options are a bit limited. I am willing to bet most of us fish the lower sstan. american, lower yuba, putah creek, lower sac, did I miss one ? So throughtout the winter time and early spring all these waters are going to have alot of other fishersmen on them so its to be expected these valley waters are no secrets. Anyways for me the "real" game begins the last saturday in april and continues into early november and thats when the secret spots that don't get talked about much are fished.  I guess what I do this time of year is just wait for the sierra season with great anticipation and just get quick day trip fixes for now. And this year is really killin me I cannot wait to get up there for a week at a time and just fish my butt off.  So basicaly no I have never had a "secret" spot ruined by an online forum.

I am new to fly fishing, only been out 4 times with (all on Putah) was shown how to fish with an indicator so that is alll I know for now. I am going to have to go out and learn all these "contrversial" techniques. All I know is I am having a absolute blast fishing this beautiful little creek. If any of you guys see this newbie up there (small South African flag pinned to the side of my hat/cap) I would love any help/advice on more effective indicator techniques and or learning new non-indicator techniques.

Anyway hope to see you guys out on the water.

Cheers