Tandem Indicators?

[Travis C.]

Anyone ever use indicators this way?

If so, how do you set them up and is it really more effective?

[Rockyraccoon]

One of my buddies used to fish super heavy nymphs and shot, and use two indicators. One of them would sit at about a foot deep while the second would float. We called it "suspendicating". 

[countryflyfisher]

I knew a few guides on the San Juan that use this technique. They claimed they could read the 2 indicators to see how good of a drift they were getting and how to mend to keep the 2 indicators side by side. I ve never tried it so I want say if it is or isn t worth it

[MikeA]

I see travis do it too. He says he can see the drift better too but I'm pretty sure he's really just fishing two rigs. 

[grumpy]

One of my drinking fishing partners will use 3 When the first one moves, he'll look, when the 2nd one moves, he'll see where to set his beer & if the 3rd one moves, he'll set the beer down & catch the fish

Grumpy

[Steve H]

One of my drinking fishing partners will use 3 When the first one moves, he'll look, when the 2nd one moves, he'll see where to set his beer & if the 3rd one moves, he'll set the beer down & catch the fish

Grumpy

Admiral?

[Steve H]

Along those lines Grumpy, Gordie is my strike indicator  , whenever he goes to sip, drink, crack a brew, damn if a fish doesn't hit his fly. 

[TWiles]

Two tufts of treated McFly Foam about 1 ft apart.  I first heard John Wilson describe this technique, and I've found it very effective.
Usually, the lead indicator will shift slightly upstream on a subtle take...SET! you'll catch the strike seconds before the indicator sinks.
This really helps in swift choppy water, where the fish will take then spit the fly before you know what hit it.  Especially on rivers like the Watauga.

TW

[Seth]

Travis C.

I haven't tried the technique myself but I have seen it explained in a YouTube video. As I understand it two indicators of different colors are rigged about 6" apart on the leader. The instructor of the technique claimed that one could be assured that his drift was drag-free if the tip-most indicator was downstream of the other.

In other words, If you rig a yellow indicator closest to the fly and an orange indicator closest to the reel you know that your drift is drag-free if the orange indicator is upstream of the yellow.

In my opinion the method has some merit in some situations but is hardly foolproof. I could not find a link to the video.