Bobbers Versus Strike Indicators: Is There A Difference?

So, what’s up with strike indicators versus bobbers? Is it price like Fred says... is it the Bowling Green in Victorian England as Joe suggests, or is it potential copyright infringement lawsuits seemed to be implied by the Coeur d'Alene fly shop?

Definitions: Bobber vs Strike Indicator

If we look at the colloquial and common use definitions (as Fred mentions), the traditional "bobber" is the red and white contraption used by everyone from kids to hallmark dock fishers. Bobber usually refers to this traditional piece of equipment used by gear fishermen.

"Strike indicator" usually refers to a more technical piece of fishing gear used by fly fisherman.

However, "strike indicator" is not a single-use word like bobber; this word holds under its umbrella a much larger range of materials and techniques. From the commercial Air Lock Indicators to the more purist approach of "paintint the knots on your leader, or strip the core out of an old eight or nine-weight line"--so how can we tell the difference?

Easy.

In the immortal words of Sir Calvin Fuller, "It's black and white. A bobber floats your presentation and a strike indicator doesn't."

What's The Point Of An Indicator Anyways?

Red and white bobbers are used much like "strike indicators" as that word refers to the Airlock or Thingamabobber. They suspend your bait/weight at a set depth on your line. Either to stay above the weeds on the bottom, or to keep your weighted bait in the honey hole on the lake. And of course when a fish decides that it can’t pass up what you are offering, they also indicate when a fish takes said bait.

So if we are identifying "bobbers" as the larger, red-and-white traditional angling floats, then there is a no real difference between an "airlock strike indicator" and a bobber.

A smaller "traditional bobber" can act as a drag or drift indicator just like an Airlock or a Thingamabobber...  so now, you get to choose which words you prefer, because at this point: they're the same thing. Products labeled "strike indicator" will typically be made with fly fishing in mind and will just be a regular "bobber" that's less damaging to your leader.

Need tippet, leaders or "bobbers?"

Does Size Really Matter?

Traditional strike indicators do what their name suggests, indicate a strike, but this is where traditional definitions get a little dicey because traditional "strike indicators" don't float your presentation in the water column and act more as an aid to actually seeing your line shift with the take. A strike indicator can be made of a myriad of materials and is typically used by fly fishermen. You can make your own yarn indicators, your own fluorescent nail polish indicators, or get more creative.

No matter what option you choose, both will indicate your drift and take. So if you're trying to get the perfect presentation on double nymph rigs, using lines like these, strapping up with a "bobber," but calling it a "strike indicator," could really help you see how those flies are performing in the water column, and keep them at the depth you want them to be.

So now that we’ve educated you to the point of knowledge- you will have just enough information to go out and start an argument. But let’s just get real for a quick second a bobber AND a strike indicator serve one joint purpose to let you know when a fish has picked up what you’re throwin’ down.

If what you are using does that, you can call it a strike indicator, a bobber- or you can call it a cat no matter what, "Fish on."

So... have an opinion? Share it with us in the comments!