This quick video tutorial shows you how to build a coiled mono sighter used in place of a strike indicator when fly fishing with nymphs.
Used in several European nymphing methods, including French Nymphing and Spanish nymphing techniques, a coiled mono sighter greatly increases strike detection.
What’s a Sighter
The concept of a sighter was introduced in our last post on how to build a French / Spanish nymphing leader where we introduced two types of sighters including a coiled mono sighter and a backing sighter.
How-to Make a Coiled Mono Sighter
Making a coiled mono sighter is very easy. There are 3 basic steps:
1. Wrap hard monofilament around a cylindrical shaped object
2. Boiled for 5-minutes
3. Freeze
The heating and cooling cycle sets a coil into the monofilament resulting in what looks like a spring made from monofilament. Watch the video for more details.
How-to Rig a Coiled Sighter
When French nymphing or Spanish nymphing the coiled sighter is typically tied in about midway down the leader. I prefer loop-to-loop connections for ease of use. Alternatively, you might use a Davy Wotton Leader Knot to attach the upper end of the sighter to the butt section of the leader and use a loop-to-loop connection between the sighter and tippet section.
Give It A Try!
You may garner a few strange looks when you whip out your coiled mono sighter stream side and even a few giggles as you begin to fling this thing about. But trust me; the laughing will stop when you start out fishing everyone on the stream!
I guarantee you will be amazed, that is if you are willing to give it a try.
The Beat Goes On
We’re in the home stretch of our European nymphing tutorial . Next up we'll take a look at how to build a backing sighter and then we'll finish out the series with a European nymphing fly rod review – yee haw!
Now stop reading this and go boil some mono!
More FFR Articles on European Nymphing Techniques
Euro Nymphing: Czech Nymphing, French Nymphing, Spanish Nymphing
How-to Build a Czech Nymphing Leader
How-to Rig a 2-Fly Czech Nymphing Setup
How-to Build a French / Spanish Nymphing Leader
How-to Tie a Davy Knot
How-to Make a Backing Sighter for a European Nymphing Rig
How-to Make a European Nymphing Coiled Mono Sighter
European Nymphing Fly Rod Craze or Bandwagon?
Enjoy this article? Subscribe to the Fly Fishing Reporter Newsletter and we’ll keep you up to date on all our latest Fly Fishing Reports, Trip Planning, Gear Talk and How-To articles, as well as our Friday Night Fly Tying Videos.
Related Articles:
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
[...] world of sighters, including two video tutorials to show you how to build a backing sighter and how to build a coiled mono sighter. Lastly, we will conclude this mini-series on European nymphing with a review of fly rods best [...]
[...] to make, a colorful backing sighter makes a great alternative to a coiled monofilament sighter when French nymphing or Spanish nymphing. Inserted midway down your long-line nymphing leader and [...]
[...] set the hook when nymphing Aaron is using a long line Euro nymphing technique. He is even using a coiled mono sighter as a strike indicator. Look closely and you'll see the sighter right where the line enters the [...]
[...] nymphing leader, building a french/spanish nymphing leader, how to make a backing sighter, and how to make a coiled mono sighter amongst other [...]
[...] about 20-inches above the anchor fly. We will discuss how to make and use a backing sighter and coiled sighter in our next few articles on Spanish and French nymphing [...]
[...] FLY FISHING REPORTER~Very Good Info on Preparing a Sighter Coil & Czech Nymphing Rig [...]