Cool man - this sort of instructional video is what the TV shows are all missing these days. Its nice to watch guys catch fish all day but we all want to get better at what we are doing, so this helps greatly.
Yep - the NZ strike indicator does my head in. I just cant seem to get them to work - now determined to get it right. Also need to go fence picking for wool!
I loved the way you showed how to hang onto the line when tying the half blood knot, when tying on the fly, so quick and easy. On many occasions I find myself too lazy to change a fly, not anymore.
Don't normally comment but this indicator instruction is exactly what I've been trying to find. Also enjoy the fishing videos. Managed to make it to NZ on a business trip a few years ago and managed a day fly fishing with a local guide who insisted we use his ultra light rigs. I hooked four fish but the trout seemed to be on steroids; didn't land a single fish.
I've gotta say I've held off on using nz trout indicators for a while. Used it today using your method and wondering why the hell I didn't try it sooner. Best indicator rig I've ever used. Love it, THANK YOU!
Have always used NZ Strike Indicator. Lost count of the times a fish has tried to eat my bit of wool! The video was fascinating. You are a good teacher. The pace was great and everything was totally clear. More like this.
Best advice I've seen for NZ indicator fishing. 👍 Will now be checking barbed wire fences for the best wool and tying the clinch knot better! Thankyou!
Trout Hunting NZ you have really good information in your videos you don't talk crap just pure information that is to the point iv learn a lot from your videos thank you you should do the bait camera videos that would be cool
Cool, thanks. Just brought a whole bunch of sheeps wool back to Australia this afternoon after visiting a farm in Queenstown. Customs in Australia were OK with it. Will try this as my indicators.
Great Video. Ive been wanting to use this style of indicators but didn't have to much knowledge about it but i will no be picking up the supplies for this style for now on love the more natural style. Keep up the videos like such.
Thanks for explaining your system! I haven't found an indicator that I like, and so don't typically use them. This looks vastly better to the options I've tried.
Just watched the indicator section, and I use the same setup but the natural wool and incorporation of an extra colour are game changers! As is the tip for longer tubing, the indicator sliding around is a problem I've always faced! Thanks heaps mate!
Interesting video. I'm an expat who used to nymph fish around Canterbury. My bible back then was 'Trout with Nymph' by Tony Orman which I still have. Unfortunately no trout in Queensland.....
I'm watching this every couple of weeks along with you and Trippin with Trout video's to keep me enthused for my first trip to NZ in March 2022. Love your work and if I can afford it I'd love to be able to get a day on the river with you to show me some tricks. Currently practising my casting with my new second-hand Scott-Radian 6W. Fingers crossed! & keep up the great work :-)
There are some good reasons for using larger yarn indicators. It isn't for increased buoyancy. It's so that you have some height and can see the angle of the indicator, which tells you the angle of the portion of your tippet and leader that is underwater. It's useful in cases where you are going for a longer drift.. Short drift, use short yarn. Long drift, use a tall yarn.
The timing of this was crazy. The day it came out I was like... "eh, I'm not going to watch it..." and then the next I was like "I have a fly fishing trip planned... How do I even do it?"
@@TroutHuntingNZ a surprise trip to yellowstone. It's my understanding that nymphs are a big part of the ecosystem there too. After my credit card recovers I'll try NZ.
Hey, great video. I have learnd a lot. Can you tell me the diameter of the plastic tube, because it is hard to get the new zealand strike indicator tool here in Slovenia, so I will try to make it by may self 🙋♂️👍
Cheers Gareth, awesome vid, learning so much as a first time fresh water fisho. Cant wait to get onto some of the local rivers after fishing nz coast for over 40 years. Good old nz sheep wool... Cool
here in newf the plastic little strike indicator bobber is quite common.. it sux to cast I never enjoyed it.. i gave it up and just drifted the nymphs haha.. gonna have to try some newfoundland sheep wool for sure!
Hi there. I am an absolute beginner/newcomer to trout fishing, based in Taumarunui. Could you please explain how you tie or attach the indicator to the main line? It would be great to see the whole rig. Cheers and thanks in advance, I'm going to my neighbour for some sheeps wool!
@@TroutHuntingNZ Yeah thanks man. It just looks as though if there was sufficient strain on the line from a fish then the indicator would pop right off. Obviously this is not the case because it's what works for you but as I say, I'm a beginner, trying to make sense of it all. Cheers.
I have found that wool is best plucked from a freshly-shagged sheep...hey, might as well while you’re back there huh? Unrelated question: I am in the market for a fresh pair of polaroids,(an escaping sheep stood on the last pair) any recommendations?
Good to see this type of info video Gareth. Slightly off topic a bit, but do you use barbless hooks all the time. Obviously easier to release but do the fish tend to stay on as well as a conventional hook. Keep up the good work ... great videos.
One thing you might try is tying a small loop knot to your bottom fly . It gives the fly a lot more movement and seems to really attract the fish. Give it a try you will be surprised. Enjoyed the video. The challenge in the US will be to find real untreated sheeps wool. ~ JAK
haha cheers mate. i have used that Knot before and i found it definitely works on streamers but didn't really notice a difference on nymphs. maybe i should give it another go. good luck on the wool hunt.
Top video there Garath, very informative. Ive just recently gone away from the traditional clip on the fly line style indicator to this application, so much better!! Being able to slide the indicator up and down to dish different water depths properly is brilliant. Just wondered what sort of floatant you treat your indicators with? Soaked in floatant over night or just a smidge of dry fly floatant on the day.. ? Cheers, Sam
Very useful, but you left out one obvious thing. Where do you put the indicator in relation to the nymph? What I'm asking is how do you judge where to put the indicator given that water depth varies constantly? Look forward to hearing from you.
Great video with some common sense ideas. Found the uni-knot a lot better to use on leader to fly with better knot strength. Also, you can easily slide it loose again if you need to. Great for wet fly streamers too as you can leave a small loop at the eye of the fly. It'll slide up to the hook eye when playing a fish but can easily be loosened off again later.
Hey Gareth. Do you use the chromapop smith lenses in your shades? Which do you find the most versatile for trout fishing? I recently bought the chromapop + ignitors and love them
Don't know if you've mentioned it in another video, at least I couldn't find it when I looked for it, but which is the most common leader and tippet setup in NZ during the summer? Here in Sweden I usually use a 9 foot X5 nylon leader with two or three feet of X6 FC tippet onto a single dry fly. Or even thinner if the fish is easily spooked.
I use a similar indicator but I'm a tight arse. I buy those loom bands from the $2 shop and an old ball point pen cartridge. Put a loop of line up the pen so it sticks out the top then twist the loom bands round the pen body like you're tying up a kids hair, slip the wool in the loop then slide the band off the pen. Pull gently on both sides of the line to tighten it all up and you're done.
Only thing I do differently and you might want to try it out is I'll tie on my heavy nymph about 1.5x the water depth with the clinch knot and plan for about 1 foot tag end which I'll tie the other lighter nymph to. Works well for me.
The clinch knot loop tip was great. Thanks Gareth When do you decide to use level vs. tapered leaders? Also do you use a heavier butt section near your loop to loop connection for better casting?
hi mate generally if i am just going to be nymphing i fish level. a thicker butt section is good to have but not essential specially if you fishing close range. cheers
Awesome video man!! I will definitely be trying that out when I move to nz in afew months would you have a recommendation on a rod and reel set up for a beginner?
Hey mate thanks a lot. I appreciate that. Look the up LOOP Q rods very good for there price tag. And an Evotech reel (bulletproof) or ECHO does some really good combo deals.
Trout Hunting NZ thanks man I will sus them out! Again love the videos I am currently traveling Asia and watch your weekly videos while on the road they make me so keen to get over there and hook into some fish keep it up dude! 🤙
I'm relatively new to fly fishing and I've began to use vintage gear and vintage fly patterns but I like to use strike indicators but the problem I'm having is I'm not sure when strike indicators were first being used or if they had them 60+ years ago if you know anything about that it would be a huge help
The common belief is that the strike indicator was invented by George Edward MacKenzie Skues between the years 1858 and 1949. No exact date is listed but Skues is considered to be the father of nymph imitations and had suggested using sheep's wool to better see takes. So using an indicator would not ruin the vintage vibe and you could use a New Zealand Style Indicator since it uses natural sheep's wool instead of synthetics for even more historical accuracy.
Cool vid. Something I've been trying here In the UK for some variety to our usual Euro nymph style. Just curious why you tie nymph to another nymphs hook bend. Do you prefer this over tying a dropper?
Gareth - where do you get your fly fishing supplies from in New Zealand? Moving from Europe to the South of NZ in a month and been wondering what the best online shop is for supplies :)
Great video mate, i have one question for you that I hope you can answer. What sort of distance would you have between your top fly and your indicator? If you were fishing approx 2m deep river what would it be? If you were fishing 0.5m what would it be?
Hey mate I normally try and set it so I am slightly deeper then the bottom or where I think the fish will be. Probably 1 ft deeper 200-300mm. as the leader will never be in a direct straight line to the fly, unless in a lake
I've been nymph fishing for 40 years. I promise. If you use black colored material. You will see it wonderfully in any light type you will ever see on any water at any time of year.
Can I ask why you use an indicator for fly fishing? We just strike when a fish hits you cos ur line goes tight and u just lift up, don’t understand why you need the indicator
Tried it and found it caused more tangles than alternatives. No doubt I will be told I was doing it all wrong and they bright be right but the upshot of it all was it was easiest for me to use ready made ones that I could nclip on and off.
Cool man - this sort of instructional video is what the TV shows are all missing these days. Its nice to watch guys catch fish all day but we all want to get better at what we are doing, so this helps greatly.
Thanks mate I really appreciate that. Hope you got something from the video.
Yep - the NZ strike indicator does my head in. I just cant seem to get them to work - now determined to get it right. Also need to go fence picking for wool!
Hi mate yeah use Flotent on them aswell. But there material sucks. Try that wool. Shearing season is coming.
Fantastic. Jumped on the tube to see if I could find a basic set up as a very average beginner. Exactly what I needed. Thanks.
I loved the way you showed how to hang onto the line when tying the half blood knot, when tying on the fly, so quick and easy. On many occasions I find myself too lazy to change a fly, not anymore.
That was the big tip for me too. Usually have to take off my glasses...
Don't normally comment but this indicator instruction is exactly what I've been trying to find. Also enjoy the fishing videos. Managed to make it to NZ on a business trip a few years ago and managed a day fly fishing with a local guide who insisted we use his ultra light rigs. I hooked four fish but the trout seemed to be on steroids; didn't land a single fish.
This changed my game. As a very novice fly fisher found this super helpful! Cheers mate.
Also when you said on a comment below about “hydro stop” would a silicone spray on the wool do the same/similar job??
yip that will do. cheers mate
I've gotta say I've held off on using nz trout indicators for a while. Used it today using your method and wondering why the hell I didn't try it sooner. Best indicator rig I've ever used. Love it, THANK YOU!
Have always used NZ Strike Indicator. Lost count of the times a fish has tried to eat my bit of wool!
The video was fascinating. You are a good teacher. The pace was great and everything was totally clear. More like this.
thanks mate appreciate it
Wow what a great vid give us more of this.The fishing vids of Taupo area is great thanks.Keep them coming.
thanks mate. will do
Best advice I've seen for NZ indicator fishing. 👍 Will now be checking barbed wire fences for the best wool and tying the clinch knot better! Thankyou!
Trout Hunting NZ you have really good information in your videos you don't talk crap just pure information that is to the point iv learn a lot from your videos thank you
you should do the bait camera videos that would be cool
Cool, thanks. Just brought a whole bunch of sheeps wool back to Australia this afternoon after visiting a farm in Queenstown. Customs in Australia were OK with it. Will try this as my indicators.
wow cool dident think the would let tht in but sweet
Loved the indicator show. I'm coming to NZ in March 23 on an Orvis spansored trip. Can't wait 😁
YESSS HERE WE GO!!! Really needed this info, glad i got it from you! Cheers!
Thanks man appreciate. Hope you got something from the video.
Good low-key, informative, presentation. I could see myself fishing with you back in the day. Be well.
Cheers mate appreciate it
Great video mate. Always interesting to see how others go about with setups
thanks mate
Man my son and I have been hang'n out for this info. Thanks dude
no worries mate hope you catch a couple more fish..
Great Video. Ive been wanting to use this style of indicators but didn't have to much knowledge about it but i will no be picking up the supplies for this style for now on love the more natural style. Keep up the videos like such.
cheers mate glad u got something out of it
Awesome. Thanks dude. Connected a few dots for sure. I'll be looking out for fence wool from now on! Thanks
Good luck on the wool hunt.
Thanks for explaining your system! I haven't found an indicator that I like, and so don't typically use them. This looks vastly better to the options I've tried.
Awesome. These instructional ones are great. Great job.
cheers buddy.
Nice instructional video. Well done and appreciated by your followers.
Great video! People are scared to teach this stuff. This kind of content helps the community grow.
Just watched the indicator section, and I use the same setup but the natural wool and incorporation of an extra colour are game changers! As is the tip for longer tubing, the indicator sliding around is a problem I've always faced!
Thanks heaps mate!
Interesting video. I'm an expat who used to nymph fish around Canterbury. My bible back then was 'Trout with Nymph' by Tony Orman which I still have. Unfortunately no trout in Queensland.....
Cheers mate yeah not many trout there.
Cheers mate yeah not many trout there.
I'm watching this every couple of weeks along with you and Trippin with Trout video's to keep me enthused for my first trip to NZ in March 2022. Love your work and if I can afford it I'd love to be able to get a day on the river with you to show me some tricks. Currently practising my casting with my new second-hand Scott-Radian 6W. Fingers crossed! & keep up the great work :-)
How did your trip go mate??
Awesome video. Can you do video on how much tippet you add to leader and what type of leaders and tippets you use
There are some good reasons for using larger yarn indicators. It isn't for increased buoyancy. It's so that you have some height and can see the angle of the indicator, which tells you the angle of the portion of your tippet and leader that is underwater. It's useful in cases where you are going for a longer drift.. Short drift, use short yarn. Long drift, use a tall yarn.
The timing of this was crazy.
The day it came out I was like... "eh, I'm not going to watch it..." and then the next I was like "I have a fly fishing trip planned... How do I even do it?"
cool bro. let me know how the trip goes
@@TroutHuntingNZ a surprise trip to yellowstone. It's my understanding that nymphs are a big part of the ecosystem there too.
After my credit card recovers I'll try NZ.
Great system, We have far fewer sheep in Oregon, but I know a spot...going to stop by and get my fence pulled wool tonight.
cheers mate good luck on the wool hunt.
Hey, great video. I have learnd a lot. Can you tell me the diameter of the plastic tube, because it is hard to get the new zealand strike indicator tool here in Slovenia, so I will try to make it by may self 🙋♂️👍
Excellent stuff - thanks so much, really appreciate you taking the time to share. Look forward to more.
Cheers Gareth, awesome vid, learning so much as a first time fresh water fisho. Cant wait to get onto some of the local rivers after fishing nz coast for over 40 years. Good old nz sheep wool... Cool
here in newf the plastic little strike indicator bobber is quite common.. it sux to cast I never enjoyed it.. i gave it up and just drifted the nymphs haha.. gonna have to try some newfoundland sheep wool for sure!
cool bro let me know how it goes.
Thanks for doing this video Gazza was pretty funny in parts. Definitely going to try the indicator next time I go out.
Dude you are a supper big inspiration too me and my channel “on the fly with Jacob” keep those videos coming my man been missing the daily post!
Hi there. I am an absolute beginner/newcomer to trout fishing, based in Taumarunui. Could you please explain how you tie or attach the indicator to the main line? It would be great to see the whole rig. Cheers and thanks in advance, I'm going to my neighbour for some sheeps wool!
This video that shows it is best I can. My indicator is always attached to the leader with the tubing. Never to the fly line
@@TroutHuntingNZ Yeah thanks man. It just looks as though if there was sufficient strain on the line from a fish then the indicator would pop right off. Obviously this is not the case because it's what works for you but as I say, I'm a beginner, trying to make sense of it all. Cheers.
Excellent instruction! Thank you
I have found that wool is best plucked from a freshly-shagged sheep...hey, might as well while you’re back there huh?
Unrelated question: I am in the market for a fresh pair of polaroids,(an escaping sheep stood on the last pair) any recommendations?
Good to see this type of info video Gareth. Slightly off topic a bit, but do you use barbless hooks all the time. Obviously easier to release but do the fish tend to stay on as well as a conventional hook.
Keep up the good work ... great videos.
hi mate i do most of the time. i honestly do not notice a difference in lost fish with barb vs barbless.
One thing you might try is tying a small loop knot to your bottom fly . It gives the fly a lot more movement and seems to really attract the fish. Give it a try you will be surprised. Enjoyed the video. The challenge in the US will be to find real untreated sheeps wool. ~ JAK
haha cheers mate. i have used that Knot before and i found it definitely works on streamers but didn't really notice a difference on nymphs. maybe i should give it another go. good luck on the wool hunt.
Awesome vid Gareth.... love to see other NZ techy type vids... maybe also how you fish lakes (if you do fish them)... ‘Choice bro’ from Oz 👍
cheers mate, i dont really fish lakes but i still want to and will film it when i do
Nice to see the rig used. Thanks for the vid
Top video there Garath, very informative. Ive just recently gone away from the traditional clip on the fly line style indicator to this application, so much better!! Being able to slide the indicator up and down to dish different water depths properly is brilliant. Just wondered what sort of floatant you treat your indicators with? Soaked in floatant over night or just a smidge of dry fly floatant on the day.. ?
Cheers,
Sam
hi mate. the synthetic stuff i treat in hydro stop and the just gink them up on the day aswell
i even gink the wool as well.
Very useful, but you left out one obvious thing. Where do you put the indicator in relation to the nymph? What I'm asking is how do you judge where to put the indicator given that water depth varies constantly? Look forward to hearing from you.
Looks like fuel line tubing for small 2stroke engine. Soft and flexible.
Great vid love your vids and would love to see more how to stuff
Hi mate. That content is coming, any suggestions for a topic?
Trout Hunting NZ a video on how to read the river, where and how to fish different areas would be great
thats a great idea, ill put that one in the book. cheers
Great video with some common sense ideas. Found the uni-knot a lot better to use on leader to fly with better knot strength. Also, you can easily slide it loose again if you need to. Great for wet fly streamers too as you can leave a small loop at the eye of the fly. It'll slide up to the hook eye when playing a fish but can easily be loosened off again later.
Bro you deserve more than 8k subs I just subbed and I love your videos. Keep working hard and I believe that you will hit 100k subs one day.
He is almost there.
Love a good guide with proper pronunciations
Exactly what i was after bro, hit the nail on the head 🤘
Hey Gareth. Do you use the chromapop smith lenses in your shades? Which do you find the most versatile for trout fishing? I recently bought the chromapop + ignitors and love them
i think the chroma pop brown is defintly the most veritle. but i mainly just wear grey lenses or water ever looks cool. hahaha
Hola esto se puede usar para pescar con perdigones?gracias
Excelente video
Don't know if you've mentioned it in another video, at least I couldn't find it when I looked for it, but which is the most common leader and tippet setup in NZ during the summer? Here in Sweden I usually use a 9 foot X5 nylon leader with two or three feet of X6 FC tippet onto a single dry fly. Or even thinner if the fish is easily spooked.
hi mate my go 2 is a 12ft 6lb taper leader with a few feet of 6lb tippet added to the end. so about 15ft long
Trout Hunting NZ thanks a million mate. That’s down sized from what I thought and I like that. But you don’t taper from the leader to the tippet?
Sup bro! You should add this too your educational playlist so its easier to come across 😋 nice vid
I use a similar indicator but I'm a tight arse. I buy those loom bands from the $2 shop and an old ball point pen cartridge. Put a loop of line up the pen so it sticks out the top then twist the loom bands round the pen body like you're tying up a kids hair, slip the wool in the loop then slide the band off the pen. Pull gently on both sides of the line to tighten it all up and you're done.
How many millimeters does the tube they use have on the inner side?
What floatant do you recommend for the indicator?
Loon
Just watched this video. Really good, Mr Trout Hunting NZ.
Only thing I do differently and you might want to try it out is I'll tie on my heavy nymph about 1.5x the water depth with the clinch knot and plan for about 1 foot tag end which I'll tie the other lighter nymph to. Works well for me.
The clinch knot loop tip was great. Thanks Gareth
When do you decide to use level vs. tapered leaders?
Also do you use a heavier butt section near your loop to loop connection for better casting?
hi mate generally if i am just going to be nymphing i fish level. a thicker butt section is good to have but not essential specially if you fishing close range. cheers
Great detail explanation thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Awesome video man!! I will definitely be trying that out when I move to nz in afew months would you have a recommendation on a rod and reel set up for a beginner?
Hey mate thanks a lot. I appreciate that. Look the up LOOP Q rods very good for there price tag. And an Evotech reel (bulletproof) or ECHO does some really good combo deals.
Trout Hunting NZ thanks man I will sus them out!
Again love the videos I am currently traveling Asia and watch your weekly videos while on the road they make me so keen to get over there and hook into some fish keep it up dude! 🤙
interested you fish a straight through leader your thought on a tapered leader
I have the NZ Strike Indicator setup, but it only has thin tubing-where do you find the thicker tubing?
I haven’t watch the full video but I can safely ashore it’s great
cheers mate.
Have you ever tried Alpaca or Llama wool? I know where there's a lot of it but didn't think about grabbing any until now.
where would you recommend buying the wool you use?
Caught my first salmon on this line with a new pole. I’m a happy guy
Excellent. Wish I'd known that when i was there.!
bugger. next time maybe.
Yeah. Deffo. Had some great fishing on the Tongariro. South Island brownies...different beasts. Would love to see you go after them
Lovely clear video. Should be pretty easy to readjust the indicator depth too
Thanks, that's a really helpful video :)
Were do you buy the thick tubing from
I'm relatively new to fly fishing and I've began to use vintage gear and vintage fly patterns but I like to use strike indicators but the problem I'm having is I'm not sure when strike indicators were first being used or if they had them 60+ years ago if you know anything about that it would be a huge help
The common belief is that the strike indicator was invented by George Edward MacKenzie Skues between the years 1858 and 1949. No exact date is listed but Skues is considered to be the father of nymph imitations and had suggested using sheep's wool to better see takes. So using an indicator would not ruin the vintage vibe and you could use a New Zealand Style Indicator since it uses natural sheep's wool instead of synthetics for even more historical accuracy.
Great video.. Thank you very much!
No worry’s
I use wool indicators, putty, and pimp indicators, depending on the situation or where in fishing
Nice vid! could make same video about your camera / filming stuff!?
good idea mate. ill put that one in the book . cheers
Cool vid. Something I've been trying here In the UK for some variety to our usual Euro nymph style. Just curious why you tie nymph to another nymphs hook bend. Do you prefer this over tying a dropper?
Gareth - where do you get your fly fishing supplies from in New Zealand? Moving from Europe to the South of NZ in a month and been wondering what the best online shop is for supplies :)
hi mate www.tauporodandtackle.co.nz/ is a good place to start
Thanks for the tips! Much appreciated!
no worries glad you enjoyed it
definitely more vids like this
Very helpful👍
Great video mate, i have one question for you that I hope you can answer.
What sort of distance would you have between your top fly and your indicator? If you were fishing approx 2m deep river what would it be? If you were fishing 0.5m what would it be?
Hey mate I normally try and set it so I am slightly deeper then the bottom or where I think the fish will be. Probably 1 ft deeper 200-300mm. as the leader will never be in a direct straight line to the fly, unless in a lake
What kind of floatant do you use on your sheeps wool.
Chris L , lanolin!
Sheep's wool off the fence the best product at the best price thanks for sharing.
Hey Gareth, what's the general rule of length from indicator to first fly?
Depending on the speed of the water, about 1.5 - 2x water depth
So so helpful brother. Thank you so much
Great indicator I use it 🏴🎣
Western Canada Air Lock Indicators are used I think the most
I've been nymph fishing for 40 years. I promise. If you use black colored material. You will see it wonderfully in any light type you will ever see on any water at any time of year.
Thank you so much for making this video
Can you move it up an down easily?
yes very eaisly. i show that near the end of the video
Can I ask why you use an indicator for fly fishing? We just strike when a fish hits you cos ur line goes tight and u just lift up, don’t understand why you need the indicator
Hey Gus. Gareth is talking about fishing nymphs. Ian guessing you are fishing wet flies down and acriss
Has fished ever confused it as a dry fly?
yip probably 6 or 7 times over the years. so not worth putting a hook in in it
Interesting, more of a euro nympher.... but this will def be in my artillery box, thnx for the tip
This is great ! Thanks so much for the tips hope to see your around taupo fishing
Legend. Thanks mate. Very helpful
Awesome vid thanks!
Cheers mate. Appreciate it.
Hi would a #5 rod be ok for the tongariro?
Tried a 5 wish I had an 8 during July.
Tried it and found it caused more tangles than alternatives. No doubt I will be told I was doing it all wrong and they bright be right but the upshot of it all was it was easiest for me to use ready made ones that I could nclip on and off.
I do the exact same with the wool in the mouth! Cracked me up that! 😂
Did you get the thick tubing in Taupo?