What They Do 

Insta-Set Indicators are unlike other strike indicators because they do more than just show you when you've received a grab from a fish. 

Insta-Set Indicators provide you with loads of information  that helps you understand where your fly and weight are located in the water column and also when you've reached dead drift.  No other strike indicator can do that. 

How They Work

Insta-Set Indicators  can be rigged in both a straight line configuration and in a 90 degree dropper configuration.  Straight line nymphing techniques are what you do when you are fishing holding lies close to where you are standing in the stream.  In such situations you want a straight line between the rod tip and the fly/weight.  Consequently any bend in the leader would be inappropriate.  To accomplish this the Insta-Set Indicator can be attached so that the leader remains straight. See illustration to the left.  When you feel you have a need to fish holding lies that are some distance where you are standing in the water, it is beneficial to have the leader bend at the strike indicator position so that there is a straight line to the fly/weight.  See illustration to the right.  The straighter the leader the more sensitive the strike indicator will be to strikes.  With the Insta-Set Indicator you can easily create a 90 degree dropper by pulling the leader into the hole.  Another and maybe  the most important advantage of this method of rigging, is that the tag ends of the fluorescent leader grabber material always (assuming the leader length is correct) point away from where the fly weight is suspended below.  For example if the weight is dragging on the bottom, the tag ends will point downstream.  If the water column is pulling the fly/weight faster than the speed of the indicator on the surface, then the tag ends will point upstream.  When the tag ends are pointing straight up or vertical the fly/weight is at dead drift!