Stirke indicators?

 I was playing in my back yard with little bass (really more casting practice) and I was swimming the fly back and forth directly in front of me mainly to look at the action. I noticed a couple of the big headed little bass-tids that overpopulate the lake and swam the bugger in front of them and watched them chase and take it or refuse.

What was surprising was the number of takes where the fish ate it, stopped, and just sort of held it in its mouth. I could hook them if I stripped it just so, but more often than not, I'd pull it out of their mouths or they'd just spit it and swim away without it. 

So how do you know they are there when your not looking directly at them? The line was tight and didn't move and generally I could not feel a thing. I don't even think a strike indicator would do much.

I know I'm probably asking in the wrong place as most subtle takes in the salt involve having your rod ripped out of your hands.
But I know some of you hard core #24 coachman fly flingers know what to do. 

"
So how do you know they are there when your not looking directly at them? "

Wali,
 
Paddle on down to a fly shop and pick up some Thingamabobbers. http://www.flyfishusa.com/accessories/strike-indicators.html#Thingamabobber 

They come in 3 sizes, attach easily to your line and will really solve your problem.  I am a long time fly fisherman but never a very successful nymph fisherman.  Found the Thingamabobber this summer and have never caught as many fish.  I doubt it was old age and cunning that made the difference.
Mich

I haven't tried the Thingamabobbers, yet, but they come highly recommended.

I haven't nymph-fished much with indicators. I haven't fished nymphs that much. Tried it a couple of times, but usually just watch the tip of my fly line. Or else hung a nymph below a big dry fly like a Stimulator.
I have only really used indicators while jig-fishing for steelhead with my 8 wt. I used to make my own with a corkie and toothpick, but have switched to "Quick Release Strike Indicators" which have a hollow peg your line runs through that pops out when you get a fish on. Then you can retrieve more of your fly line when trying to land the fish. But I don't fish that way very often, only a couple of times a year. The 6-pack of indicators I have will probably last me several years.

Not to hijack this thread or anything, but I'm going back to bait for hatchery steel anyway. Its 10,000 times more effective than flies for hatchery steelhead, and I say that because I am a fly fisherman who also bait fishes. After I started fly fishing for winter hatchery steelhead, I quit touching fish. I have only hooked one hatchery steelhead on a fly since I started fly fishing for them, and that was a summer run fish, about 4 years ago. I used to catch 'em on bait, and I hate getting skunked, so I'm going back to what works for me.
Now a jig, tipped with bait under a float....Bobber down!
 I lost both natives that I hooked one year (egg pattern one time, jig the next, both below an indicator), but I almost landed one after a long battle, and the other was attacked by a large buck Coho just after I hooked up. I saw the steelhead enter the pool through the tailout and cast above it. I saw the takedown, set the hook, and then the Bully of the Pool came out of hiding and declared a turf war. The steelhead got off in the three-way fight and departed for someplace where he felt more invited. Talk about a mind-blower! Although I'm going to use only bait when targeting hatchery fish, I'm only going to fish flies and jigs when targeting native steelhead from now on. Just don't call me "Schitz."

I use Thingamabobbers for nymphing, including steelhead. They make it pretty easy for the rookies I take out.

Bait is never allowed on my home river, but have no problem hooking up with summer run steel. They seem to be much more aggressive than winter run fish.

I'm not sure that a strike indicator would help with those bass. The few times I've actually caught them have been on big marabou flies that provoke their curiosity or anger. My nephew, a good bass fisherman, says they are like cats - picky with their food, but will pounce on something flashy.

I've never liked fishing with strike indicators, preferring instead to just keep a tight line and feel the strike. They are, however, very effective for suspending a nymph at a certain depth and keeping it there. My friend, the best stillwater fisherman I know, uses indicators virtually all the time. He says there are two kinds of fisherman - "hangers" and "strippers." The quick release indicators that CHM describes are great for fishing deep, because the indicator slips down the leader when you hook a fish.

Tom