The pencil indo is critical because it will show if you've thrown to a shallower depth that where your fly is set. I've thrown too shallow,indo doesn't stand up so I give it some twiches to pull into deeper water, BOOM!! Bass eats it. With the thingabobber you'd probably let the fly sit on bottom and wonder why you didn't get bit. Ryans system rules too cause even I don't tangle it much. Thanks fer the post!