Streamer Tactics

By Michael Hatfield

Streamers are patterns that are usually tied to imitate a larger food source such as a leech or baitfish rather than a small aquatic insect.  Depending on the fish species you are targeting a streamer can be as small as, say a #8 micro bugger or up to about a foot long.  For trout, streamers normally do not go any bigger than a few inches in length.  Because of what these flies are imitating, tactics have to change in how you fish them.

Larger streams and deep pools are excellent areas to use streamers.  Because you are trying to imitate a baitfish or similar food source that is swimming in the water column, streamers require a retrieve rather than just a “dead drift”.  A “dead drift” can still be very effective with streamers so do not put that tactic away completely but rather think more of a swimming retrieve as your first choice. 

Another factor to consider when fishing streamers is the ability to get the fly deep into the water column where the baitfish you are trying to imitate live.  There are several ways to address the weight issue.  First consider the streamer itself.  Beadheads, coneheads or heavily weighted flies with lead wire on the hook shank all will give you the weight needed to get a streamer to the depths needed.  Sometimes heavy flies can be hard to cast so you will need to adjust your casting stroke.  With a heavy fly, do not worry about getting a tight loop.  Lengthen and slow down your stroke and throw a wider loop.  You may also want to shorten your leader and go to a bit heavier tippet material.   Both of these adjustments will give you better control and take the “shock” out of casting the additional weight.

A second way to address getting the fly deeper in the water is the use of weighted fly lines.  This could be the use of anything from the mini-tip lines with about five feet of sinking line built into the tip of the fly line, to full sinking lines in just about any sink rate you can think of.  Most fly line boxes explain very well what that line is intended for and all manufacturers have web sites with endless information.  Take a few minutes one evening and educate yourself further on what lines each manufacturer recommends for your given situation.  When going with a sinking line I recommend again to shorten your leader.  This will give you better casting control and let your fly follow the line more closely as it sinks.

Whether using a weighted fly, sinking line or both, rod tip positioning is important during the retrieve.  To be as effective as possible you need to keep your streamer in the strike zone as long as possible.  To accomplish this you must retrieve your streamer at as low an angle as possible.  Imagine that you have just cast your streamer and it is at the depth you want it.  Now picture a straight line from your rod tip to the streamer.  If your rod tip is at eye level during your retrieve your streamer is being retrieved along that imaginary straight line in an upward direction getting out of the strike zone too quickly.  If your rod tip was lowered to the water’s surface, your retrieve would be bringing the streamer back at less of an angle and remaining in the strike zone longer.  Take this one step further and put your rod tip a foot under water to retrieve your streamer.  Now your streamer is in the strike zone even longer!  I would only recommend the tactic of having the rod tip under water if you are fishing in rough or turbulent water.  Vibrations from the fly line rubbing across your rod tip during the retrieve in still water, has the potential to spook fish.

The retrieve itself can be as varied as the day is long.  I have three recommendations, experiment, experiment and experiment.  One day you may find that a quick jerk followed by a pause is the ticket.  The next day you may find that just ripping the streamer hard and fast is successful.  You are trying to imitate an injured fish or a swimming leech so try to picture that as you execute your retrieve.  In fast water I typically cast across and down trying to cover all the water.  Small fish do have the strength to swim against the current so try some short retrieves in an upstream path as well.

So next time you come to that big pool you have never had much success in, tie on a double bunny or a zonker and start ripping it through the depths and be prepared because strikes come hard and fast.     

Michael Hatfield lives in Richmond, VA and is a member of the Shelbyville Rod Pro Staff.  You can reach him through his website at www.threehatsflyfishing.com