Large subsurface flies, like streamers, are not the style of fly most people associate with fly fishing. When most people think about the sport, they picture dry flies. But one thing is for sure: streamer flies attract attention.
Time of year can help dictate what to throw. Fly fishers want to mimic the size of prevalent forage. Spring to early summer equates to small streamers with single hooks and subtle colors — basically fry imitations and immature baitfish. These are young, small fish. Summer calls for dead-drifting streamer flies with a nymphing-type presentation.
The author holds up a mahi-mahi that ate a squid streamer fly. Michael Salomone/Courtesy photo
Streamer flies like squirreltail leeches and rabbit strip flies swim, breathe and drift in the current with lifelike qualities that elicit strikes. Fall demands bigger food sources as summer growth is now shown in the size of baitfish and juvenile trout. The little fish have grown but still represent a target to trout, even their own species. Brown trout are known cannibals that will not hesitate to ingest a helpless juvenile. Aggression and prespawning urges command brown trout response to streamers.
Fly fishers should present streamers with a convincing, taunting appearance. Stripping with an irregular cadence that causes frequent pauses and allows the fly to stop moving, sink or hover creates a feeding scenario that is hard for trout to resist. Fly fishers with a strong streamer presence are infinitely more successful. Whether it is in the freshwater haunts of largemouth bass, reservoirs holding northern pike or a variety of trout thriving in mountain streams, streamers are the style of flies that move fish. In the saltwater, all fish thrive on the ‘big fish eat little fish’ mantra. Predatory species will give any well-presented streamer fly attention from bluewater mahi-mahi, beachfront snook, docklight tarpon or shallow water bonefish.
Streamers attract attention. This fact is no more real than during Colorado’s autumn months. All trout feel the lean days of winter approaching. Diminishing daylight and the disappearance of prevalent food sources found all summer drive the urge to feed. Brown trout are moved by a pre-spawning stimulus wherein hormones and hunger drive their response to streamer flies.
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A brown trout streamer bite.Michael Salomone/Courtesy photo
Reaction is key. Ambush points are golden opportunities for connecting with a fish showing more ferocity than fear. Browns become uninhibited by concerns as the necessity for large food sources becomes exaggerated. Fly anglers with a solid streamer game revel in the chase yellow-bellied beasts commit to streamers. This is addictive fly fishing.
The old saying, “Two are better than one,” leads ambitious fly fishers to double up when presenting streamer flies. Two streamers tied inline sink, swim and cover water with efficiency. Casting is a cumbersome effort where the fly fisher must be on point. A modified Belgian cast keeps the flies off to the side of the caster and opens the loop more to maintain consistent contact and control. Proficiency and competency with a double haul will improve a fly fisher’s distance and accuracy when casting multiple streamers at once. Cast tandem streamer rigs with a purpose.
There are many thoughts to consider when choosing streamer flies. Think about contrast. A Bread and Butter streamer paired with a simple black beadhead woolly bugger presents the extreme side of the contrasting colors spectrum; it will quickly give the fly fisher feedback as to which color the trout prefer. Bright, flashy streamers such as the Tequeely and Goldilocks test the ambitiousness of the trout. If the fish present a clear aversion or timidity, fly fishers need to switch it up to more subdued, natural color tones.
Fly fishers should not feel tied to traditional styles either. A Clouser represents a small baitfish. While predominantly thought to be a saltwater fly, Clousers have great appeal when presented in freshwater scenarios. The fly was initially designed for smallmouth fly fishing in Pennsylvania. It has performed well for me in trout fishing too.
Streamer fishing skills are a must-have for traveling fly fishers. Crossover streamer skills elevate your angling in a tremendous variety of water. Streamer season holds a place in fly fishers hearts, just like dry fly season does in the warmth of summer days. There is no better time in the Colorado Rockies for connecting with multiple large fish in one outing. When someone says sweater season, fly anglers hear streamer season. Whether fished as a solo fly or in tandem with another fly, streamers elevate your fly fishing game.