Fall Streamer Tune-up

Although streamers work at many times throughout the year, Fall seems to get everyone thinking about them. Browns and brookies, and other fall spawners get aggressive at this time and fish in general, not just trout, seem to sense that winter is near and that they need to eat well in preparation.

Since you are presenting a moving fly when you fish streamers, you need to remember a few things in your presentation. I like to fish across current or across and down most of the time but don't forget that that's not the only way to fish streamers. Often you can get strikes casting down stream and pulling a streamer straight upstream along banks or around boulders and other structure.

Also, don't overlook casting upstream like you would a dry fly or nymph and fishing your streamer back down just faster than the current. A few years ago this technique worked like magic on an otherwise slow fishing day in the Fall.

I like to use a full sinking line or a sink tip line and a 6 foot leader to get the fly down fast and keep it there. A floating line with weight works in a pinch. If you need to get it really deep cast up and across and let the streamer drift for a while as it sinks and then begin the retrieve as it gets across from you. Pay attention as it drifts, more than once I've had fish take a streamer on a dead drift.

Pay attention to the baitfish in your stream or lake and use something close in size, shape, and color, or go crazy and throw extra flashy stuff, both techniques can work. Think meaty for Fall fishing, one solid strike will get the blood pumping and remind you just how fun streamers can be.