Streamers for Awesome Trout (Part 1)

In my “book”, the two methods of fly fishing that generate the quickest shot of adrenaline, are “mousing” after dark and “jerk-stripping” over-sized streamers. In each case, if done properly, you’ll be dancing with the biggest fish in the river. And, there will be no doubt in your mind as to who tapped who on the shoulder. Since I’ve already 24-Inch Streamer-Caught Browncovered the rodent strategy elsewhere on the WFFJ website, it’s time to delve into streamers.

Before I ruffle the feathers of hex and egg fly fishermen, let me clarify. No doubt, many an awesome fish has slurped down hooks tied to mayfly imitations. And, many an awesome fish has sucked in yarn flies manicured to resemble sucker, steelhead or salmon spawn. But for the bone-rattling jolt, witnessing the split second assault and often being accompanied by explosive acoustics, there is NOTHING in the fly fishing world like streamer fishing.

The internet first got me interested in targeting over-sized trout with streamers. Actually, it would be more accurate to say, that the internet got me interested in catching big trout, which in turn lead me to learn about streamer fishing.

Surfing the internet, I’d see the smiling mugs of happy fly fishermen, holding these 20 to 24 inch brown trout, that their guide had put them onto. To top it all off, a lot of these photos were taking on the stream during DAYLIGHT hours! Now, everyone knows that brown trout are nocturnal predators, shunning the light of day under log jams and undercut banks. How in the world were these fish being caught? I couldn’t take it anymore.

No matter what it took . . . how much I had to spend in pursuit . . . nor how far I had to travel . . . I was determined to learn the secret.

In a nutshell, these are the three stepping stones I stood on to reach my goal:
1. Purchased the “Fly Fish TV” DVD entitled, “Streamer Fishing for Trophy Trout”, featuring Kelly Galloup.
2. Purchased the book, “Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout”, by Bob Linsenman and Kelly Galloup.
3. Enrolled in an all-day “streamer school” through Bob Linsenman’s fly shop in Mio, at www.ausableangler.com.

Once I put a price tag on those three items, along with the sink-tip line that is generally recommended for this approach, I found that my checkbook coughed up about $375. As I look back on it, that has been the most satisfying and productive money I have ever spent on myself. It would be cliché, but true, to say that I wish I had done this years earlier.

In Part 2, will look at the basic components of the streamer system.