Streamer Fishing (summer Farmington TMA)

For the "typical" 18in fish in the TMA, I don't think the specific streamer matters that much, as long as it is in the 3-6in range in length. The best colors are typically black, olive, yellow and white. For patterns, a saltwater style bunny pattern is good, or a zonker style, or a big Zoo Cougar. The standard philosophy is to use black/olive in lower light, white/yellow in bright light. If you buy flies, look in the saltwater section first.

If you are targeting the really special giant holdovers (and who isn't?), it might pay to use a big jointed streamer. I have used articulated Zoo Cougars with great success in the past, but myriad patterns exist.

The real key to streamer success is how you fish the flies. It is generally better to cast across stream or up and across and strip perpendicular to the current. Use a density-compensated 200gr line and a short 0X fluorocarbon leader, about 3ft long total. The strikes are vicious. For better hookup percentages, I have been using stringer-style (wide gap) hooks like the Tiemco 8089.

As far as where the fish are holding, just remember that they are hunting salmon parr. The parr typically hold in the fast riffles, so the big browns hold downstream of those areas. Try fishing the moderate riffles and tail outs. Cover a lot of water. Most fish hit the streamer on the first 3 casts through an area. There is little point pounding the same section of water.

I use a 9ft 6wt TFO rod for streamers with a Rio 200gr DC line.

Go get 'em!

Sound advice Alain. 3" does seem to be about the smallest size streamer that consistently moves & catches truly big trout (20"+). I too am a big fan of the Zoo Cougar & variations thereof, including jointed (sshhh, it's a secret....). Seems like different colors are hot on different days, and sometimes it changes as the day goes on. When a particular color is "hot", using it can be the difference between almost no fish and catching a lot of big ones. I used to think that color wasn't that important in streamers, but at moments it can be THE most important thing. I do agree that presentation is usually the #1 thing though, with color a close 2nd.

After throwing streamers for most of the day on Thursday and Saturday, in my opinion the wider gap hook doesn't make a difference in the percentage of fish brought to net. I'm still having about 40 percent of the fish throw the hook after multiple hook sets and fighting them for 30 seconds to about a minute. Any thoughts or opinions on how to fight the fish would be greatly appreciated.

As for the summer streamer fishing, I would add that if the flow gets below 300 cfs, I would change to a floating line and lengthen my leader/tippet to about 8 or 9 feet so that the fly line doesn't spook the fish. Also, don't limit throwing streamers to morning or evening, I caught my personal best Farmington Brown on a hot, muggy August afternoon just after 1:00 pm on a Black Ghost.

Try going to a shorter shank hook and use a no-slip mono loop knot to tie on your streamer. Fish can get lots of leverage against a streamer hook due to it's length.

Are you fishing barbless hooks?

Thanks Loren. I will try the shorter shank hooks.

Yes, I'm fishing barbless. I fish alot in the Farmington TMA.

That's a good suggestion Loren, but the 8089 hooks that BLACKGHOST1 is using are already short shanked, about 3X long. We sort of went through this exercise a few years ago, when Galloup's streamer video came out. He also recommends shorter shank hooks.

I fish the Farmington TMA a lot too, and I am certain the frequent catch-and-release of those fish has everything to do with landing percentage. This year has seen pressure like never before, and the conditions have been excellent. I think some of the better fish get caught two or three times a week. I know for sure that I caught a 15in brown one morning and the same fish was caught again (by BLACKGHOST1) just a few hours later. Even the 20in fish I caught this weekend had probably been recently caught by a spin fisherman, since it spit out a big white rubber worm! I share some of the blame - I've been up there a lot.

The other factor is hook size. The larger hooks use a big diameter wire, so that the taper in the hook point goes from nothing to maybe 1/16in. On a small nymph hook, the taper goes from nothing to maybe 1/32in (I am guessing at actual diameters). I like the longer points in the Knapek hooks for this reason.

The next factor is the use of heavy-mass sinking line. We are using 200gr lines, and that sink, combined with the heavy downstream belly in the line, conspires to pull the hook out.

My other empirical evidence is the fact that my landing percentage has been good lately, especially on the small caddis larva patterns. I land most of those fish, especially after Aaron corrected my rod angle and tension during the fight. When fish hit the larger, heavier anchor patterns, I think landing percentage decreases. This happened to me often when the fish were really hitting the Vladi worm. I haven't seriously streamer fished this year, having too much fun Euro nymphing.

BLACKGHOST1 - try nymphing with the smaller stuff and see if your landing percentage goes up. Also, try fishing some smaller streamers, tied on a size 8 3XL hook.

OK--then that is not the issue. Sometimes the barb on a big streamer hook is very hard to penetrate-especially on larger fish.

I think a shorter shank and loop knot will solve much of your problem. Just be sure the points of whatever hook you use are sharp--big iron is hard to sink--really hard when it's dull.

Alan,

I think the bigger issue (while not at all discrediting your fine observations) has to do with the fact that the fish are eating a moving object as opposed to a drifting one. Trout have terrible aim. I find much, much, much better hooking/landing when I fish streamers upstream and back versus downstream--and adding a loop knot really helps. Having the fly coming back on a rather slack line seems to really help. Therefore while I do strip line, I use my rod tip just as much when I fish big flies to try an encourage a somewhat slack connection between fly movements.

I also advocate using a slim full sinking line versus a tip---no need to mend with your presentation, especially on a big, deep stream like the Farmington bu keeping the fly tracking deep.

Losing fish with streamers is a nemesis--especially those 15"-18" fish that are just learning how to catch big meals. Often--they just don;t really get the hook. This is why I think I do so much better with a upstream cast and lots of rod twitches to keep the fly active but not tight.

If I am really wigging out I'll just go to smaller streamers--better hook/land but with obviously smaller fish. At that point it's probably better to fish nymphs.

Loren, excellent post, thanks!

I wonder if tube flies might serve a purpose here? I think you could get all the bulk of a big streamer, but with a smaller hook.

Certainly!!!! Tubes are a fine solution--I just hate tying them.:)