hardest thing to master with streamers

[IdahoFly]

You know.... the more i learn about streamer tactics the more i see the similarity between targetting trophy browns with big meat and throwin gear to bass. I think its kind of cool in the way that it brings a cool perspective on the sport. it really brings a tacticle way of fishing into to play and not just throwin blind. But a few things I have noticed is when a big trout wants your fly and he sees it as a very big food source..... He wont miss. Well correction he will RARELY miss. I see all to often fisherman wanting to over complicate what a fish is doing, they always want to explain every reason for the fish to strike, I think it is really hard for someone to think that maybe the fish just hit it out of curiosity. Now don't get me wrong, big predatory trout will be looking for smaller fish or bait fish to feed on but what we have to remember is trout are alot like bass in the sense that they are extremely territorial ( this is especially true in big browns.) and they will attack a fish if it gets to close. so MAYBE a fish is trying to "stun" its prey to get an easier meal, but i think it is more likely the fish is being defensive and telling your fly to get away, and in the process you are given the opportunity to set the hook.

[Esopus Guy]

Probably my favorite saying to guys just coming into the sport is " it's just fishing, spin,fly,bait,hardware or whatever it is still just fishing". Nothings changed but the way you chose to catch them. If you're a good fisherman your a good fisherman regardless of the gear.

All methods lend themselves to another. One of the reasons I love Euro stuff so much is that it's almost a direct cross over from driting a bait rig. Same goes for indicator fishing and centerpining. I spin fished and centerpinned before I picked up a fly rod and found many things to remain relatively the same except what your using to deliver your presentations.

I do my streamer fishing in much the same manner I plug fish and the same theories exist in both just differant delivery systems.

[dooberhoopa]

I love streamer fishing now...ever since catching some monsters last year i always have my streamer box on me. I have read a ton of articles, listened to podcasts and watched tv shows about it and everyone has a different take. When I spinfish to bass and throw a crankbait, who knows what they are doing. If they are trying to eat it right away or just slapping at it to stun it. What I do know is that there are 6 or more hook points on a crankbait and one of them is bound to stick the fish. If there were 6 points on a streamer we may all end up with way more fish but it would be impossible to release them. Just my humble opinion....

[WillK]

My experience with this has been that, I need to keep the rod at least slightly to the side. Meaning I want the rod at a 45-90 degree angle to the fly when possible. That does not always work, and some retreves or spots wont allow it... but when I can, I do that. What I've found, is that if the line and rod are in line, when a fish takes aggresively, the hook pulls out prior to getting a really solid hook set, or the tippet breaks if I'm light (or fish big). The rod to the side approach allows the rod's flex to slightly soften the take, and results in more hook ups.

I'd say it's analogous to a bass fisherman using a fiberglass rod with crank baits instead of graphite - it's softer and he's less likely to pull the bait prior to getting a good hook up.

[AaronJasper]

Willk

Welcome to TPO and nice bass analogie. I like to use 9' 6" rods for streamers. They are softer in the tip.

[IdahoFly]

Willk Good point about the fiber glass crankin rods, that is exactly what happens, I have also made that analogy when explaining streamer technique to friends. However breaking tippet doesn't happen to me, ever, 0x and an improved suregeons knot is pretty much the norm for me and extremely hard to break.