The thought of a large trout boiling and slashing while attacking my streamer fly has filled my dreams on more than one occasion. Those of you who have fished with me know that fishing streamers is a passion of mine, and a tactic I employ whenever the conditions are right. While I fish streamers all year long, it's in the fall that this strategy really pays its largest dividends. The larger fish are on the prowl for a large meal full of protein to help carry them over the winter months. Bait fish are the best and easiest way to provide these much needed nutrients. Fishing streamers in both lakes and rivers can be productive. You can bet I'll probably catch my largest trout of the year in the fall, and that fish will be caught on a streamer.

Tackle
While you can fish streamers with almost any gear there are a few refinements that will help you in your success.

Rods
Streamers are usually larger than most of the flies you are used to casting, so a heavier rod is an asset. I personally use a 6wt most of the time but sometimes go to a 7wt or even an 8wt to help toss weighted flies, sinking lines, battle the wind and hopefully handle the larger fish that streamer fishing can provide. Graphite rods 8 to 10 feet in length with a medium to fast action will fit the bill.

Reels
Reels should match the rod and have a smooth drag with at least 50 yards of backing. Remember, you’re chasing the biggest and meanest fish in the water, so be prepared.

Lines
I believe this is the most important part of your equipment for successful streamer fishing. There are uses for a variety of lines from floating to full sinking but I really like the sink tips at this time. Floating lines can be used when fishing shallow water with weighed files. Full sinking lines can be used in both rivers and lakes but are a must for lakes. I use either an Intermediate or Type II sinker the most. Sink tips are the most versatile for fishing rivers. I personally like to fish a sink tip line with interchangeable tips. I carry up to 8 different hybrid tips that I have made with different lengths and sink rates. (We will teach you how to make these at a club meeting this winter.) This allows me to change my rigging to best meet the conditions I encounter. I can use a long heavy tip to fish a fast deep run and then change to a short medium tip to swing through a shallow tail-out.

Leaders can be as long as 10 feet or more when fishing a floating line in shallow water, or as short as 2 feet when fishing a short fast sink tip in pocket water. The only hard and fast rule is to make sure you use a heavy tippet. As a rule, fish chasing streamers are usually not leader shy. I rarely go below 2X (8#) and often use 0X (12# test) or heavier.

Streamer flies come in many different sizes and styles. They are tied to imitate a variety of bait fish and crawfish. Some are attractor patterns like the Royal Coachman Bucktail. Some imitate a specific minnow like a sculpin pattern (e.g., the Muddler Minnow).

Some flies imitate movement and are suggestive like the Woolly Bugger. All have their place but I find myself leaning toward patterns that specifically imitate a specific food source. When fishing the Central Oregon High Lakes (Davis, East, etc.) I usually fish a Tui Chub pattern imitating these trash fish that have infested those waters. When fishing rivers, I tend to use sculpin patterns imitating those little bottom dwellers that big trout are so fond of. One exception to this is that in the fall, brown trout really have an affection for a streamer with yellow in it. One pattern I won't be without is the Yellow Marabou Muddler.

Tactics and presentations when fishing streamers

Lakes
When fishing streamers for trout in lakes, the first thing I look for is structure. Big fish like to cruise the edge of weed beds, drop-offs, ledges, etc., to ambush their prey. This is where you need to present your fly. Usually using a full sinking line, I cast and then count down so the line drags the fly to the proper depth before I start my retrieve. Remember, you are imparting the action in the fly so it's important to find the proper retrieve. One day the fish may like a slow easy retrieve; the next day it may be as fast as you can strip it in. It really pays to vary your retrieve until you find out what the trout want. One last item on fishing lakes, especially for brown trout, is to target them around the mouth of the streams feeding the lake. Browns spawn in the fall and they usually stage themselves there around the mouth before ascending the streams to spawn. This is a great place and time to hook a monster. Fish this location early in the morning, late in the evening and when the weather is at its worst. Wind and rain can really have an impact on the fishing. It's not a time to get comfortable, bundle up and hit it hard.

Rivers
There are 3 basic ways I fish a streamer in rivers:

Wet Fly Swing -- Here you just cast at a 45-degree angle down stream and let the fly swing until it's directly below you. This is just like swinging a steelhead fly. Either a dry or sinking line can be used. The least productive of the methods still has its uses. It works when the river is off color or the water temperature is low. It's also a good tactic to use early and late in the day when big trout roam the tail-out of a stream hoping to flush a sculpin for breakfast or dinner.

Broadside -- This is very productive way to fish a streamer. Large trout like to hit a bait fish broadside, stunning it before turning it and swallowing it head first. In this presentation you cast directly across or slightly up stream. The idea is to keep the fly broadside to the current as long as possible. To do this you might have to mend either up stream or in some cases down steam to keep the fly sideways. This can be used wading or fishing from a boat. When fishing from a boat, cast close to the bank and strip it back. Pay particular attention to fishing your fly around cover, logs, boulders, drop-offs, etc. While the fly is drifting down broadside I like to strip the fly to make it look like an injured bait fish. Again, sometimes it helps to vary your retrieve. When the fly finally swings below you give it a twitch or strip and hold it there for a couple of seconds, teasing a fish that might have followed it.

Up Stream --This is my personal favorite as it usually produces the most visual response and the hardest strikes. It's also at times the most productive method I know of. Many times I've seen a large trout boiling, slashing and pouncing on my fly trying to rip the rod out of my hands. This is the time you’re glad you put an 0X tippet on. It can be some of the most exciting fishing there is. I've demonstrated this method to some fishing buddies this year and all were impressed and excited and they were just watching. For this method I use a heavy sink tip and a weighted fly. I cast upstream and strip the fly back down stream with the current. I try to get the fly into likely holding places like seams, boulders, ledges, etc, anywhere a big trout will hold. A couple of reasons this method works so well: first, the fish doesn't have much time to make up it's mind because it's usually just a reaction strike; second, it's either a bait fish fleeing another predator or another fish invading its territory. Either way it excites the trout into smashing the fly. When the water's cold and the flows are slower you can strip the fly just a little faster than the current. When the water warms you just about can't strip too fast. It takes some practice to get it right. But I'm sure you'll find it well worth the effort.

Streamer fishing can be an exciting and productive way to catch larger fish. I hope you give it a try this fall.