[font "Times New Roman"] Ok well I’m kind of new to this whole fly fishing thing, more then anything I’m just becoming more interested in it, So bare with my very general questions as you have been.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]Streamers? How do I fish with streamers do I just cast it out like normal and do what I hear called “strip” the line, pull the line back in is segments?[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Does it matter if you fish up stream or down stream? Across the current or not?[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]I’m guessing presentation doesn’t matter much?[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Overall my question comes down to what is the best way to fish streamers?[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]Also I tend to fish Strawberry quite often not fly fishing, jigging but I notice lots of fisherpeople fly fishing. I think they are “striping” woolly buggers or just dragging them around, (really not sure) is this something that I would need sinking line for? Probably depends on where the fish are I guess.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Maybe the type of motion (stripping or dragging) is only relative to the fish’s mood?[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Is it woolly buggers they are using in most cases do you think?[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]Ok one last question before you get rid of me I was going to save it but it goes with the strawberry question.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]Do you ever get good dry fly fishing up on the berry?[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Not that I haven’t seen fish rising up there but not really all that much.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]Ill leave it at that[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]Look forward to your replies once again,[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Thanks,[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Kngfish[/font]
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Lots of questions, but I'll try and offer what help I can. I imagine that flygoddess will have some very good advice, particularly on the stillwater flyfishing.
Streamers - There are lots of ways to fish streamers. Probably the easiest and the most common is to quarter casts downstream (or straight across the stream) and swing the fly or strip and swing the fly. This can be done on a floating line, a sinking line, or a sink tip line depending on what kind of presentation you prefer, water conditions, and where the fish are holding. Streamers can also be presented on a dead drift. This can be deadly in higher flows when fish are pressed against the bottom (as long as you can get the fly down - try a big weighted sculpin). Quarter your cast upstream as if you were presenting nymphs and then just tightline down stream and fish the swing at the end of your drift. You can also just pound the pockets along the bank. Be ready for the surface to explode when your fly hits the water. I generally find best success with streamers in lower light conditions or in high water.
Another general rule is that the lower the water levels, the sparser the fly. You may throw a sparsely tied spruce fly during low flows, but a giant double bunny during spring runoff. Sometimes this rule is violated for pre-spawn browns when they get agressive in the fall.
Fishing at the Strawberry can be amazing on a fly rod. As you said, a sinking line can help, but it really depends on where the fish are holding. If you see a lot of surface activity, then go ahead and use a floating or intermediate line. The retreive that the fish like seems to depend on the day. Some days, small twitches are what they want, others you have to be more agressive with your retrieve. Wooly Buggers certainly work well, but minnow/chub imitating patterns like zonkers can also be very effective. I will often run two flies and keep changing until I figure out what they want.
Dry Fly Fishing the Berry - The answer to your question is yes. Send me a PM.
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For me I use a whole different setup, especially when fishing strawberry. I dont use tapered leaders just some good old fashion mono P-line to be exact. I peel out about 10 feet of leader then tie 3 knots One at the very bottom, one 6 inches up and another 8 to 10 inches up. At the the bottom I pinch on 2 small split shots then 2 more leaders 6 to 8 inchs long to each knot. Similar to a drop shot setup if you were fishing a spinning rod.
on the first leader I usually tie on a nymph, and on the second a bugger cast it out far as I can even give it a few roll casts then let it sink for a minute then with varing speeds strip it back in and repeat. Quick wrist flips will give the streamers the look of a injured bait fish bouncing the streamer up an down
If you want to hit the bottom a good sinking line or sinking tip will be needed.
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That's pretty ingenious. I have used a similar setup for nymphing rivers, but had not thought about trying it in stillwater. I'll bet it works very well at Strawberry. My next time up I'll give it a try.
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[font "Times New Roman"]Ya, well sorry for throwing so many questions at you guys at once, But thanks for the great responses I will be trying the new techniques this week. [
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[font "Times New Roman"]I inherited boxes and boxes of flies many of them being streamers, but yet I have never “seriously” even tried one, sounds like this is a good time of the year to figure it out and give them a shot. [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]I am thinking of heading to the berry this weekend also Ill give the Stillwater fly fishing a shot while I’m at it.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Thanks again,[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Kngfish[/font]
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I agree on a sinking line, a tapered leader is overkill. Presentation is not important on a sinking line.
Ready for my style? I take for example 6' of mono. Fold it in half so one side is 4' and the other side 2'. I put a loop in the fold and do the loop to loop on the line.
I then attach the larger fly weather it be a leech, baitfish, or even a nymph on the longer and smaller fly, usually a nymph or wet fly, on the shorter.
THIS give the effect of a baitfish chasing an insect, or creates a great attractor. I can't count the times I have had doubles with this set up...even fishing two dries.
It doesn't tangle as easy as you might think. I have converted several FF on another forum to this style.
I have caught fish on Dries at Strawberry, but the time of day is important, and watch for rises. However, that big ol' mouse works pretty good anytime.
When it gets colder the fish will move shallower and a floating or an intermediate is a safe bet, but I still use very fast sink like Depth Charge 300 grain, or TYPE VII, or at least a TYPE II still work killer. Big Fish will hang on the bottom.
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what kind of loop do you put in that 4' by 2' line before you attach it to the leader???
MacFly [cool]
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A surgeons loop, on a single leader I use a perfection. I also attach all flies with a Surgeon's Loop. The trick is to keep the LOOP very small. MORE MOVEMENT!
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now how did I know you were gonna say that...lol..
MacFly [cool]
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Here is a unoridox way to fish steamers and is generally a more advanced way to fish them. Cast your stremer 3-4 feet above the water that you want to fish. instead of striping the line jerk your pole tip about 16in away from yuor cast this causes the streamer to move about 6 in. retrive the slack line and repeat. you must maintain a consistant retrieve like this. it imitates a escaping bait fish. it takes some pratice but will generate more fish. this way of fishing streamers is intended for across and down cast. give it a try you may never fish streamers any other way again
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