10-14-2008, 02:21 AM
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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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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