Streamer Question

[TedderX 0]

I know this is a loose question but I want to give it a shot anyways.

 

What size "typically" are streamers? I don't necessarily mean hook size (though it generally correlates), I mean the fly itself. The reason I ask this is because I've never seen one in person, only pictures, and I don't think ever next to a tape measure. I've never even considered tying one, and in fact I don't think I've seen them in stores either. I've thought of streamers as large flies generally used for pike, muskie, etc but I just read a book about brook trout in the Appalachias and one chapter was "the forgotten streamer", indicating to me you can use streamers even on mountain streams.

 

For instance, you can find several pictures on here of five-six midge on a single quarter, so "typically" a midge is a smaller fly. Bass bugs are often large. dry flies are often medium. nymphs, scuds, etc, are often small. Another one of my thoughts is, as a kid I bought a couple muddler minnows that I've never even used, which are considered streamers. They are "larger" like a wooly bugger, but not "big" like a bass bug. Then it kind of hit me, "well, maybe streamers aren't necessarily big and can be used for smaller trout".

 

Thoughts? Opinions?

[josephcsylvia 0]

Streamers can be tied for everything from trout to tuna. Trout streamers will imitate small minnows ect and can be tied very small around the one inch mark up to 6-8inches for big browns. For example Kelly galloups streamers are for large trout. Sculpen are another trout streamer.

[Dave G. 0]

Joe saved me a bunch a typing, thanks Joe !!

[josephcsylvia 0]

Joe saved me a bunch a typing, thanks Joe !!

Lol feel free to add to it.

[heavynets 0]

Musky streamers are the biggest I've seen. They are about 8"-10" long and require about 1/2 a chicken.

[mikechell 0]

As stated above ... a streamer can be tied in any size.

Tied on a #2 hook.

 

 

As far as I know, streamers are small bait fish or fish fry. The size of the predator decides the size of the streamer you tie.

Bluegill and other sunfish, with their relatively small mouth can be caught on tiny streamers.

Tied on a #8 hook.

 

 

But I've caught bass up to 6 pounds on those same streamers.

Pike or other large fish typically chase larger prey, so larger streamers catch more.

[JSzymczyk 0]

I fish streamers probably more than any other type of fly. There is no "typical" size of streamer. And with STREAMER we also include the term BUCKTAIL... traditionally a STREAMER fly has a wing made of feathers. A BUCKTAIL has a wing made of hair.

 

If you are honestly interested, get ahold of two books by Joe Bates- "Streamers and Bucktails, the Big Fish Flies" and "Streamer Fly Tying and Fishing". They both pre-date any Clouser Deep Minnows or any of the nonsense currently in fashion, but both books go to the very core of what streamers are and why they work.

[Bryon Anderson 0]

I also (like JSzymczyk) fish streamers more than any other type of fly. I fish them for largemouth and smallmouth bass, trout, salmon and steelhead here in Michigan. I've even fished them for carp, if you can consider a crayfish imitation a streamer.

Ever since Kelly Galloup (formerly of Michigan, more recently come to fame as owner of the Slide Inn in Montana) and Bob Linsenman published their book Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout, which popularized their method of fishing very large (4-8" long) streamers on sinking lines, a lot of the streamers that you see in magazine articles and in fly shop bins have tended toward those larger sizes. While most fishermen know that there is some credence to the old "big flies for big fish" maxim, the truth is that those gigantic articulated streamers that look so sexy in photos or in the fly shop have to be fished in certain types of conditions and situations (mainly from a boat in big, moving water), and they demand somewhat specialized tackle--heavy rods, sinking or sink-tip lines, etc. Day in and day out, I would be willing to bet that most fish caught on streamers are caught on much more "normal" (for lack of a better word) - sized flies, which I would define as those tied on size 4-10, 3x-4x-long streamer hooks.

I'm looking at my streamer boxes right now. I have 4 of them--one holds sizes 8-10 for small-stream trout, shallow-water bass and bluegills; these flies top out at around 2 inches in length. Two of the boxes are stuffed full of size 4-6 buggers, various zonker and bunny leech variations, and bendbacks. One box has unweighted or lightly-weighted versions, the other has the same flies with coneheads or dumbbell eyes. Those flies typically run 3-4 inches in length. Then I have my "meat" box. These are the big boys--nothing tied on smaller than a #2 hook, and most of them are articulated (jointed) flies with two hooks. The smallest streamer in that box is about 5" long, and the biggest one is a little over 6".

In a typical season, the two boxes of middle-size (#4 & #6 hooks) streamers will need replenishing at least once each. The real small stuff will typically last the whole season but need topping up over the winter, and the meat box goes whole seasons without being opened--there's just no use for it if I can't get up north to some of the bigger trout rivers.

BTW, you absolutely can fish streamers in small creeks. Pitch them upstream into deep holes and retrieve them downstream faster than the current. You won't catch a lot of fish doing that, but the ones that do come racing out of those holes after a "fleeing" streamer will be the bigger fish.

I will also sometimes fish a small bucktail or woolly bugger as a dropper off of a floating bass bug. That trick has paid off a couple of times this summer.

Bottom line, streamer fishing is fun, and there's not a fish that swims that won't at least chase one if you catch him in the right mood.

[cheech 0]

I also (like JSzymczyk) fish streamers more than any other type of fly. I fish them for largemouth and smallmouth bass, trout, salmon and steelhead here in Michigan. I've even fished them for carp, if you can consider a crayfish imitation a streamer.

Ever since Kelly Galloup (formerly of Michigan, more recently come to fame as owner of the Slide Inn in Montana) and Bob Linsenman published their book Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout, which popularized their method of fishing very large (4-8" long) streamers on sinking lines, a lot of the streamers that you see in magazine articles and in fly shop bins have tended toward those larger sizes. While most fishermen know that there is some credence to the old "big flies for big fish" maxim, the truth is that those gigantic articulated streamers that look so sexy in photos or in the fly shop have to be fished in certain types of conditions and situations (mainly from a boat in big, moving water), and they demand somewhat specialized tackle--heavy rods, sinking or sink-tip lines, etc. Day in and day out, I would be willing to bet that most fish caught on streamers are caught on much more "normal" (for lack of a better word) - sized flies, which I would define as those tied on size 4-10, 3x-4x-long streamer hooks.

I'm looking at my streamer boxes right now. I have 4 of them--one holds sizes 8-10 for small-stream trout, shallow-water bass and bluegills; these flies top out at around 2 inches in length. Two of the boxes are stuffed full of size 4-6 buggers, various zonker and bunny leech variations, and bendbacks. One box has unweighted or lightly-weighted versions, the other has the same flies with coneheads or dumbbell eyes. Those flies typically run 3-4 inches in length. Then I have my "meat" box. These are the big boys--nothing tied on smaller than a #2 hook, and most of them are articulated (jointed) flies with two hooks. The smallest streamer in that box is about 5" long, and the biggest one is a little over 6".

In a typical season, the two boxes of middle-size (#4 & #6 hooks) streamers will need replenishing at least once each. The real small stuff will typically last the whole season but need topping up over the winter, and the meat box goes whole seasons without being opened--there's just no use for it if I can't get up north to some of the bigger trout rivers.

BTW, you absolutely can fish streamers in small creeks. Pitch them upstream into deep holes and retrieve them downstream faster than the current. You won't catch a lot of fish doing that, but the ones that do come racing out of those holes after a "fleeing" streamer will be the bigger fish.

I will also sometimes fish a small bucktail or woolly bugger as a dropper off of a floating bass bug. That trick has paid off a couple of times this summer.

Bottom line, streamer fishing is fun, and there's not a fish that swims that won't at least chase one if you catch him in the right mood.

Big streamers only work in big water... I promise! No fish in moderate sized water that will eat a big big fly Don't experiment either!!!

[tidewaterfly 0]

 

 

Big streamers only work in big water... I promise! No fish in moderate sized water that will eat a big big fly Don't experiment either!!!

 

Cheech is lying!

 

But to some extent, he's telling the truth! I'm a big fan of big flies = bigger fish, and use some big streamers. But, you still have to tailor your sizes to fit both the waters you're fishing & the size of the fish you might expect to catch in those waters. For example on a small stream where the biggest fish might only be 12" long, it's likely a waste of effort tossing 6" streamers. Some small waters will hold some large fish, so in those places this wouldn't apply, if you wish to target those bigger fish.

 

The question has been answered, as streamers can be any size, but most of us are going to use them in a specific size range most of the time. I've fished with them up to about 12" long at times, but most I've used are in the 3" to 6" length range, which has fit the waters I've fished most & size fish I've caught most very well.

[vicrider 0]

This is a feather streamer tied in classic fashion and is about 2-1/2" long. It could be swung for salmon, steelhead, or warm water fish but is most popular for trolling for landlocked salmon I'm told.

 

This is a "Hog Snare" streamer of the type talked about above developed in recent time for large trout. It has two articulation points. A Cypret Minnow an inch long is below it.

 

This is a hairwing spinoff of the Royal Coachman that I believe I used calf tail fur on the wing. It has been a great brook trout producer for me.

 

Here are some inch+ minnows for general trout/warmwater fishing. Black nose dace, Mickey Finn, Thunder Creek and a generic feather minnow.

[Bryon Anderson 0]

 

I also (like JSzymczyk) fish streamers more than any other type of fly. I fish them for largemouth and smallmouth bass, trout, salmon and steelhead here in Michigan. I've even fished them for carp, if you can consider a crayfish imitation a streamer.

Ever since Kelly Galloup (formerly of Michigan, more recently come to fame as owner of the Slide Inn in Montana) and Bob Linsenman published their book Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout, which popularized their method of fishing very large (4-8" long) streamers on sinking lines, a lot of the streamers that you see in magazine articles and in fly shop bins have tended toward those larger sizes. While most fishermen know that there is some credence to the old "big flies for big fish" maxim, the truth is that those gigantic articulated streamers that look so sexy in photos or in the fly shop have to be fished in certain types of conditions and situations (mainly from a boat in big, moving water), and they demand somewhat specialized tackle--heavy rods, sinking or sink-tip lines, etc. Day in and day out, I would be willing to bet that most fish caught on streamers are caught on much more "normal" (for lack of a better word) - sized flies, which I would define as those tied on size 4-10, 3x-4x-long streamer hooks.

I'm looking at my streamer boxes right now. I have 4 of them--one holds sizes 8-10 for small-stream trout, shallow-water bass and bluegills; these flies top out at around 2 inches in length. Two of the boxes are stuffed full of size 4-6 buggers, various zonker and bunny leech variations, and bendbacks. One box has unweighted or lightly-weighted versions, the other has the same flies with coneheads or dumbbell eyes. Those flies typically run 3-4 inches in length. Then I have my "meat" box. These are the big boys--nothing tied on smaller than a #2 hook, and most of them are articulated (jointed) flies with two hooks. The smallest streamer in that box is about 5" long, and the biggest one is a little over 6".

In a typical season, the two boxes of middle-size (#4 & #6 hooks) streamers will need replenishing at least once each. The real small stuff will typically last the whole season but need topping up over the winter, and the meat box goes whole seasons without being opened--there's just no use for it if I can't get up north to some of the bigger trout rivers.

BTW, you absolutely can fish streamers in small creeks. Pitch them upstream into deep holes and retrieve them downstream faster than the current. You won't catch a lot of fish doing that, but the ones that do come racing out of those holes after a "fleeing" streamer will be the bigger fish.

I will also sometimes fish a small bucktail or woolly bugger as a dropper off of a floating bass bug. That trick has paid off a couple of times this summer.

Bottom line, streamer fishing is fun, and there's not a fish that swims that won't at least chase one if you catch him in the right mood.

Big streamers only work in big water... I promise! No fish in moderate sized water that will eat a big big fly Don't experiment either!!!

 

What I meant was that the big streamers were generally designed and meant to be fished from a boat on a sinking line. To do that effectively, you have to be in water that's big enough to allow for that kind of presentation. I did not mean that "no fish in moderate sized water will eat a big fly." However, I can see how it could be construed that way, so I stand corrected.

I'm sure someone out there has chucked a gigantic streamer into a small creek and caught a fish on it, just as I'm sure someone has thrown a #14 mini-streamer in an enormous river and caught themselves a hog that way.

Here is a more streamlined restatement of my original post: Streamers can be very small, very large, or somewhere in between. Streamers will work on lots of different kinds of fish in lots of different kinds of water. I think they're fun to fish.

[Dave G. 0]

You can have multi stages of bait fish sizes in the same body of water. I'm thinking of a spot here where you can get up to about 3lb bass and trout in the 15-16" size, not to mention perch and such on small herring patterns ( maybe 1-1/2"- 2" long). But you can get bass up to 8 or even 10lb (the record for this place is like 9.9 lb) or big brown trout on perch patterns 5 to 6" long.

 

Meanwhile those same baby herring are making their way to salt water. Mackerel and other fish are waiting. People throw a spoon called " Crippled Herring", they are about 2oz spoons that are maybe 3" long if that. Understand that mackerel and other fish, as well as stripers are all there waiting for this occurrence. So same deal as in the pond, it might be that Crippled herring or similar fly pattern that gets a nice fish or it might be a Mackerel pattern or plug. Or it might be a bigger plug of some sort with one of my herring flies tethered off the back. Oh ya, it's a fun time of year around these parts ! The stage is being set as I type this and it will last till mid Nov ( last year it went into early Dec. before it finally died off due to the mild weather last year).

[vicrider 0]

Just as a rule of thumb several studies I've seen and read over the years generally concede that once gamefish start serious preying on their relatives they can handle a baitfish up to 1/3 of their length. That's what they can generally handle safely. We've all seen the photos of fish choking to death trying to eat another nearly their own size, and how many times have we caught some stupid juvenile smaller than the bait he attacked.

[tidewaterfly 0]

 

 

how many times have we caught some stupid juvenile smaller than the bait he attacked.

 

I've mentioned this before, but it stands out in my memory. Once hooked & landed a 6" SM bass in the Susquehanna River below Conowingo Dam on an 8" pencil popper (baitcasting gear, not flies) while fishing for Striped Bass.

 

As Joel said, streamers traditionally are tied with feathers, but there are many styles today, tied with many types of materials. Vicrider has shown some excellent examples of various streamer patterns.

Here's a few from my fly boxes, primarily what I would use for SM or LM bass and for Striped bass. Keep in mind that as others have said, they'll work on many species, anything that will eat a smaller fish, but "streamer" may also represent other things that fish will eat, and do not fall into other fly categories.

 

Articulated string Leech, tied with rabbit strips & marabou. It's about 6" long.

 

Another in a different color combination.

 

These next 3 are huge, 10" or longer. I didn't tie them, they were bought. They're typical for such species as Muskies, N. Pike or many of the offshore saltwater species. A big Striped Bass would certainly eat them. These are "streamers" that would require a 12 wt or heavier rod. The first 2 are Tube flies.

 

Something I was experimenting with for Stripers tied with Yak hair. I think the hook is a 2/0 or 3/0. As you can see it's about 6" long. Change the hook & the same thing could be tied for bass, trout, salmon, etc.

 

The same basic pattern as above, but on a different type hook & a bit shorter.

 

I didn't tie this one either. The material is Polar Fiber, and the entire fly is about 3 1/2" long.

 

One of my variations of the Murdich Minnow. About 6" long & all synthetic.

 

Streamers for Bluefish. Nothing but crimped nylon & some flash.

 

Another tied with crimped nylon in the Clouser Minnow style.

 

How about these? Are they "streamers"? Not in the traditional sense, but what else would they be called? Velvet cord is the material and intended to imitate eels or Sand Eels.

 

Big rabbit strip Muddler styles. They're about 8" long.

 

Rabbit strip on an offset worm hook.

 

Zonker style.

 

Another of my experiments. Double Rabbit strip, and about 10" long on a 5/0 hook. Tied it for Striped bass. Once wet, it's a bear to cast!