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Streamers good choice for trout
by Dan Hodkinson

Fast-moving minnow imitations often trigger strikes by trout and make streamer fishing fun.

Fly anglers have a way of making things complicated or so it often seems to the uninitiated.

Some fly fishermen hit the stream with thousands of dollars of specialized apparel, rods and flies, ensuring that they are prepared for any situation.

There are times when being well prepared pays big dividends, but often keeping it simple catches more trout.

The streams of Pennsylvania in May provide good opportunities for trout simply by throwing streamers on a 4-6 weight fly rod. It can be as easy as hooking three flies on a hat, grabbing some split shot and going for a walk.

In spring, streamer fishing can be an active sport, the idea being to cover lots of water in search of aggressive fish that instinctively will attack a fast-moving fly.

While streamers can imitate crayfish, leeches or a variety of underwater insects, it is often the fast-moving minnow imitations that trigger the crushing strikes that make this technique so much fun.

By simply carrying minnow imitations in a variety of colors and sizes an angler can fish most streams.

A Clouser Minnow is a weighted streamer tied from deer hair. It may be responsible for hooking more fish than any other streamer pattern in the world.

Another popular streamer is the Wooly Bugger, which can be weighted with lead wire or a beadhead, but often comes with no additional weight.

Lastly, a Muddler Minnow can be a very effective pattern to imitate some of the bottom-dwelling minnows such as sculpins.

All these patterns can be tied in a variety of sizes for trout, ranging from size 2 to 10.

Additional weight can be added by pinching a split shot 12-18 inches above the fly, usually where the tippet is connected to the leader with a blood knot. Natural colors tend to be more productive in clear waters and brighter colors excel in stained water.

The basic technique for an effective presentation of streamers is to cast the streamer slightly upstream and strip it back in, across the current, by jerking the fly line in short pulls of one or two feet.

Generally, presentations that are straight upstream or straight downstream are less effective, with one major exception.

By properly matching streamer weight and stream current, it's possible to get a streamer to hover off the bottom and dance in the head of a deep hole that lies directly downstream.

Done properly, the streamer never will touch bottom or get pushed to the top by the current, allowing the angler to swim it through the current with subtle movements of the fly rod. This often proves to be a bit more teasing than the biggest trout in the pool will tolerate.

Often, the most effective streamers are the ones that are weighed, especially for fast water and quick retrieves.

Weighted streamers are more difficult to cast. The fly line has difficulty carrying the weight and the typical seven- to nine-foot leaders will not roll the fly over.

Many anglers have been frustrated by this problem, often resulting in a weighted hook zipping by their ears at a high rate of speed.

The best way to avoid inadvertently piercing ears is to simply shorten the leader. Most streamers cast well on a four- to six-foot tapered leader, with a 12- to 18-inch tippet of 5- 8 pounds.

Local trout streams still hold plenty of stocked trout, so cover some new water with this fast-paced technique. You may be surprised at just how aggressive those stream trout can be.

.Dan Hodkinson is a Maryland guide specializing in kayak and shore fishing. Contact him at 610-371-5060, sports@readingeagle.com or fishnfloatadventures.com.

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