We are coming into that time of year where the streamer fishing really gets hot! There are so many reasons to love streamer fishing, but we thought we would share our top 3.
1. Catching Bigger, Aggressive Trout
Big fish eat big food, and streamers tend to imitate a calorie laden food sources such as baitfish, leeches, or sculpins. During the fall months, our water levels our low, making for fantastic streamer fishing. Hatches are less in quality and quantity with the colder temperatures, and many of our big trout start looking beneath the surface. In general, we catch our largest and most aggressive trout in the fall on streamers.
2. Active Fishing & Flexibility in Presentation
Unlike dry fly fishing or nymphing, where achieving a perfect drift is the goal, streamer fishing is about movement and action. The fun thing about throwing streamers is that you can utilize a variety of techniques. For example, vary the strips in which you retrieve the fly or change your casting angle. You can also dead drift or swing, the fly. Don’t be shy about experimenting until you figure out what it is that attracts the fish.
3. The Tug is the Drug
No matter the method used for catching fish, the take can really be the most exciting part. Streamer fishing is no exception. Remember those bigger, more aggressive fish we were mentioning earlier? Well, they are the reason why the tug is the drug. Typically, bigger Kootenai River trout will be aggressive on the right streamer, and sometimes they’ll move fast and hard to eat that fly. And what does that mean for you? Suddenly, out of the blue, a bolt of lightening from the depths electrifies your rod and the fight is on. There are many ways to describe it, but the best way is to experience it for yourself. Once you’ve felt that tug, there is no going back.