Streamer Season – How to Catch Bigger Trout

Streamer season is almost here!

I have had many people ask me why I catch bigger trout than most when I’m streamer fishing. For the most part it’s because I use a bigger streamer. Most of the time I am using an articulated streamer which on average is 4 to 5 inches in length.

However, I think my biggest advantage comes from the weight of my rod and the sink rate of my sink tip. When I am fishing the Bighorn, Yellowstone or any other big river, I like to use an 8 weight with a 24 foot 300 grain sink tip. In most cases I am throwing anywhere between 60 to 80 feet of line every time I cast. This allows me to get the fly to the bank and to strip it back through the trough of bigger rivers, which is usually 20 to 30 feet out from the bank. All of my biggest fish have come out of the trough. When you are throwing this much line using an 8 weight makes it a lot easier with minimal effort. If you are fishing a smaller shallower river, your typical 6 weight configuration should do just fine. A sink tip however is a must! Most of your bigger fish are not going to be in the upper water column. They are going to be on the bottom, resting and most likely not even feeding. You basically have to force them to eat your fly, either out of pure aggression, protection, or their fishy instinct. If you are using a floating line it makes the streamer look unnatural. Every time you strip it, the fly shoots upward, instead of having that swim motion.  Don’t get me wrong and there is an exception to every rule, but 95% of the fish you catch on a floating line are going to be smaller. What I’m talking about is a fish of a lifetime here, That 30 inch or bigger class, where it takes your breath away type of fish. I hope this helps and if you have any questions please feel free to hit us up and ask.