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It could quite possibly be that the streamer has saved a good number of fly-fishermen a good number of fishless days. Even for the man, woman or child new to the art, the streamer -being so versatile- can offer a productive day of fishing. Representing many aquatic organisms such as the minnow, nymph, squid, shrimp and a number of various baitfish, the streamer is a considerable tool for the fly-rod-wielding fisherman. They can even be fished on the surface imitating, among others, the cricket and grasshopper. Streamers come in a range of sizes from the miniscule, 3xlong #16 to the quite large 6x-3/0.
Streamers are traditionally tied on long-shank hooks with the 4x and 6x being the most popular. If the body is to be long and detailed, and the pattern calls for full-length tinsel, then the long-shank hook is necessary. On the other hand, shorter hooks are useful for fish which strike short, such as the smallmouth bass which will strike at the head of its prey a lot of times.
The hook length has much to do with the streamer’s effectiveness. A streamer that is too long and a hook that is too short will allow the streamer to twist amid the shank and the bind of the hook. This is a problem that can not be corrected in the back cast either. The streamer should be tied on a hook short enough to allow the lure to move through the water naturally. In other words, the streamer should be just slightly longer than the hook to prevent it from becoming fouled.
Herb Welch of Mooselookmeguntic, Maine, developed the first streamer around one hundred and two years ago to imitate baitfish which landlocked salmon and trout feed upon. To imitate the wiggle of a fleeing minnow, Herb Welch used hackle feathers, and they are still in use on today’s streamers. However, is thought by some, that the long-winged wet flies that were in use over 200 years ago, were indeed streamers, even though they were not identified by that name.
The Muddler pattern, -named for the muddler minnow- can be a very effective and versatile lure. Depending upon its size and the manner in which it is fished it can be used to imitate a caddis-fly, stonefly and nearly anything short of midge.
Weather made of buck tail, squirrel tail, etc. a streamer tied with these materials has a very effective opening and closing action which when used right can quite attractive to a fish.
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The copyright of the article Streamers in Fly Fishing is owned by Lee Ennis. Permission to republish Streamers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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