Fly fishing for trout is great fun, when targeting the larger specimens, you will want to use larger flies such as streamers or, if you are targeting larger species of fish such as pike, you will need more specialized fly fishing equipment to handle the large streamer flies and bigger fish!
What is Streamer Fly Fishing?
Streamer fly fishing is when fly fishers use large flies to catch fish. Streamers are essentially lure flies; they imitate bait fish the target species feeds on. Since, fly fishing with streamers uses large flies and catches large fish, heavier fly fishing rods are need to effectively cast the flies and fight the fish.
What is a Streamer Fly Rod?
When choosing a fly rod for streamer fishing, you will need something that is not too long and has plenty of strength it in. Your streamer fly rod does not need to be the most expensive or flashy rod on the market.
Fly fishing rods designed to handle large flies such as streamers will have a fast action. Fast action fly rods bend quickly when pressure is applied. This makes them ideal for casting heavy flies such as streamers.
In general, a 6-9 weight fly rod will be suitable for most streamer fly fishing situations. A good rod for streamer fishing should also have plenty of power. This will allow you to cast your fly farther. A rod with ample power will also be able to handle its own in windy conditions.
What Makes a Good Streamer Fly Rod?
Choosing a good streamer rod can seem like a daunting task. With so many different rods from different manufacturers, selecting the perfect rod for streamer fishing feel impossible.
When choosing the right fly rod for streamer fishing, you will have to take into consideration the material, length, weight, and action of the fly rod.
A good fly rod for fishing streamer flies should be sensitive. Sensitive rods allow you to feel striking fish more easily. A rod with a soft tip and a strong midsection will help you to set the hook quickly and keep the fish on the line.
What Material of Streamer Fly Rod?
The best materials for streamer rods are graphite or fiberglass rods. Graphite rods in comparison to fiberglass rods, are more lightweight and sensitive, whereas graphite rods are durable and more able to handle heavier fish.
What Action of Streamer Fly Rods?
It is important for streamer fly rods to have fast action. A fast action rod will enable you to make casts that are both quick as well as accurate.
A fly rod with a fast action will also allow you to react quickly to fish that take your fly. This will result in the hook being set quickly before the fish can spit it out.
Another reason to get a rod with a fast action is it will be better for casting heavy flies and it will do well in windy conditions when casting is made more difficult.
What Length Should a Streamer Rod be?
The length of the rod is another important consideration when choosing a streamer fly rod. You will want a rod that is long enough to cast the fly easily and accurately. Longer rods will cast your farther than shorter fly rods and will be able to keep it in the air longer.
The length of fly rod mostly comes down to personal choice and what you like to fish. If you want a dedicated streamer fly rod, I recommend a longer rod that is 9’ in length. However, if you want a rod that can be used in various fishing situations you may prefer a shorter rod of 6-7’ in length. A rod of this length will be ideal for fishing for trout, bass, bluegill and other panfish.
What Size Rod for Streamer Fishing?
A 6- or 7-weight fly fishing rod is best for casting streamers. Streamer flies tend to be bigger and heavier than other fly patterns. Therefore, you will need a heavier fly fishing rod to help cast your fly out further. A six or seven-weight fly rod will also make your casting easier as the rod it able to keep the fly in the air for longer.
Choosing the heavier option of a 7wt rod will make casting less tiring and you will be able to handle larger flies and sinking lines.
Heavier fly rods will be able to handle the larger fish you will catch with streamer flies. When a fish is hooked it tends to run for cover heading for weeds, rocks, tree roots and other snag areas.
I recommend a heavier rod so you can more effectively direct the fish away from these potential snag areas and remain in control. When fishing streamers with a lighter rod you are likely to run into these difficulties and may lose fish and flies because of it.
FAQ
Is Streamer Fishing Really fly fishing?
Yes, streamer fishing really is fly fishing. Streamer fly fishing involves fishing larger flies intended to imitate bait fish.
When fly fishing with streamers you are trying to catch fish, often larger fish, which are feeding on smaller fish such as minnows.
Sometimes people confuse streamer fly fishing with trawling. When trawling with streamer flies, the fly is cast out and allowed to trawl behind a boat. With this method the fly is not regularly cast out as the fly is not retrieved. The fly moves with the boat.
On the other hand, when you are fly fishing with streamers the movement is put in the fly through the retrieve. As a result, the streamer is regularly cast out.
Do You Use Split Shot with Streamers?
Yes, you can use split shot with streamer flies. If you want to fish weighted streamers, the most natural way to present the streamer to the fish is with the use of a split shot.
Swimming or injured baitfish do not drop straight down when they move. However, weighted flies do drop straight down when there are pauses in the retrieve. To present a weighted streamer in a more natural way, you can use a split shot.
Using a split shot rather than building weight in the fly itself, will allow the streamer to move up and down in a gradual and therefore, a more natural manner.
Can You Fish Streamers on a 5wt?
Yes, you can fish streamers on a 5wt fly fishing rod. The size of streamer fly you can fish effectively on a 5wt fly fishing rod will be smaller than the fly you can cast on a heavier weight rod. If you want to fish large streamers, I recommend getting a heavier rod as casting a large fly on a 5-weight rod will be both difficult and frustrating.
Can You Fish Streamers with a Floating Fly Line?
Yes, you can fish streamer fly patterns with a floating line. When streamer fishing with a floating line I recommend using a long leader between 6 to 9 feet. This will prevent your streamer from being pulled up too high in the water column. Having a longer leader will allow your fly to get down to the desired depth and stay there.