Primer on Streamers for Small Streams

[RCFetter]

I searched back 16 months and did not find a thread on the subject.

Excluding wooly buggers (there is a very good recent thread on them) what are the best streamers and size for a stream about the size of the Little Lehigh.

I have the impression that classical streamers (excluding marabou muddlers) such as royal coachman, black nose dance and black ghost are not very popular.

 

[WildTigerTrout]

I use the black-nosed dace with good results on smaller streams. I just tie them in small sizes ie. 12 and 14. Don't overlook the mickey finn either. Both good flys IMO. Good luck.

 

[dc410]

My go to streamer pattern for small streams is called the Pick Pocket. This fly was featured many years ago in the Mid Atlantic Fly Fisherman Magazine by Mike O'Brian. I tied some of them up and my confidence level in the fly went through the roof due to the success that I had fishing it. I have fished it on freestone and limestone spring creeks with success on both. I do exceptionally well with it catching native brookies. The recipe for the Pick Pocket for small streams is as follows:

Hook: 3 XL nymph or 4 XL streamer hook, size #12
Thread: Black 6/0
Tail: Golden Pheasant Tippets
Body: Peacock Herl
Hackle: Grizzly (palmered over body)
Wing: Fox Squirrel Tail Hair
Head: Peacock Herl

As an option, throw on a gold, silver or copper beadhead for either weight or flash to mix it up a bit. But, IMO they fish just as well without.

Fish them upstream, downstream, dead drift, swing 'em, strip 'em. I really don't think there is a wrong way to fish this fly. I think the only way I havn't caught fish on this pattern was greasing it and fishing it on top, but I never tried it (it probably would work) Fish them till they fall apart. After a certain number of fish on the same fly either the Peacock Herl Head or the palmererd grizzly hackle will fail. Maybe some extra small ultra wire as a rib would be worth considering to increase durability. It is a version of the well known Picket Pin which is also an awesome pattern but this version has been a real fish catcher for me! Tight lines.

 

[Fishidiot]

You can use whatever streamers you want. It's mainly a matter of personal preference. While the classic patterns aren't so popular anymore...they'll still catch fish. Limestone streams like Little Lehigh tend to have lots of sculpins so a dark olive or black streamer tends to work well. Personally, I like my small stream streamers to be tied with marabou and with dumbell eyes so as to ensure they ride hook upward (this reduces snags). I also like my streamers much on the heavy side. Again, it's largely a matter of preference.

Keep in mind that streams like the LL that have FF only regs only allow flies with single hooks.

 

[RCFetter]

Thanks guys. I have a lot of old streamers but this is my first year of fly fishing for trout. In the past I only used a fly rod in a boat for pan fish.

This is a great forum>

 

[pcray1231]

First, the Little Lehigh is NOT a small stream. I'd say it qualifies as a large stream, though I'd buy "medium".

I'm no expert on that water, but I wouldn't think streamer tactics would be any different than other large limestoners. I use streamers on limestoners a lot in the winter, and in the summer, anytime it gets up and colored. I personally like black, and usually go with a thick profile like a sculpin. Toss it to the banks, with a fair bit of weight so it "jigs" the bottom, dead drift it like a nymph then let it swing down around. Can be deadly on the bigger fish in the stream.