Fly Fishing Streamers - Patterns That Work

Fly fishing is a wonderful hobby. Some even go as far as to consider fly fishing a form of art, and it is difficult to argue that point. The art of tying a fly to match a hatch, casting the fly, and landing a fish is a sight to behold. There are many different flies that can be used to land large fish. Trout are very particular to dry fly patterns, but spend around 90% of the time feeding underwater. Nymphs and wet flies are perfect patters to get down to where the action is. But sometimes these little flies just won't entice a trophy fish to strike. That is where fly fishing streamers come in.

Streamers are bulky, large, and flashy flies that are made to mimic mostly minnows, but other life forms like leaches, frogs, and even mice. They are made of different kinds of materials ranging from buck tail hairs to feathers, different colored speckled yarns and flashy ribbons. Some have weights and some do not. The advantage of using a streamer is that big fish don't like to waste a lot of energy on a small meal, but they will for a large one.

There are many different fly fishing streamer patterns that will likely land you a trophy trout to put into your fly fishing creel. Wooly buggers are leach imitations, and work great in mossy or murky water situations, in rivers or lakes. Weighted wooly buggers get down faster, and are ideal for fast moving water. Muddler minnows mimic a wounded minnow. They are made of elk hair and large feathers, with silver ribbon tied around the shank of the hook adding flash. These flies have the movement and lifelike appearance of a minnow, with the flash that can attract a large fish from a large distance or in murky water.

When fishing for salmon or steelhead, streamer patterns are the fly of choice for most anglers. There are several different successful patterns of streamers for catching salmon and steelhead, too many to list in this article. Permit and tarpon fishing in the ocean also usually requires to use of streamers. For permit, use streamers that mimic crabs. Tarpon fishing will be successful if you utilize a Dahlberg Diver or similar pattern.

These are a few examples of streamers to get the job done. When a small dry or wet fly doesn't cut it, pull out your box of fly fishing streamers, and you might just catch a lunker. Happy fishing!