7 replies to this topic

[Dalton Morris]

Hey everyone. I am decently new to the fly fishing game, and fishing Taneycomo. Recently I have been having a lot of luck using Wooly Buggers in Olive and Black. I really enjoy stripping and swinging, more than I do nymphing and dead drifting. I was just wanting to get a few opinions on everyone's favorite streamer patterns, and how they are fished.

[KATroutman13]

Dalton,

I used to fish Taneycomo a lot when I was in college. I used to love crossing above the second outlet casting up into the seam, swinging an olive or black bugger and then letting it sit in the current after the swing was over. Good times.

But, my favorite, is taking a heavy, big sculpin. I like the woolheads with the large barbell eyes in a size 2 or 4 and a load of lead wrapped on the head. I would take that fly and walk in the areas without a lot of current and cast the fly to a general area with fish and just bounce it through the rocks. I loved that because the fish would just murder that fly repeatedly until hooked.

[Brian Shaffer]

Dalton - try some of the Traditional or Classic streamer patterns. They are seldom seen to the Taneycomo trout and believe me, they like them.

Daces and Darters, Ghosts and Thunder Creeks. Tigers and Witches and Bucktails and Finns. Don't forget any Muddler variation.

I am not kidding in the least bit. They have worked for over a century in trout waters because they look like real minnows when wet.

Best thing is - you cannot fish them wrong! Swing em. Its easy. Quarter cast at 45 degrees downstream and just hold the line and follow the drift with your tip.

(( Streamer fishing is even more fun in the dark! )) Have fun - Brian

[mic]

Dalton - try some of the Traditional or Classic streamer patterns. They are seldom seen to the Taneycomo trout and believe me, they like them.

Daces and Darters, Ghosts and Thunder Creeks. Tigers and Witches and Bucktails and Finns. Don't forget any Muddler variation.

I am not kidding in the least bit. They have worked for over a century in trout waters because they look like real minnows when wet.

Best thing is - you cannot fish them wrong! Swing em. Its easy. Quarter cast at 45 degrees downstream and just hold the line and follow the drift with your tip.

(( Streamer fishing is even more fun in the dark! )) Have fun - Brian

Would they work just as well on Norfolk tail waters in AR. I would assume yes. Just wanted to know if you tried them there.

[Brian Shaffer]

Absolutely!

They work everywhere fish swim.

[Gavin]

Its still hard to top a zonker, bugger, or a muddler style fly.Heck, most of those fancy Galloup streamers are just hot rodded versions of the above. Old school bucktail, marabou, and feather winged streamers work well at times too..and the fish dont see many of them anymore.

[ness]

What Gavin and Brian said. I'd also toss good ol' Clouser and Thunder Creek in the mix. Both are a breeze to tie. I can do a couple Thunder Creeks in the time it takes to watch one of Brian Wise's videos (sorry bout dat BW)

[Dalton Morris]

Thanks for all of the replies. I am looking forward to trying these out, as I have never fished any of them. I really enjoy stripping streamers. It is more active fishing than nymphing, and more exciting when they really hammer the fly.