Question?

[Randall]

There really isn't much need for a full sinking line with streamers on that river. A sink tip line or sinking leader will work fine. You probably won't need more than a type 3 for most of the river but if its moving pretty fast you may want to go to a faster sinking tip or just bring a few sinking leaders ranging up to 7 ips. A floating line will be just fine if you want to fish a bit higher in the column too. Just cast and strip, varying your retrieve until you find one that gets you hit. It takes some creativity in some places, but that just adds to the fun... especially when it works. You may not catch as many fish depending on conditions, but its a total rush to see a take. Gavin definitely knows a lot more about the river than I do, but I'd supplement his streamer selection by recommending bigger sizes and some Galloup patterns.

I may be down in Cuba this weekend if turkey hunting looks like a bust. If I do make it down that way I'll let you know.

[Gavin]

I'd agree with Randall, you dont really need a sink tip or a sinking line on the Current. If the fish are active and its up...they will usually come up to chase a big streamer or a floating rapala near the surface, plus the smack of a sinking line hitting the water can turn the fish off at times. If they wont come up for those, I go with a suspending jerkbait or a streamer/nymph combo.

As for diving caddis....You need to be able to distinguish an egg laying flight from an emergence...If they caddis are bouncing up and down on the water...Its and egg laying flight, not a hatch. Fish em dead drift under and indy, or behind an indicator dry fly, or fish them like a wet fly. Cheers.

[XP 590]

I've only fished the Current twice, once in March and April this year and was lucky enough to not hit any high water conditions. All the previous posters have much more experience on the river and I studied their posts in depth before heading to the Current. I'm not experienced in dry fly fishing but had good luck swinging green and brown soft hackles, and heavy woolybuggers, both olive and brown. I like to use a sink tip and wiggle some line loose to let streamers sink into the deep holes, then I try a variety of strips and swinging to see what works. I love the feel when they hit a moving streamer or soft hackle and yank the line out of my hand. I'm planning to take some time on my next trip and really work the deep blue holes with big streamers and hunt for some of the big brown that have to be hiding out there.

[Randall]

How effective is drifting a streamer (I assume that is what you mean by the streamer/nymph combo)? I definitely understand the concept but I thought the main idea behind fishing streamers was to trigger the predatory instinct and elicit a reactionary strike. How often do you use that technique and under what conditions? What patterns work well- I assume its kind of limited to the more realistically imitative patterns that resemble dead or twitching baitfish, leeches, etc.... I couldn't see drifting a zoo cougar or clouser being overly effective.

One more thing about the sink-tip line, the only time you'll ever need the effect on this river is if you're fishing a non-weighted streamer that won't sink on its own like muddlers or other deer hair patterns. In that case, a 15 foot tip works fine and remember to keep the leader short, no more than 3 to 4 feet; any longer and you'll defeat the purpose of having a sink-tip.

[Gavin]

I dead drift streamer/nymph combos alot...When I float the current I usually have one fly rod rigged to drift a streamer/nymph combo, another fly rod rigged for dry fly fishing(or more active streamer presentation), and a spinning rod rigged with a minnow crankbait. Try it, you might be surprised..it doesnt matter if your nymph rig isnt dead drifting 100% of the time, because the little flaws in your drift add action to the streamer. Cheers.

[Randall]

I think I will give it a shot. I've got some crawdad patterns I tied up that I think may be perfect for that.

[Nortrad]

Randall and Hayseed are both right on, from what I've read and the few times I've streamer fished. I use a sink tip and it gets the fly down quickly. I don't use that many weighted streamers. I've caught browns on buggers, zoo cougars, and deer hair sculpins. We met a guide on the 26th and he said he landed a 22" brown on a Circus Peanut that week when it was cloudy. There are a lot of streamers that work with regular floating and sink tip. Again, the water's not that deep or fast on the Current compared to some of the larger streams.

The old adage has a lot of truth--big fish go after big flies. It's true, not many will go after the streamer, some will chase, usually those don't go after it. If your drift and technique is right, then they slam the streamer and it's on. I've caught them on drift and swing and jerk strip, slapping the water with the fly. Kelly G.'s technique has some merit, but each stream is different.

The river seems very high right now according to the levels.

Nortrad

[Nortrad]

Sorry, Gavin is right, not Hayseed, that's his avatar, duh...

[Randall]

Nortrad, we need to fish together sometime. This summer may not present the best opportunity, but if you're interested, send me a pm and I'll see what I can do about weaseling a day off. Gavin, be great to fish with you too. Might be a good time meeting up and just getting silly with streamers... playing around with drifting and burning... if you're interested, pm me.

[Gavin]

Would love to meet you fellows down there some time but I probabably wont make it down there again till September.