Streamers

[Mac's Orphan]

Does anyone fish streamers on the Current. If so, what sizes do you prefer?

Caught some browns in August at Baptist and rainbows past the park cable down to Tan Vat, but not much luck during the first week of November.

We were using various (mostly minnow) patterns in the 8 to 12 range.

[Al Agnew]

Absolutely. Especially if you get some good rains and the river gets a little color. If you've got 2-4 feet of visibility in the Current, I'd throw big streamers. I don't really pay much attention to the hook size, but in murky water I'll be throwing streamers that are 3-4 inches long. If the water is clear, I'll still throw them if it's cloudy or late in the day, but will downsize a bit, though not less than 2.5 inches.

A few years ago, there was a year where the upper Current had a lot of high water, and a good population of really big browns. My fly fishing buddy wore them out on big streamers that year, and I got in on a little of it as well. Unfortunately the next summer the river was low, clear, and warm, and all those big trout moved up into the park and got killed by some fish hogs who concentrated on them. The river hasn't been the same since.

[fishinwrench]

There was a time when you could rip 4-5" streamers and jerkbaits around spots on the upper Current and roll some really nice browns.

I don't hear of that happening much anymore. What became of that ?

[flyfishmaster]

Mac,

Al (like usual) is spot on with his advice. Streamers are not a big producer on the upper Current unless there is some color in the water or low light conditions.

Later,

FFM

[Mac's Orphan]

Thanks gents - the water was bathtub clear when we were there a couple of weeks ago. We'll have to adjust our game plan for that.

Seemed to me like the river was lower than I remember from the August trip.

Thanks to all for the input - sure is appreciated!!

[Gavin]

Your plan will work! We had a glorious couple of years when the water was up. Still some nice fish but big fish numbers are way down. Was hard to find a big one last year. Best brown was only 19". A couple years ago, several over 18 and at least one bigger was not uncommon in a couple hours if you hit it right. Buddies have not produced a pic of a 24" or better brown in several years. Buddy got a nice bow on a streamer last week 22-23" I'd guess. Think he said best brown was 18 or so. Several out.

[stlfisher]

There was a time when you could rip 4-5" streamers and jerkbaits around spots on the upper Current and roll some really nice browns.

I don't hear of that happening much anymore. What became of that ?

See Al's post. They move up into the park during the summer to escape the low clear water. The get picked up and yanked out by the bait fisherman. Just check out the lunker board at the park store. It will seriously ruin your day.

The Brown in my Avatar was real beaut in early June of 2011.

[Mac's Orphan]

See Al's post. They move up into the park during the summer to escape the low clear water. The get picked up and yanked out by the bait fisherman. Just check out the lunker board at the park store. It will seriously ruin your day.

The Brown in my Avatar was real beaut in early June of 2011.

Stuff like that drives me nuts!

I remember Mac told a couple of guys NOT to come back to McClellans for keeping some big browns.

Wish more people were like that. It would make all the difference in the rivers.

[stlfisher]

Yes, it would. Just hope for a couple high water years then they should stay out in the river a bit more. The water this year was as low as it was in 2012...just not as hot.

[fishinwrench]

See Al's post. They move up into the park during the summer to escape the low clear water.

If it's low and clear at Parker then it's low and clear above TV too. LOL

Lower and clearer, actually.

If they moved up it's because they were lonely as hell, ran out of places to hide, and could smell all those other fish up there.