That first trolling trip to a favorite lake just after ice clears is an Aroostook tradition as popular as the first day of deer season. After several cold, snowy months, open water fishing season symbolizes a rebirth for most anglers.
For many the outing isn’t quite complete unless they spend time dragging a fly in the boat’s wake.
Unfortunately, fishing with streamers is somewhat fading in popularity in favor of plastic or wooden plugs or metal lures and spoons. There’s a vast variety of shapes, sizes, and colors of hard baits, and they do produce a lot of action, but then they are used more often than flies. Sportsmen trolling streams steadily catch their fair share of trout and salmon, and in my opinion nothing beats a big fish fight on a fly rod.
For consistent action, it’s vital to have the correct line and tackle, maintain a fair number of streamers in various styles and colors and to select the best fly for current water conditions. Let’s consider size first; streamers are actually elongated wet flies, size 6, 8, and 10 hooks in a 3X or 4X shank pattern are best for regional streams and rivers for trolling or casting. For pond and lake trolling, especially ice-out conditions the fly needs to resemble the size of a bait fish or smelt. Hook size enlarges to a 4 or 2, and the length runs 4X to 6X.
While elongated single hook streamers still see some use, for the most part tandem streamer flies have become the norm. This two-hook combo held one behind the other with pliable wire or heavy monofilament provides a long, sleek fly that truly resembles a living minnow. The extra hook not only offers an extended silhouette as it glides through the water, but ensures the likelihood of a solid hook up, even on short strikes.
Most tandem streamers are tied with a pair of hooks the same size, but I’ve experimented over the years at my fly tying desk and came up with a couple of successful alterations. If you also build your own patterns, try using two different size hooks; a size 2 front with a size 4 trailer hook, or my favorite, a size 4 and 6 combo. Also, construct a couple of streamers with the back, trailer hook attached in the upward position rather than the traditional both facing down positions. I seem to lose fewer fish during the fight when I’m using a smaller, upward facing back hook.
Perhaps the most controversial and heatedly discussed aspect of spring streamer trolling is the most dependable pattern, and as with every type of fly fishing, most every individual rod-man has a personal opinion and favorite fly. There are actually two very distinctive forms of tandem streamers, the bait fish imitator and the attractor pattern. And to confuse, or perhaps expand the selection even more, two styles of tying various patterns, feather wing versions or hair wing, and a few even combine both!
Among the most popular feather wing smelt and minnow imitators are the gray ghost, supervisor, nine-three, and Barnes’s special. Proven hair or bucktail winged imitators include the black and white, black-nosed dace, Magog smelt and Governor Aiken. These patterns work well when smelt are plentiful in favorite waterways and prove more effective when water is clear and debris-free. When fish are feeding near the surface I use a floating line and a 12- to 20-foot long leader. I always have a sinking tip line on an extra spool along for a quick switch in case near surface action is slow, this allows me to get streamers up to six feet below the surface.
Attractor patterns are brightly hued flies that resemble the form and outline of a minnow, but the vivid colors don’t really resemble any fish or aquatic insect in most cases. These flies show up well in dingy water conditions and dull ambient light. Some anglers believe the fish attack the colorful patters in aggression or irritation rather than hunger, but regardless of motivation these streamers continuously draw strikes.
Top rate feather wing attractors include a Ouananiche sunset, red gray ghost, morning glory and Colonel Bates. My favorite go-to hair wing is a red and white bucktail pattern, but the traditional Mickey Finn still holds its own for spring outings. A couple of other high-vis streamers include the little brook trout, Miss Sharon and blueback. Mixed feather and winged streamers I recommend include a Merrymeeting special and or rainbow ghost.
There’s no question that boat maneuvers and speed, using wind and waves as well as rod tip action all aid a streamer’s motion in the water. Color, shape and size are all features anglers can control and change regularly in streamer selection. For the next two weeks, it’s trolling prime time, and a good 9-foot, 6-weight rod and a small selection of streamers are certain to boost your excitement and enjoyment this spring.
