Man, I love days like this.
Chris came in yesterday afternoon with a brand new streamer rod asking what he should throw. We talked through what’s been working lately, grabbed a few patterns, and he headed out. Few hours later, I’m seeing photos of him with multiple 18+ inch trout. First. Day. Out.
That’s what it’s all about right there.
What He Was Throwing
We kept it pretty simple. When you’re swinging streamers on the Watauga or South Holston, you don’t need a PhD in fly fishing, you just need the right patterns and a little confidence.
Here’s what went in his box:
- Sculpzillas in natural colors (brown trout LOVE these things)
- Couple Dalai Llamas
- Some olive and black Woolly Buggers for good measure
Honestly, that’s all you need most days. Sculpzillas are money around here because they look just like the sculpins these big browns are already eating. Dalai Llamas? They just work. I don’t know what else to tell you.
Why Streamers Work So Well Here
If you fish tailwaters like we’ve got around Elizabethton, streamers are one of the best ways to catch real fish. I’m not talking about numbers here, I’m talking SIZE.
Big trout eat big food. They’re not gonna waste energy on a size 20 midge when there’s a 4-inch sculpin swimming by. Streamers imitate baitfish, sculpins, crayfish… all the high calorie easy meals that make a brown trout’s day.
Plus, it’s just fun. Swinging streamers, feeling that strike, fighting a fish that actually pulls back? I mean c’moooooon.
Look, I’m not gonna write you a textbook here. Just a few tips:
Target water movement. Right when a flow is coming up or right when its going down is always when I have the best success targeting fish with larger flies, particularly during this time of the year.
Don’t be scared of big flies. Yeah, a 5-inch streamer looks ridiculous. But you’re trying to catch a 20-inch brown that eats other fish for breakfast. Match the meal.
Change up your retrieve. Sometimes they want it fast and erratic. Sometimes they want it slow. Sometimes they just want it dead-drifting through a pool. You gotta feel it out.
Fish the good spots. Undercut banks, log jams, boulder piles, deep runs. That’s where the big ones live. They’re ambush predators. They’re typically not hanging out in 2 feet of open water.
Bring the right setup. You need a rod that can handle it. 6 to 8 weight is the range you’re looking for. Personally I like a fast action 7 (like the MaxCatch Premier 9′ #7) or a moderate action 8 (like the MaxCatch Predator 7’11” #8). Sink-tip line helps get it down. And don’t go too light on your tippet. These fish will break you off if you’re running 5X.
Come By the Shop
Seriously, if you’re planning a trip to the Watauga, South Holston, or any of the other killer water around here, just stop in. We’ll get you set up with what’s actually working. Not what some forum from 2015 says you should use. XD
Chris grabbed a handful of flies and went out and crushed it. You can too.
Appalachian Outpost
1432 Broad Street, Elizabethton, TN
Tuesday-Saturday, 10-6
423-833-1338
Tight lines,
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