Streamer 301 Lesson Points 27Sep15

I learned stuff even from the class session on streamer fishing. Here are the key items IMO. Take 'em or leave 'em. The guys teaching moved almost exclusively to streamers in order to catch really big fish... sounds OK to me. That said, normal fly fishing will absolutely tend to catch more fish.

• Use the non-slip mono loop knot for nymphs and streamers - better action on the fly (I heard this too from a famous Gunny guide but never implemented it - I will practice it and employ it now).
• Vital to use a Type 3 sinking tip line (or sinking front section of 12'-15' called Rio VersiLine tied onto floating line) with ~4 ips (inches per second) sink to get the whole rig down fast and not have the streamer be too radically yanked up and down in the water (which is not natural). Rig after sinking section can simply be 4' of 2X (10# test) or even heavier; fluorocarbon preferred due to abrasion resistance) or 7 ft leader to 2X tippet.
• Employing the strip set vs rod raise set is key when using streaming (habits are hard to break though) - reason is that a rod lift will take the streamer up and away from the fish vs a full length strip will set the hook or just move the fly away fast and likely elicit a 2nd strike if the first was just a bump (which is very common trout tactic on prey supposedly).
• At some size (relative to the water and ecosystem but likely ~17"-19" in much of Colorado rivers) a trout becomes a much more aggressive predator in order to feed the bigger system - and often feeds from 3am to 8am but can be prompted to "strike" at almost any time.
• Good teacher online is Kelly Galloup (YouTube channel, etc.); great articulated flies and fly tying (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mI315iiRXA).
• SlumpBuster is excellent; Sculpzilla best articulated streamer;  brown Sex Dungeon is best crawfish streamer for PT; go big or go home.
• Hook sharpener and pliers needed as well as thermometer - really cold or really hot means slow retrieve else (50-60 degrees) go faster.
• Fish take prey head first not from behind; behind is just a bump or test.
• Bright day - bright fly and dark day - dark fly... use color sequencing on the water - take a pass with white, if nothing dark, if nothing light grey, if nothing dark grey/olive; sequence in till you find it. If fish chase but don't take, vary the retrieve then vary the color.