The lake streamer are very popular baits for fly fishing in lakes and larger bodies of water, where they imitate small fish, leeches and other prey that trout, perch and other predators like to hunt.
A streamer is an artificial lure that imitates small aquatic prey such as fry, small fish, leeches or aquatic insects. It is usually constructed from materials such as feathers, synthetic fibres, and flash materials to make it shiny and realistic.
Cane: A 10′ or 11′ # 7 -8 rod is ideal for casting tails of all types, especially Spey specially designed for 'froller' casting and dealing with large fish.
Rat Tail: In lakes, depending on the season and where the fish are stationed, many different types of tails are used. The most common are floats, Slow or Fast intermediates and Di3 sinkers.
Leader: The leader can vary in length but a 9-12ft conical terminal ending with a 0.20/0.22 and a strong tippet (between 0.18 and 0.20mm) is ideal for holding the streamer and resisting larger fish. Also widely used are Poly Leaders both floating and intermediate in lengths varying from 5′, 8′ and 10′ to which our tip is attached, I recommend about 1m from the poly leader loop for the sling fly and about 1.5m for the tip fly.
Long and Precise Throw: In lakes, where fish move around in search of food, long casts are essential. Try to cover different areas, such as near obstacles, deep bottoms, or areas with submerged vegetation. Never make the mistake of starting the fishing action with full-tail casts, but begin by exploring near the banks so as not to disturb the entire fishing area.
An all-Italian launch is the Froller which is a variant of the Roll Cast. There are 2 versions of Froller casting, anchoring in the water in front of the angler and anchoring using the bank at our side.
Variable DepthLet the streamer sink to the desired level, varying the depth according to the behaviour of the fish. In the early morning or at dusk, fish tend to rise towards the surface, while during the day they prefer deeper areas. Very important is the presence of the wind, which tends to lift trout towards the surface and makes them less suspicious.
Slow and Continuous Recovery: A slow and continuous retrieve with periodic pauses imitates the swimming of small fish or leeches, stimulating the fish to chase our imitations.
Pause: With a series of short tugs alternating with pauses, the streamer or our imitations will have an irregular and 'frightened' movement, which can attract the interest of trout and other predators.
Long Pull: A retrieve with long, slow pulls, ideal for attracting fish at a distance, allows the streamer to move widely in the water.
Rolly Poly: The two-handed retrieve, also known as Rolly Poly, is a popular method in a multitude of fly fishing scenarios.
What is this all about?
The Rolly Poly retrieve is a continuous retrieve of the rat tail by tucking the rod under the arm and alternating strikes with both hands. This highly effective, somewhat unorthodox retrieve is popular with saltwater anglers worldwide.
An incredibly good technique in still water when fishing for attractive flies such as boobies and blobs.
Strategic Areas: The best places to use streamers in a lake are areas near structures such as reefs, kelp beds, rocky bottoms and creeks where predatory fish are used to hunt.
Fishing HoursThe best times are generally at dawn and dusk, when predatory fish come out to hunt. At these times, the fish tend to come closer to the shore, making it easier to reach them even with a cast from the shore.
Choose Different Colours and SizesIn lakes, colour is crucial. Brightly coloured streamers (such as orange, yellow and red) work well in murky water, while more natural colours (olive green, brown, black) are ideal in clear water.
Weighted streamersSome streamers are fitted with tungsten or lead heads to give the artificial an undulating movement.
I also recommend doing a reverse mounting, i.e. mounting the marabou under the belly of the streamer by working it with the tip pointing upwards. This mounting system aids in ferreting and avoids numerous unhooking because the articial will plant itself in the upper part of the fish's mouth, which is the hardest and most resistant part.
Experiment with Recovery SpeedSometimes a very fast retrieve can stimulate the fish's predatory instincts, while at other times a slow or even static retrieve can be very effective. Vary your retrieve methods a lot, I recommend, lake fishing is dynamic and you must not get stuck on one retrieve method only by varying the type of sinking of your tails!
Use the Stripping TechniqueThis technique consists of a series of short, rapid pulls followed by pauses to create a movement simulating a wounded or struggling fish.
Try Different Streamer ModelsSome streamer models imitate small fish with a sinuous movement, while others are perfect for simulating leeches or larvae.
Lake streamers are therefore an excellent choice for catching trout and other predators, especially when you are trying to attract larger fish that hunt bigger prey.
