Streamers are an effective method for catching trout, and if you want to target large fish, they are an excellent fly choice. Articulated streamers, in particular, can be fished year-round, although certain times of the year and under specific conditions they out perform other flies. In this blog post, I’ll cover what articulated streamers are, how to select them, when and where to fish with them, and share a few of my favorite articulated streamer patterns for targeting large trout.
What is an Articulated Streamer?
Articulated streamers are fly patterns that are joined together by heavy backing, wire connections, or linked with steel fish spin pieces. Articulated streamers are designed to pivot or move at the connection point of the fly. Articulated patterns move with incredible action. Unlike single hook streamers tied on a single large hook, the hinge point in an articulated streamer creates lifelike movement. Often, these flies behave similarly to conventional lipped fishing lures.
Generally speaking, most articulated streamers are large flies with multiple hooks, incorporating both a front hook and a rear hook. The rear hook is sometimes referred to as a "stinger" hook. Large predatory game fish, such as trout or bass, eat other fish, and articulated patterns with larger profiles are tied with the goal of targeting the biggest fish in the river—piscivorous gamefish that are interested in eating smaller fish.
One advantage of articulated streamers is that, unlike single-hook streamers, the fly will wobble, slowly hinge, and imitate a dying fish between strips. This action, similar to a conventional glide bait or swim bait, often entices reactionary strikes. Flies that imitate an erratic dying movement are useful for both cold-water species, like trout, and warm-water species, such as largemouth and smallmouth bass. Many of the flies that I discuss later in the post can be used for both purposes.
What is the Best Fly Rod for Fishing Articulated Streamers?
I prefer a heavier fly rod when presenting articulated streamers. Articulated streamers are heavier than the average fly, and when saturated with water, they become even heavier. A fast-action 7 or 8-weight fly rod is my preferred fly rod choice, as it allows for greater accuracy when presenting the fly.
For the fly line, I recommend a medium sink-tip line. A sink-tip line is ideal for fishing faster water and helps get the fly deeper in the strike zone. I fish a lot below tailwater dams, so getting the fly beneath the swift surface current is crucial for success.
Mending the fly line is also important for presenting the fly correctly. A sink-tip line, as opposed to a full-sink line or weight forward fly line, creates a hinge point on the surface of the river. This hinge allows me to mend most of the fly line off the surface of the water without affecting the fly's position in the strike zone.
For the leader, I typically prefer a straight piece of 20 lb. fluorocarbon fishing line and cut a three to four foot untapered section of leader to create a simple straight leader. Heavier line helps turn the fly over, is nearly invisible underwater, and helps get the fly down. A shorter leader paired with a sink-tip line will help get the fly deeper than a longer leader. For that reason, I prefer a leader in the three- to four-foot range.
When is the Best Time to Fish Articulated Streamers?
Certain conditions create the ideal times to fly fish with streamers. While these are general guidelines, it is important to note that I have caught many fish using articulated streamers when the conditions didn’t seem optimal. It is important to give the technique a chance because you never know unless you try.
In my experience, the ideal time to fish streamers is in July or August. Water temperatures are rising, and a trout’s metabolism is in high gear. A higher metabolism means trout are more likely to chase and attack streamers. Ideally, a cloudy or rainy day, especially one following several sunny days, will get fish moving. Cloudy days are preferable because less light penetrates the water, making it easier for trout to see. Fish don’t have eyelids, so shaded banks or overcast skies create more comfortable conditions for them to see prey, and they are more likely to chase streamers and other baitfish.
Fall Streamer Fishing
Fall is another prime time to use an articulated streamer pattern to target large fish. Fall brings together several environmental factors that offer fly anglers a real chance at catching huge fish. By "huge fish," I mean those that measure 27" or more.
By October and November, most hatches have concluded. Fish sense the change in seasons and know that the fall is their last chance to stock up on calories before the long, lethargic winter months set in. With fewer calories available in the food chain, they turn to eating other fish to sustain their metabolism.
Additionally, brown trout begin their fall spawn. Large lake dwelling fish and resident brown trout start moving upstream in search of spawning beds. They often congregate at the mouth of the river before heading to the gravel beds. Males choose spawning sites, clean them, and aggressively defend them from other fish and predators.
Spawning behavior opens a small window of opportunity in the fishing calendar when fish will strike flies out of defensive instinct. Huge lake dwelling fish that are usually out of reach for fly anglers are now within striking distance and are more likely to attack when presented with the right fly.
Big Rivers Or Small Streams?
During the fall season, don’t overlook small tributaries that feed into larger rivers and eventually empty into a lake. Where I live in Colorado, it’s easy to dismiss small creeks, but during the fall, lake-dwelling brown trout will travel great distances and into small feeder streams to find gravel beds for spawning. Some of the largest trout I’ve encountered were spooked while walking over undercut banks in areas I thought were too small to hold big fish.
Choosing the Right Articulated Streamer Pattern
Choosing the right articulated streamers comes with time on the water and confidence in specific patterns. That said, it’s wise to have a variety of streamers in your fly box to cover different scenarios.
Start by considering various colors for the day. Black, olive, white, and natural colors are common in streamer patterns. As a general rule of thumb, the brighter the day, the lighter the fly you should use. Streamers with plenty of gold or silver flash will reflect the sunlight and create an attractive shine. On darker, cloudy days, opt for darker or natural colored flies. Natural colored streamers are always a safe bet if you're unsure about what color to choose. You can adjust your fly choice based on how the fish are reacting.
Also, consider how deep you're fishing. Certain colors become less visible the deeper the fly is presented. Regardless of the depth, black is the most visible, which is why it’s one of my favorite and most productive colors when fishing articulated streamers. No matter if it fished shallow or deep, the color black can be seen.
In my experience, black colored streamers are particularly effective in the fall. I believe many of the fish in the river system during this time are deep lake dwelling fish that are used to feeding in dark conditions. A black streamer matches their normal forage profile in lakes where they spend most of the year. For this reason, always have black articulated streamers available in the fall.
Choose A Large Profile Fly
While it may be a foreign concept to us, large predatory trout use their lateral lines to sense or feel prey. This is true in low light scenarios and when dirty or stained water makes fly fishing conditions challenging. Articulated streamers that incorporate dense, bulky materials that displace or push water are key to mimicking the aquatic signature of small trout, sculpin, or other baitfish.
I like articulated flies with deer hair heads, dubbed heads, marabou wings, rabbit fur, schlappen hackle, and even rubber sili legs. These are all materials that help push water. This allows big trout to find your fly when visibility is low regardless the reason.
The length of your fly is also important. I recommend choosing an articulated streamer that is at least 3" long. Remember, the goal, especially in the fall, is to target big fish that feed on other fish. For imitating small trout, flies in the 5"-7" range are ideal.
Consider Weight
Consider how the fly is weighted. I like to carry a variety of fly patterns with different weight heads. Different weights allow you to fish at different depths.
Barbell lead eyes or tungsten cone head weights help get the fly deep into the strike zone, especially when you need to get the fly below fast surface currents. Streamer patterns with heavy weights are key when fishing below tailwater dams or during high spring runoff.
Unweighted flies are useful for imitating dead or dying fish. When stripped, they fall or hang very slowly just below the surface of the river. The strength of unweighted articulated streamers is that they mimic the movement of real fish, similar to conventional swim or glide baits.
You can even attach split-shot above your streamers to help them dive deeper like shown in the image above. In this situation, we were using a light-weight articulated streamer fly fishing for small mouth bass. We needed the streamer to sink faster and didn't have a sink tippet ready on the fly rod. Adding a few split shots above the streamer gave us not only the weight we needed, but also added extra movement to the streamer when stripped in.
Fishing Techniques for Articulated Streamers
When fishing streamers, how you retrieve the fly plays a significant role in success with articulated streamers. The best streamer anglers cast the fly and retrieve with an aggressive nature. Articulated streamers are designed to be moved, and it’s your job to move them.
Fast or Slow Streamer Retrieve?
As a general rule of thumb, match your retrieve with the water temperature and conditions. In winter and early spring, trout are lethargic because they are cold blooded animals. If the water is cold, slow down your retrieve. During summer and fall, when water temps rise, trout become more active and will move to eat flies. A faster retrieve is ideal during these warmer months.
During spring runoff, dirty or stained water makes it harder for fish to see the fly, so they’ll rely on their lateral line to detect the target. A slower, more deliberate retrieve gives them a better chance to find the fly. Conversely, if water clarity is high, a quicker retrieve may be necessary.
Use the Rod to Retrieve the Fly
What really sets apart experienced streamer anglers is the use of the rod to impart motion into the fly. Many fly anglers use monotonous, repetitive strips to move articulated streamers in a uniform manner through the water. Instead, use the stiff rod tip to create movement in the fly.
As the fly is retrieved, it should swim erratically back to you. Vary the retrieve: fast, slow, swim it, jerk it, or let it dead drift. Use conventional strips, but as the fly swings past you, aggressively use the rod tip to move it along the bank, swim vertically through the water column, or jerk around structure like log jams, rock gardens, or drop-offs. The key is to use the rod to move the fly, not the strips. Erratic articulation and fly movements stimulate a trout's chase instinct. Articulated streamers are built for this type of retrieve.
Some of My Favorite Articulated Streamers
Here are some of my favorite articulated streamer patterns—no particular order. These are the patterns that I enjoy fishing and have had great success with:
The Sex Dungeon Articulated Streamer
Created by Kelly Galloup, the Sex Dungeon is one of the most widely used articulated streamers in the world. It is the stuff legends are made of. Versatile and effective, it’s a great all-around fly. The orange version can even imitate large crayfish. The deer hair head and lead eyes give it a slightly negative buoyancy, making it perfect for mid-depth fishing.
This is the most versatile fly out there. I would carry one of these in every color. Black is my favorite color and I have caught more big fish on this fly than any other out there.
Cranford's Pandora Box Articulated Streamer
A fantastic fly for getting deep into holes and punching through fast upper currents. The Fish Skull sculpin head and marabou wings give this fly amazing movement. Paired with a sink-tip line, it’s perfect for targeting the big ones hanging out along fast banks or deep at the back of runs.
Bjorn's Super Freak Articulated Streamer
Bjorn's Super Freak pushes a lot of water. The laser-dubbed head emits an acoustic signature that helps fish find it. Marabou wings and rabbit strip tails create an erratic, irresistible movement when manipulated with the rod tip.
The Boogie Man Articulated Streamer
If you need a reliable sculpin imitation, the Boogie Man is the one to go for. Tied with a wool head, cactus chenille material, mallard duck flank, and marabou, it mimics sculpins perfectly. This another creation of streamer legend Kelly Galloup and this fly works if sculpin are on the menu.
The Game Changer
Blaine Chocklett really did change the game when he invented the game changer. Linked together with his fish spine system, the game changer behaves almost identical to a conventional swim bait. Matching a fish profile to a T, it swims so life like that it is hard to distinguish it between a real trout. The larger sizes of this fly pattern require an upsized rod. When saturated, it can be a difficult fly to cast.
Hit the River
Articulated streamers are a powerful tool for fly anglers seeking to catch big fish. By understanding the basics of articulated streamers, selecting the right pattern, and employing effective fishing techniques, anglers can target large fish year-round. Don’t wait any longer, fill your streamer box, grab that eight-weight rod, and hit the river!
