Early Season Streamer Tactics

Spend your time more effectively

Lubin Pfeiffer

Streamer fishing would be one of the most effective ways to catch early-season trout in Tasmania. The water is the coldest it will be all season and the fish will eager to put on weight post-spawn usually looking to chase down large prey items. Streamers cover all bases when it comes to large flies. There are traditional woolly bugger and rabbit-style flies but also new age bright and sparkly ones. These used in conjunction with sinking lines in the lakes can produce some incredible fishing. In this article. I’ll give you a run down on how to get setup up for streamer fishing, the gear you’ll need, the techniques that work best and where you should be heading for that early-season trout fix after a long cold winter!

Getting Set-Up For Streamer Fishing

If you haven’t done much early-season streamer fishing before, you may need to grab a few extra items before you head to the lakes. My approach for fishing lakes shore-based is similar but slightly different to what I will take for a boat-based lake mission, so let’s look at each individually. Firstly, shore-based streamer fishing is a very rewarding way to catch a big early-season trout. The beauty of Tasmania is that there are so many places where shore-based angling is very accessible. For shore-based streamer fishing, I like a 6wt 9ft fly rod with a medium to fast action. I’ve used rods that are 300 dollars to 1500 dollars and both get the job done, it is really up to what the budget allows. Reel selection is important as I like to have a spare spool with my reel for shore-based fishing. Having a spare spool is lighter in weight than carrying a whole extra reel and while it might not be much-added weight, once you get all the other items in your kit it starts to add up. I’ll have one spool with a good quality floating line and the other with a fast intermediate. Fly lines are often overlooked when it comes to the purchase of a new setup and more emphasis can be put on the rod and reel. My advice would be to get the best line you can afford because it will be a night and day difference from that of a cheaper line. Your casting will benefit hugely and more water will be covered with consistent and longer casts time after time. Tippet selection is pretty simple as the water can be slightly coloured at this time of year. The fish are usually pretty angry so won’t require the finesse as they do later in the season. While you would get away with a spool of 0.20mm fluorocarbon, I would also have on hand a spool of 0.18mm and 0.23mm just to give you a couple of options on either side if the conditions are still or the fish are being super aggressive. While streamer fishing there is no need for a tapered leader, I will always use a straight-level leader made from a single diameter of tippet. For boat-based fishing, you need a few different options as you have more access to different water types and depths. For a good starter kit, I would go for a slightly longer 10ft 6wt rod because the extra length of the rod will give you far greater control while fishing from a boat. While you can use a 9ft for this situation, a 10ft is definitely a better option. Reel selection should include a reel that comes with several spools because you will need to add a few extra fly lines to the mix. For me, I feel comfortable heading out onto the lake with these options; a floating line, a fast intermediate, a Di3 and a Di5. While I also have a sweep 3, sweep 5 and Di7 in the kit, these are not completely necessary if you’re just starting. Tippet selection again is 0.18mm, 0.20mm, 0.23mm fluorocarbon. Again, there is no need for tapered leaders for this style of fishing.

Fly Selection

At this time of year, the fish are usually very eager to chase flies so your fly selection should have this in mind. My kit includes size 12 woolly buggers in favourites such as a black straggle bugger with a silver bead, black humungous with a gold bead, olive Magoo with a gold bead, olive Magoo with an orange bead, and a Hollywood. All my beads are 3mm tungsten regardless of the colour. To add to this I will have some bright options such as a size 10 UV orange blob and a size 12 gold sparkler. These flies are my go-to options from the shore and in the boat. For shore-based angling, I will also never head out without some size 12 unweighted black woolly buggers for fishing in shallow water on a floating line. Countless flies will do the trick, these are just the ones I am confident in. If you are unsure, often the best option is to call into or phone the Essential Flyfisher and ask the crew what flies have been catching well at that time.

Leader Construction

Leader construction is something that was always over complicated in my fishing. Whereas now I just use straight leaders constructed of a single diameter of tippet. For streamer fishing, I will always use either two or three flies in the set-up. For a two-fly rig the formula is as follows; roughly five feet (two arms width) to the first dropper and then roughly eight feet to the point fly. I say roughly because you need to work out a measuring system that works for you and you can do it quickly out on the water. For me, it’s both my arms spread apart measures about five feet and that’s my gauge for making leaders. It’s only approximately five feet but the fish don’t care. From a boat, I will almost always use a three-fly rig with each fly five feet apart. Keeping things basic is the way to go with this style of fishing. If a three-fly rig isn’t working for you, just fish two and keep the flies in the water, as you’re not going to catch a fish while the flies are consistently tangled. A handy trick is to get yourself a foam board that you can wrap premade leaders on. You can make them in the warm at home and even attach flies if you know what you’ll be using. That way when it’s freezing cold on the lake and you have minimal movement in your fingers you only have one knot to tie to the braided loop of the fly line and will have far more time fishing.

Where To Fish

What is so awesome about Tasmania is that there are countless options to fish once the season opens. Every year is slightly different and it will be interesting to see which lakes fire better than others. For boat anglers, great starting options are Four Springs and Lake Leake on the lowlands. While I would be heading to the big-name options such as Penstock and Little Pine Lagoon up the hill. Cowpaddock, Seven-pound bay, and the Lilly pads will all be worth a look on Arthurs Lake. Starting options for shore-based angling would definitely be Four Springs and Little Pine Lagoon and the countless options out in the Western Lakes. Inland Fisheries have been working hard over the spawning season to ensure that there is plenty of fish in all the lakes so no doubt the fishing should be amazing.

Techniques For The Lakes

For boat anglers, a bit of wind increases the success of steamer fishing simply because a drifting boat allows you to cover more water. Make sure you have a well-made drogue fitted to your boat to get that drift speed just perfect for effective fishing. For me, I like to target the water that is three to four metres in depth and anything shallower. Pick an area where the wind blowing in to and set up a drift out wider and fish your way in shallow. Once you’ve completed a drift, head back out and either repeat the same drift if you hit fish or move over a little way and repeat the process until you find them. For shore-based angling, wading out and fishing with the wind behind you casting in shallow is the most effective way I have found fish. If you arrive at the lake and are not sure where to start try and look for any signs of foam on the edge as the fish won’t be far from there. Retrieves should be mixed up until you find out what is working on the day. Early season you may not need much pace at all in the retrieve as the fish will be eager to find your flies and eat them. If they need some encouragement pick up the speed! A great retrieve I have found is half a dozen fast pulls followed by a figure of eight retrieve to keep in touch before ripping them again. Repeat this to about a rod length out from the boat and then hang the flies before recasting. The rolly polly retrieve is also a very effective option. By having a selection of fly lines you can change the depth you are fishing if you are not catching in a particular area that you know the fish may be in. From the boat, I would generally start with a fast intermediate or Di3 and then work from there.

Be Prepared

At this time of year, it will still be very cold out on the lakes so make sure you take all the essential items with you before heading out as the weather change very quickly, especially up on the hill. Quality wet weather gear is an absolute must-have! Pack a thermos so you can have a warm drink during the day and keeping a set of dry clothes in the car can be a life saver if you happen to get wet while fishing.

While the dry fly fishing on our lakes will start a little later in the season, I almost enjoy the ripping take of an aggressive streamer bite as much as a delicate dry fly eat, so if you’re looking for an angling fix early, streamers are the way to go. The great thing about Tasmania is the plethora of options available to anglers. If you haven’t tried streamer fishing early then there is no better time than now to get set up and head out there!