As anglers, we’re always refining our skills – it’s this endless pursuit of knowledge that makes fly fishing so addictive. No matter how much we learn, there’s always a new tool to be added to our metaphorical tool box. Thankfully, we have an incredible network of fly fishing pros and personalities who have agreed to share their secrets with us as part of our Tools of the Trade series, brought to you in partnership with onWater Fish. So join us as we delve into their treasure troves of knowledge in hopes of igniting fresh ideas and providing guidance for novices and seasoned veterans who share our angling passion.
This is:
In this installment of “Tools of the Trade,” guide, ambassador, teacher, and so much more, George Daniel, is here to share three tools critical to his streamer-fishing system.
My name is George Daniel. I grew up along the banks of a native brook trout stream in rural Pennsylvania, where I began fly fishing at the age of six. I competed in angling events in my 20s and early 30s, including ESPN’s Great Outdoor Games, The Fly-Fishing Masters, and eventually for Fly-Fishing Team USA. I’ve since made my living in the fly-fishing industry through guiding, writing books and articles, and acting as an ambassador to several fly-fishing companies. Recently, I was given an opportunity to teach the historic Joe Humphreys Fly Fishing Program at Penn State University, which is my dream job and a tremendous privilege.
Targeting Species with Streamers:
Streamer fishing is a great system to implement in a myriad of different scenarios, specifically when targetting predatory species such as musky and small mouth bass – which was my goal during this trip. As fish get bigger, they typically begin to target larger prey as a means for procurring the nutrients they need. 20″ trout will still eat bugs, sure – but a 6 inch bait fish is going to provide 10x more protein in return for that bigger fish’s efforts. This is why streamers are commonly considered the best method for bringing big fish to the boat.
Every successful angler needs to develop their own fly-fishing system. Part of any successful system is having the right tools to get the job done. I take great pride in trying every new and old tool to see if it fits into my tool kit. I discard most. Not because they’re not good but because they don’t compliment my fly-fishing system. Below are three of my favorite Tools for streamer fishing – give them a try, maybe they’ll find a place in your tool kit too.
#1. Have A Boat Towel
For three reasons, a towel is one of my favorite tools when fishing from a boat. First, fly lines take abuse when laying on boat floors that collect dirt, grime, and sand. In many cases, boat floors possess the abrasive qualities of sandpaper and can quickly damage your line. Placing a towel on the floor lets the line move through a softer and cleaner surface. The key is to occasionally pull the towel off the floor, shake it off, and run it through clean water before placing it back on the boat floor. Allowing your line to lay on a clean towel instead of a dirty floor is clutch for keeping your fly line functioning.
Second, all boat floors heat up during extreme heat and direct sunlight. Placing most fly lines on a hot surface will heat the fly line core and coating, resulting in permanent damage. Last season, I couldn’t understand why my line kept getting sticky and gummy (i.e., losing all performance) until I started fishing barefoot on my rafts and paddleboards during the extreme summer heat. My feet burned because the sun turned my boat floor into a skillet. By occasionally dipping my boat towel into the water and laying it on the floor surface, the sticky and gummy issues went away. Plus, I can now fish barefoot on any boat during hot days.
Third, I’ll place towels over any potential fly line snag. For example, I’ll put a towel over my tiller extensions when fishing from my jet boat. For half a year, this tiller extension continued to snag my fly line during the most inopportune times, including playing big musky on the fly. Simply placing a towel over any snag keeps my line from tangling or snagging during critical moments on the water. The frustration of feeling your fly line grabbing every snag can be eliminated when you keep some towels on hand.
This technique can also be used for all applications of fly fishing from a boat – not just streamer fishing.
#2. Use Shorter Rods for Bigger Flies
Compared to nymphing tactics, where a long rod allows better line control by keeping the line off the water, I prefer shorter rods when streamer fishing, especially when fishing from a boat. Shorter rods are stout, providing more power (i.e., less flex in the rod tip when fishing) than a longer rod with more flex, and they are useful for several reasons.
First, streamer fishing often involves casting larger patterns. A powerful rod tip allows the angler to create the energy needed to move the larger patterns through the air to their target, especially wind-resistant bass and musky patterns.
Second, stouter rods provide greater leverage when playing bigger fish and setting the hook. Have you ever noticed the short length of deep-sea fishing rods? Shorter rods have less bend. Rods that bend less have greater lifting power. The more bend you place into a rod when playing and setting the hook on a fish means less energy applied to the fish. Soft tips are great when nymphing and dry fly fishing, where light tippets need cushion when playing fish but not when streamer fishing for larger fish. Plus, streamer hook points are thicker than dry fly and nymph hooks, so more force is needed to get maximum penetration. Stouter rods allow maximum energy to be applied when lifting the rod tip to set the hook, even when combined with a strip set.
Third, shorter rods allow anglers to put more movement into the fly during the retrieve. Streamer fishing is not just retrieving a fly to make it appear fleeing from the scene; it involves making the pattern appear wounded or dying. The more you move the fly, the more lifelike the pattern becomes during the presentation. This lifelike movement is created by placing tension/drag on the line with short but powerful movements with the rod tip. This tension can be applied side to side, downward, or even upward. Shorter streamer rods create more power with shorter movements and do a better job of selling your presentation to the fish.
#3. Utilize the onWater Fish App
I was a trout snob for the longest time, ignoring amazing fishing opportunities in my backyard. I later developed a passion for chasing other species closer to home. The warm waters I neglected for years suddenly became my favorite stomping grounds. Compared to my smaller trout streams, these new bodies of water are larger and more expansive, so I’ve been looking for a resource to help me better navigate these spots when wading and floating. Thanks to the OnWater fish app, I can now access all the data and mapping I need for my days on the water. While the app is full of incredible features, there are three that I love the most.
First, the takeout notification is clutch when floating new sections of water. This feature lets me focus on fishing while knowing the app will alert me when my takeout is nearby so I don’t miss my exit point. This is especially important in areas where large rivers are braided, and the multiple channels can easily hide your takeout, or when the takeout is poorly marked. Missing the exit point happens more than you think, but the onWater fish app can help prevent this frustration.
Another great feature is the measuring tool, which lets you mark the map where you plan to start and end your float. The app provides an accurate distance, making planning the timing of your next fishing adventure much easier. I use this feature all the time because many of my favorite midwestern streams are snaky, and measuring the distance of these winding river sections is challenging when looking at a regular map, but the app makes it a breeze.
Finally, the development of this app continues to improve, allowing me to obtain all the information I need (flow data, weather reports, stream reports, public land access, private property areas to avoid, etc.) when planning to fish new water. It’s become an invaluable tool for myself and my students.
Conclusion:
As a passionate angler dedicated to the sport, my mission is to share the wealth of insights and expertise I’ve accumulated over the years of my fishing career. By arming fellow anglers with time-tested tools and strategies, I hope to improve your time and success on the water in the same ways others have done for me. So here’s to tight lines and big fish caught on big streamers.
Be on the lookout for more installments of “Tools of the Trade” for even more helpful tips and tricks you can utilize and add to your fly fishing tool belt. Also, thank you to the onWater Fish App for making this series possible.
To learn more about the onWater Fishing App or see how you can start your free trial today, CLICK HERE.
