2015 Algoma Travel Guide January | Page 19

Tips-Fly Fishing Using Streamers by The New Fly Fisher Show. In Algoma Country you have a lot of great fishing opportunities on a fly. One of the best fly patterns you can use is a streamer. Streamers work with smallmouth bass, brook trout, steelhead, lake trout and even northern pike! Here are tips to consider when using streamers in Algoma: Brook Trout For brook trout try using black, white and olive streamers that have the silhouette of sculpin. Sculpin are a favourite food source for trout and swinging one of the common sculpin patterns like Zoo Cougars will entice explosive strikes. NORTHERN PIKE Northern pike love eating perch, walleye and whitefish. Try using large streamers (6-10 inches) that have the colouration of these sources of food. Full-sinking lines in 9 or 10 weight are ideal for pike and getting these streamers down in the water column. Lake Trout Right after ice-out lake trout are on the prowl for food in water depths of 3-10 feet. Casting streamers in white, black or purple with either a full sinking or intermediate flyline is a great way to trigger a bite. Once you hook into a lake trout – hang on, this will be a significant battle of tug-of-war. Steelhead Steelhead are very aggressive when they come into rivers searching for food or post-spawn. Black streamers such as wooly buggers and especially black Matuka’s are very deadly. Swing the flies near or by where steelheads lie and hang on! The strikes will nearly jolt the rod out of your arm! Whenever you come to Algoma, no matter what season, ensure you bring a number of streamers in your fly box. With a vast array of species and fishing opportunities available here – you are sure to hook into a trophy fish with a streamer! Smallmouth bass Smallmouth bass eat lots of minnows and smelt, especially in the spring and fall. Try using intermediate lines married to fly patterns like Scotty’s McFly, the Gamechanger or even the Grey Ghost to trigger strikes. Sizes should be 2 to 8. White is the number one choice in colours. AlgomaThatReal.com 18