Clouser Minnow Question

[wm1]

I know several of you fish big streamers and I need some help.

1) I caught my first fish on a clouser minnow on Monday, a 16" brown. I am hooked! I caught him on a fly that I tied myself, a #6 4x long hook, medium weight barbell eyes, and about 2 1/4" overall length.
2) My Caney rod is an IM6 R.L. Winston. I am a decent caster, but don't particularly like casting heavy flies in the daytime, let alone in the dark when everything is by feel.
3) I like to be on the river long before daylight. I am after Mr. Big Brown. Of course it wasn't very long ago that 13" was big.
4) So, I decided to tie a bigger, but lighter weight fly. I used a #4 4x with smaller barbell eyes and about 4 1/2" lengths of deer hair.

This morning, in the dark, this fly casted much better than the heavier fly, but all of the hits that I had on it were more like bumps. I was wondering if the fish were hitting the ends of the deer hair. Will longer flies on smaller hooks cause this?

Any comments or suggestions are appreciated.

No, I don't want to buy another rod. I have two, this one and a 3 wt. Lamiglas.

William

[Steve H]

William that sounds like short strikes out of smaller fish or just plain short strikes. As well, you could try slowing your strips down to let the fish take the fly completely.

Personally, I like to go to a 7 wt or above to cast clousers as I like to throw heavier flies or sinking line. I know you don't want another rod, but to get down to some of the bigger fish when they hold in the deeper water that is the only route to get there.

BTW, I am making the assumption that you are using a 5 wt since you don't reference that in your post.

[dbradyh]

Go with bigger clousers....

[MikeA]

It's the nature of streamer fishing. You’re going to miss fish. A lot of the bumps are the Trout bumping the fly with its body not taking the fly in its mouth. A territorial strike isn’t always with the fishes mouth. Try to dead drop the fly when that happens. It doesn’t work well for me but there are lots who say the fish will come back to eat the fly once it is wounded. IMO they realize something isn’t right the minute they touch the fly and rarely come back. There have been several that did come back, but much more that didn’t.  I prefer to keep moving looking for an eater. A trout that is an “eater” won’t miss the fly! Kelly Galloup gave the best example I’ve ever heard about that. He asked “have you ever missed your mouth with a cheeseburger?”
Also the reflex speed of those fish is amazing. They can spit a fly much faster then you can set a hook. Just keep working at it and cover as much water as you can.

If you are stuck wading an area change flies often. If I were stuck wading an area the territorial strike would be the last on my list. Find out what these fish are eating most of the time and mimic that. Practice finding fish even small fish, and catch them. Once they start eating your presentation then it's likely the big ones will too. Sight fishing to big Trout with small flies will redline your fun-o-meter. It’ll keep you awake at night.

[toddro]

Many times large trout that are going after (what they perceive is) a baitfish will instinctively strike at the tail to to avoid the 'prick' of the fins.  This may be perceived as a short strike, but it is actually the trout just grabbing at the "meaty" part of the tail.  On larger streamers, I like to tie on a 'stinger' hook with some strong mono that rides 180 degrees (inverted) to the main hook.  I've fished waters where 100% of my hook-ups have been on the stinger hook.  And on water where two-hook setups are illegal, I'll often clip the main hook off and fish with the stinger only - they are that efficient...  Even if the fish takes the whole streamer in its mouth and tries to spit it out, the mono will often keep that stinger hook in the zone long enough for you to get a good hook set...  obviously, ymmv...

tight lines,

[jarrod white]

I never have a lot of luck with large streamers.

[icthus]

When you are getting bit make sure that you are "strip setting" and not raising your rod tip.  When I first started casting streamers I  would miss fish do to jerking my rod up and instead of pulling the line.  Its a technique that when learned correctly will pay off many dividends.  I agree with whomever said buy a 7wt.  TFO makes a great fast 7wt rod.  If you like fishing for trout with a clouser go find a creek and see how much fun bass are on a fly.

Good Luck,

Icthus

[wm1]

Thanks fellows for all of the advise.
Today I practiced casting smaller streamers to smaller fish.
Caught some; missed some.
Steve, slowing down my strips seemed to help.
Dbradyh, I plan to go bigger after I get some practice.
Mike, you're correct concerning the reflex speed of those fish. I, like you did not have any success with the dead drop method.
Toddro, thanks for the tip on the stringer hook. I will work on tying some like that.
Jarrod, me neither, but I am going to keep  trying.
Icthus, old habits are hard to break. Jerking up is a natural reflex. I really worked on that today. I was successful a few times. I actually stripped too hard on what would have been the best fish of the day; broke my #5 tippet. Largest fish landed was a 13" rainbow. And, yes, I am going after some Stone River bass.
Thanks to all.
William

[Kylemc]

I never have a lot of luck with large streamers.

 

[jarrod white]

forget the light tippet and get something  heavier or you will pop a lot of fish.

[toddro]

forget the light tippet and get something  heavier or you will pop a lot of fish.

I agree!  Tippet size doesn't really matter with streamers.  The fish are striking out of aggression, not looking and sipping...  Depending on the size of the streamer, I'd be in the 2x to 4x range.  Also, tie that sucker on with a Palomar knot - it will not fail you!

[wm1]

Used a 2x tippet this morning and you are correct, the fish didn't seem to notice and I didn't break off any streamers. I also am getting better at strip setting the hook. I am liking this streamer fishing more all the time.
Thanks for all of the input fellows.
William

[Kylemc]

I am liking this streamer fishing more all the time.

It is addictive.

[jarrod white]

I like to use 2X10 = 20# 

[toddro]

I like to use 2X10 = 20# 

which helps when your trying to free your fly from stumps.  that way, the rod breaks before the tippet!