Daniel-San wrote:

"Conan The Librarian" wrote ...

Snob. You damn purists are all alike. :-)

I think it has more to do with relative ability than purism. I am just not
very good at stripping streamers. I guess the relative ease (for me, anyway)
of throwing a dry has led to the possibly mistaken belief that I prefer it.
Maybe I just don't want to learn?

I can't argue the fact that dries are more fun, and that they are
"easier" to fish. I've just made a conscious effort to force myself to
learn how to fish streamers. It's partially because there seems to be a
fairly small window when topwater flies are productive around here.
Once the weather warms up, early or late in the day are the only times
when topwater flies (with the exception of hoppers) consistently produce.

I much prefer it too,
but the waters I fish (small rivers) almost require that I carry some
streamers with me. It's not even so much a matter of getting flies down
deep (I usually tie my Clousers with small beadchain rather than those
big honking lead/dumbbell eyes), as it is mimicking the predominant food
sources.

Matching the hatch, so to speak. Hey, you does whats youse gots to do. For
the lakes near me, come mid-summer, the bass are near the top and not too
picky, so the topwater assortment of deer hair usually serves me well.

See above for my situation fish activity.

Speaking of which, I can't believe I didn't mention woolly buggers.

Agreed. One of the few weighted flies I carry, even if I'm inept at their
use.

I've found that the fish don't really seem to care how I use them.
:-) I always carry some brown ones (sometimes with a beadhead) and some
black and olive. The brown ones seem to mimic the crawfish that live in
the river, and I guess the black/olive are close enough to worms/leeches
to get some interest.

I've caught channel catfish by doing little more than tossing the
fly out, letting it sink and then lifting it a tad and letting it sit.
(I'm guessing this is when they're taken for crawfish.)

Other times I've caught fish with a more active retrieve which I'm
assuming is taken for a minnow or swimming leech. I've yet to find a
"wrong" way to fish these guys.

[Pass Lake]

I plan to try it to see if I can get a reaction down here. (I'll
even be happy with bluegill.) I tied some as large as #6 (and some tied
more like a Trude, with a big hackle collar), but haven't had a chance
to toss them towards any fish yet.

I think it's a alot like the para-Adams. A very useful fly for almost any
condition. Please report on how it worked for you.

Will do. I'm hoping I can get some time on the water as a dad's day
"gift", but the weather doesn't look too favorable for this weekend.


Chuck Vance (good comparison to the Adams, btw ... that is my
go-to trout fly ... or *was* until Wolf gave me that Pass Lake)