On Mon, 6 Apr 2009 08:05:38 -0400, "Robert11" wrote:

Hi,

Have never fished streamers much, but am thinking of getting a bunch of
flies
imitating Smelts for some fishing on the Quabbin and Wachusett in a few
weeks.

The streamer flies I do have, that supposedly imitate Smelt's, are
non-floaters, and I have always fished them deep.

Think it is worthwhile to try and find some floating Smelt flies, or are
Smelt imitations mostly
fished non-surface, or deep ?

If so, any suggested patterns for "floaters" ?

How would they be fished; just a dead drift, or... ?

Thanks,
Bob

How weird - I was recently reading a book by William Tapply - a fishing book,
not one of his novels - also, Tapply is the son of Tap Tapply, of "Tap's Tips"
fame - and he was talking about that _area_. I _think_ he wrote a book for
Orvis??? that would cover general fishing in that area, his "home water" for
quite a while. If you're interested in it, do a Google on him, and I'll bet
you'll find it.

As to the underlying question, I have no experience fishing smelt imitations on
the Quabbin and Wachusett, but why would one want a "floating streamer?"
Streamers are supposed to, um, well, "stream." If you want a floating fly, what
about a popper or any number of the on-or-near-the surface "dense hair" flies
like bees, mice, etc.

You don't indicate your quarry - what is it, and when?

HTH,
R