One of the most insightful lessons I learned when experimenting with fishing flies using a spinning rod was understanding How Fly fishing streamers could mimic the success of spinners. For years, this became my go-to method, fundamentally changing my approach to streamer fishing even after I transitioned exclusively to fly fishing gear. Many fly anglers miss out on streamer success because they treat them solely as flies. Shifting to a spinner-like mentality can dramatically improve your catch rate.
What exactly does it mean to fish flies like spinners? For me, it’s all about working the angles. I’ve observed countless fly fishermen casting streamers in the conventional manner – across the stream or angling downstream, then swinging the fly or stripping it back. While this method does catch fish, adopting a quartering upstream approach, demanding much faster retrieves to keep pace with the current, can significantly boost your results. My own fishing success soared once I embraced this technique, a direct result of learning to fish streamers with a spinning rod where this method is more easily mastered.
Varying your retrieve is also crucial. Incorporating short pauses, allowing the fly to dip and dart erratically, is far more effective at triggering strikes than a monotonous, steady retrieve. Learning to impart this lifelike action to your flies is simpler with a spinning rod, and this skill seamlessly transfers when you primarily use fly gear.
Another spinner fishing tactic that translates beautifully to fly fishing is casting your fly into every possible hiding spot along the stream. Spinning gear often makes this easier due to casting mechanics, yet many fly anglers seem to avoid areas where fly loss is a concern. I’ve seen experienced fly fishermen bypass promising holding water simply because of potential snags or a perceived inability to achieve the “perfect drift” for nymphs.
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However, years of experience with both spinning and fly gear have taught me a valuable lesson: a perfect drift isn’t always necessary to catch trout. In fact, the largest trout often reside in the most challenging, structure-rich pools.
Furthermore – and this is a game-changer – trout frequently strike on impulse. When a trout is positioned in a difficult-to-reach location, like under a submerged log, and is in feeding mode, it will often ambush the first enticing thing that enters its vicinity. Whether it’s a spinner, bait, dry fly, nymph, or streamer, they will often attack before the presentation even reaches the bottom.
A significant portion of fish can be caught simply by getting your fly (or lure, or bait) in front of them, without overthinking drag-free drifts or textbook presentations. Spinning gear fishing highlighted this because it allows for numerous casts in diverse directions with less physical exertion than fly casting – a key advantage of using spinning rods for flies. Even if you are dedicated to fly rods, releasing the pressure to achieve perfection with every cast and focusing instead on placing your fly in likely trout holding zones will, I guarantee, lead to more fish in your net.
