Streamer Fly Fishing for Trout in The Driftless Region March 2021

Jeff Ditsworth, Owner of Pescador on the Fly with an Iowa Driftless Brown Trout

 

When I left Arkansas a few weeks ago with trophy brown trout on my mind, I started thinking about fishing The Driftless Region with streamers.  Yes, I would need to tie up some smaller streamers, and yes I would need to tie them up in olive or black vs the hot white streamers on the White River.  I left West Des Moines at 5:15, and was on the water in NE Iowa around 9:45.  Today, I brought El Jefe in 6 weight as my streamer rod, and El Jefe in 4 weight as my nymph rod.  

 

Olive Pine Squirrel Streamer by Jeff Ditsworth

 

Fishing streamers is an absolute blast.  It’s an incredibly efficient way to fish a deep pool, or downed tree, or other structure.  I like to position myself a bit up stream, and just slowly work the water with the streamer.  Always try to keep yourself positioned as far away from a hole or the water you are fishing to avoid spooking fish.  Hopefully you have some space to cast, otherwise utilize a roll cast.  

 

Driftless Brown Trout Streamer Eater

 

Streamer fishing can yield some of the largest fish in the water you are fishing.  It’s pretty incredible when you resort to only fishing streamers for a day, the fish you end up hooking up with have generally become meat eaters, and grow larger accordingly.  

 

Driftless Streamer Eating Rainbow Trout

 

During this Friday session, I did end up nymph fishing a bit, but why not, I already pulled a bunch of streamer eaters out of each hole, and I do love fishing my 4 weight El Jefe.  

 

El Jefe and an Iowa Driftless Brown Trout

 

The fish that were caught on nymphs today were caught on black zebra midges in size 18 and size 20 red zebra midges.  We fished 5X Tippet on the nymph rigs and 3X on the streamer rigs.  This might be the only time I can remember that I didn't lose a fly the entire day.  This is also the first time I‘ve ever encountered so many people fishing on this section of river.  I actually didn’t  get to fish the majority of my water because others had got to the creek after I did, but high holed me a bit.  These things happen on public waters.  

 

 

Until next time, tight lines my friends!  Jeff