Stripping in November
Have you ever considered stripping in November? For those of you who have tried it, you know there is nothing else like it. No, I am not talking about streaking through the commons on campus or taking a polar plunge into the local lake. I am talking about stripping streamers in search of gorgeous fall colored brown trout. These fish look to put on the feed bags
after finishing with their annual spawning rituals. While they can still be caught using traditional methods, sink tips and
erratic stripping will bring the wolves out to hunt.
Large brown trout may not be the only challenger to take a swing on your streamer either. There truly is no other experience that matches that of a fully charged, fresh run, chrome steelhead sharking your fly as you strip it out of the deep
darkness in front of the boat. These fish slam your fly, taking you for a blitzkrieg of a ride as they try to shake the stinging hook out of their mouth.
Streamers come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Natural colors like olive, brown, and even orange mixed in with just a pinch of flash will fool any fish. It’s more about the attitude of the fly that entices the bigger fish. In fly fishing, the angler creates such attitude with each erratic strip and pop of the rod. Combined with fishing deep and confident casting, you will soon notice a whole different class of fish in the river. So while most people turn their focus to the woods, grab some extra layers and your fishing gear and try a little stripping in November instead. Maybe you will find your next gold or even chrome
trophy!
Have you ever considered stripping in November? For those of you who have tried it, you know there is nothing else like it. No, I am not talking about streaking through the commons on campus or taking a polar plunge into the local lake. I am talking about stripping streamers in search of gorgeous fall colored brown trout. These fish look to put on the feed bags
after finishing with their annual spawning rituals. While they can still be caught using traditional methods, sink tips and
erratic stripping will bring the wolves out to hunt.
Large brown trout may not be the only challenger to take a swing on your streamer either. There truly is no other experience that matches that of a fully charged, fresh run, chrome steelhead sharking your fly as you strip it out of the deep
darkness in front of the boat. These fish slam your fly, taking you for a blitzkrieg of a ride as they try to shake the stinging hook out of their mouth.
Streamers come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Natural colors like olive, brown, and even orange mixed in with just a pinch of flash will fool any fish. It’s more about the attitude of the fly that entices the bigger fish. In fly fishing, the angler creates such attitude with each erratic strip and pop of the rod. Combined with fishing deep and confident casting, you will soon notice a whole different class of fish in the river. So while most people turn their focus to the woods, grab some extra layers and your fishing gear and try a little stripping in November instead. Maybe you will find your next gold or even chrome
trophy!
Switch Way for Chrome?
The switch rod offers the northern Michigan fly angler a couple of options to chase chrome on their favorite rivers. A
switch rod is two handed rod that is a little longer than most single handed rods and a little shorter than more traditional spey fly rods. An 11 foot 7 or 8 weight switch rod works well on Michigan’s smaller rivers like the White and Pere Marquette.
Armed with an extra reel or spare spool an angler can quickly cover their favorite water with options without having to bring more than one rod with them. You can try your luck with eggs and nymphs with a floating line and an indicator setup.
Then switch out your reel to go back and see what will give chase on your swing gear. There are some days where one tactic just won’t work and when on foot having a switch rod saves you the hassle of carrying extra gear to forget on the bank or the long walk back to your vehicle to make the change. The extra length makes single handed casting a breeze and gives you extra line control when mending. Almost every rod company out there is now offering switch rods. Take a minute and check one out the next time you are in your favorite fly shop. For more information on trips or fly patterns check out
www.flyfishingmichiganrivers.com or on Facebook.
The switch rod offers the northern Michigan fly angler a couple of options to chase chrome on their favorite rivers. A
switch rod is two handed rod that is a little longer than most single handed rods and a little shorter than more traditional spey fly rods. An 11 foot 7 or 8 weight switch rod works well on Michigan’s smaller rivers like the White and Pere Marquette.
Armed with an extra reel or spare spool an angler can quickly cover their favorite water with options without having to bring more than one rod with them. You can try your luck with eggs and nymphs with a floating line and an indicator setup.
Then switch out your reel to go back and see what will give chase on your swing gear. There are some days where one tactic just won’t work and when on foot having a switch rod saves you the hassle of carrying extra gear to forget on the bank or the long walk back to your vehicle to make the change. The extra length makes single handed casting a breeze and gives you extra line control when mending. Almost every rod company out there is now offering switch rods. Take a minute and check one out the next time you are in your favorite fly shop. For more information on trips or fly patterns check out
www.flyfishingmichiganrivers.com or on Facebook.
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