The articulate streamer has multiple independently moving sections that produced a life-like action when fished. It may imitate an aquatic insect, leech, scuplin, but most often a baitfish. An articulated streamer is used to catch larger predatory fishing including trout, bass, pike and salmon which are drawn to its movement.
An articulated streamer is larger, hence more visible, than most single-hook flies, making it an excellent choice for fishing murky, stained, or brackish waters.
Types of Articulated Streamers
There are two primary types of articulated streams: single point of articulation (SPA) and multiple articulated shanks (MAS). Singe point is the most common type of articulation but MAS streamers are growing in usage.
Single Point Articulated (SPA) Streamers
Single Point Articulated streamers were the first of their type. This is the fly that popularized articulated streamers. They provide an advancement in action unparalleled by single shank flies—especially on the pause. The flips and kicks produced by single point articulated streamers are difficult, if not impossible, to produce without articulation.
SPA streamers also bring to bare the addition of multiple hooks that improve hookups and limit short strikes. The introduction of single point articulation has quickly lead to the advent of Multiple Articulated Shanks (MAS) streamers which are now a mainstay of most fly boxes.
Multiple Articulated Shanks (MAS)
What you gain by moving from the Single Point Articulated streamer to Multiple Articulated Shanks is unparalleled serpentine movement. MAS streamers lack the rigidity of SPA streamers, provide constant movement, change direction on a dime, and impart a life-like action like no other.
One of the first—and most popular—MAS streamers is the game changer fly developed by muskie angler Blane Chocklett. Originally a single point articulated fly, the game changer fly has been adapted in recent years to a MAS streamer as anglers have incorporated additional shanks to achieve more movement.
MAS streamers provide the versatility for anglers to design big game versions. You can have two, three, four or even more points of articulation. Anglers can incorporate various fly patterns and add hooks at various points along the shanks to achieive a desired presentation or effect. For example, you can add a stinger hook at the end of the MAS to better take advantage of short strikes.
You might think given its enhanced action the MAS streamer would quickly replace and take over the market for single point streamers, but it hasn’t happened. Just as single point articulated streamers haven’t replaced single-shank flies. Each fly pattern style provides unique options and presentation that are ideal for given conditions.
Articulated Streamer Techniques
When you fly fish a streamer is going to depend on water conditions and your target species. Streamers can be used to target a variety of predatory fish from bass to pike, but are invariably used more often than not for fly fishing large riverine trout.
Streamers historically were considered the goto fly in between hatches, when water conditions were poor, or when all else failed. Today, streamers are more mainstream and you’ll find seasoned anglers out fishing streamers all day long regardless of conditions—but they do tend to out perform other flies in murky water.
The number one rule to fishing any streamer, is to keep the line tight. This holds true when fishing articulated streamers, though they tend to produce more action on the pause than other varieties.
Classic Cast and Retrieve
The most common technique to fishing a streamer is a classic cast and retrieve perpendicular to the river bank. Cast the streamer and retrieve with 6-inch strips. This techique can be varied and many angers will use a faster retrieve with longer pauses.
Remember, whenever you pause, your streamer will sink, so you’ll want to play around a little with your retrieve to find the perfect combination. Typically, we recommend a slower retrieve in deeper, colder water and faster, shallower retrieve when water is warmer and trout are more active.
Another popular approach is casting upstream and working the streamer downstream with the current. Your streamer will go deeper, providing time for a more controlled retrieve.
Swinging
Swinging streamers is very similiar to swinging other fly types and patterns. Cast the streamer perpendicular to the bank with a slight upstream mend. Let the streamer sink and then pull the line tight. Retreive the streamer across the current in a swinging motion. Add strip actions to impart ore movement to the fly.
Dead Drifting
Dead drifting a stream is just like it sounds. Cast into a deeper pool, let the fly sink, then drift it through the water column with the current. Adding a little jigging motion will produce more action to trigger a strike. Again, make sure you maintain a taut line.
