This small Streamer pattern works well in the Spring in Michigan.  This fly represents two very important baitfish patterns in the diet of our cold water fisheries in the Great Lakes Region.   The Salmon  Fry and the Smolt pattern. In the Spring thousands of wild King Salmon fry hatch in the Pere Marquette River.  These small minnows become a huge staple in the Brown and Rainbow Trout’s diet until the insect hatches begin.  These fry sit along the banks in huge numbers allowing Brown and Rainbow Trout  to slam them in the shallows.  Almost like witnessing a blitz in salt water where a big fish is attacking the bait.  In the Spring the Smolt of these King Salmon and Steelhead of  two years of age,  start to school up to make there long migration back  to Lake Michigan following the adult Steelhead after they spawn and head out to the Lake.  These become a big piece of protein for a giant Brown and Rainbow Trout as they try to ambush them on there way out of the river system.  Another major food source for our resident Trout is Sculpin’s.  The Pere Marquette River and other Great Lakes tributary’s are full  of these baitfish.    You can find them hiding everywhere, especially rivers full of woody debris.

In the last two Springs I have been playing around with smaller weight size switch rods and short Airflo Scout heads. This system is a ton of fun to cast and hook fish on.  Swinging not only for the resident Trout but for any Steelhead that might be left in the river later in the Spring.   I find fishing these smaller flies, can be even more effective, then stripping giant Streamers off the bank at a much faster speed. Swinging these small flies is more of a match the hatch scenario and do to the fact your presenting them at a much slower speed with cold water temps on the swing, can trigger more strikes. You give  that big trout a little more time to react to fly in the cooler water and due to the smaller size and life like look they are willing to take it. These flies are all simple to tie with not a lot of steps or materials involved.   Good luck and Tight Lines, Jeff Hubbard