Triple Threat Streamer

DT’s Triple Threat Streamer

  The Triple Threat was originated by Mike at Oil Creek Outfitters. I add flash to mine.
I use polar fiber and tie these in many shades. One thing I keep in mind is I make the top of the streamer the darkest color and the belly the lightest color which is usually white or yellow. Flash is whatever I choose. Also I tie the polar fiber steps sparse in material.
 Adding glue in the last step helps secure the thread wraps and keeps the material from spinning inside the cone.

By popular demand

DT’s Triple Threat Streamer

Hook; 9672 #10  or 9671 #8
Thread; white 6/0
Cone; gold
Top; Black polar fiber
Sides; Gray polar fiber
Belly; White polar fiber
Flash; 2-3 strands Silver Krystal Flash

1. Cone on hook

 2. Thread hook shank only about a third the way back from the cone

3. Top; Tie in sparse amount of black Polar Fiber extending the fibers over the cone head. Keep tie in point as close to cone as possible when tying in all Polar Fiber.

4. Sides; Tie in a sparse amount of gray Polar Fiber to the far side of the hook shank extending over the cone head as shown

5. Sides; Tie in another gray Polar Fiber to the near side of hook shank in same manner.

6. Belly; Tie in a sparse amount of white polar fiber underneath hook shank as shown.

 7. Trim excess Polar Fiber behind thread wraps. Bring thread right behind cone.

 8a. Flash; Take Flash and fold the strands around the thread keeping the strands even as possible on each side of thread.

8b. Slide strands up against shank behind cone. Wind thread around strand towards back of hook keeping strands separated.

8c. Fold flash strands to each side and over cone and wind thread around flash tying down behind cone. Keep tension on thread.

9. Take hook out of vise and clamp hook eye into vise.

10. Tie off thread at end of thread wraps towards back as shown.

11. Secure thread wraps and knot with glue.

12. With a pair of hemostats, or needle nose pliers, push the thread wraps and polar fiber into the cone head as far as possible. The Polar Fiber and Flash will fold backward over hook shank if done properly.

Finished product;  I square off tail to desired length with scissors. 

 Some other shades of Triple Threats and what they look like when wet.

~doubletaper
 
Material;

Wild Trout and Hold Over's

Wild Trout and Hold Over's

Fe. 28,2018

  

 My intentions were to fish for wild trout in the Allegheny National Forest before the creeks got stocked for the upcoming trout season. Though they stock the small creek I plan on fishing, there’s quite a few small wild trout that inhabit the small stream.

 Along the pull off I assembled the sections of the 4 piece, 7’ 2 weight fly rod. I attached the graphite real and strung the fly line through the guides. I put on my fishing vest, took 3 stogies and headed to the creek.
 It was mid-morning. The small brook creek had a nice flow from the winter snow melt and rain run off. With the extra flow of water, this widened the creek and I was hoping the trout would come out from under the cut banks and explore the abundance of water for food. The water flowed at a good clip and the deeper pockets were opaque enough that birds of prey wouldn’t be able to see a trout holding deep. Along the bank laurel branches extended over the creek shading deeper cuts for fishy looking holds.
 I suppose it was around mid 40’s by now but the damp, mostly pine forest had a chill to it. In some places some snow still laid upon the moist forest floor. When the sun peered from the overcast sky its brightness fell upon the forest and the wet laurel leaves gleamed until the sun was overcome by the cloud cover. The water reflected the bright sun on occasion and was as beautiful as any exaggerated painted stream picture. It was peaceful to be out. On occasion a breeze would stir but it was hardly noticeable unless it occurred during a forward cast of a dry fly. The sound of tumbling stream water was music to my ears!
 For the first 20 minutes or so I tried coaxing a trout to the surface with a few dry flies. I watched my black beetle drift with the current underneath overhanging laurel branches. I watch one of my delicate tied Blue Wing Olive touch down behind an exposed boulder and slowly encircle the back eddy before being washed downstream. I offered an olive Humpy as it slipped along on the short waved current but no fish would have them. I resorted to fishing beneath for most of the day.
 I knotted on a Woolly Bugger and shortened the tail so as not to get a short strike from any small wild trout that inhabits the creek.
 My cast was just short of the far bank and I watched the fly line as the weighted bugger swung down creek. A quick bump told me I had a trout interested. It wouldn’t take the bugger after a couple more showings so I replaced it with a shortened San Juan Worm. The water was too shallow for tandem nymphs so I drifted it alone.
 From the ankle deep bank I crouched and cast the San Juan upstream. The fly line floated upon the surface as the offering drifted beneath. The flow was moving fast enough that if a fish takes the San Juan it should be very noticeable. I saw a quick dip in the end of the fly line and I wrist set the hook with a sharp upward pull. The trout tugged back and we had a short skirmish with me winning out. The 2 weight rod flexed with the wild trout as I brought it to hand.

 I missed one more down creek a bit before I switched to a shortened Triple Threat streamer. Adding a little weight to the leader I cast out into likely lairs where trout may be hidden. Sure enough I felt a sharp tap of the line and I was quick enough to catch the mouth of a smaller trout. The small brook trout scurried about beneath like a humming bird darting from flower to flower for the nectar. 

 I lit up a cigar and continued to fish my way down creek.
 I missed one a little further down creek but hooked another wild brook trout on the San Juan. It wouldn’t stop squirming as I tried to softly cradle it in my palm. It slipped out of my wet hand and plopped into a trickle of water along the edge of the bank. I watched as it squirmed and slithered its way back into the main body of water.
  By the time I got to my truck the stogie was down to the nub. Though I didn’t hook into many trout the experience thus far was calming, beautiful and satisfying. I was now heading to a slightly wider stream for some hold over brookies that didn’t end up on the chain gang from the past season.

 The afternoon took a different turn weather wise. As I walked through the dense forest the air became a bit colder. The cloud cover was almost a sheet of gunmetal gray. I felt dampness around me and I couldn’t tell if it was that feel I get of rain coming or just the moisture rising from the forest floor. I came across thick slabs of ice along the path I followed. A clear sign of how high the water had gotten over the winter and how thick the ice got before the thaw.

 

This stream gets stocked pretty heavy with brook trout and also is easy accessible. Like any stocked trout stream though there’s always a few hold over’s that make it through the onslaught of fishermen and the strongest survive the winter.
 I notice run off water flowing down the mountain sides feeding more water to the creek. This creek is much wider than the last. There are wider dipper holes to hold and hide fish. There are also many more water hazards such as deadfalls and brush that accumulates along the bends in the creek. These all make for good homes for trout but hard to get to for fishermen without a chance of getting tangled. A drifting streamer near enough might get a hungry trout to come out of the deep cover for a meal.

 Water flows over a submerged tree trunk that stretches the width of the creek. The water falls into a deep pool as bubbles rise and suds upon the surface like a freshly poured glass of champagne. There’s no doubt that during the shallower conditions trout will huddle in the well oxygenated and deep pool area.
 I cast a Woolly Bugger across stream and slowly strip it towards me. The undercurrent slowly pushes it towards the tail out as I swim it back towards me. I see a trout swim out from beneath the log in the calmer water below me. It gingerly swims over to check out the bugger swimming my way. It turns away just before I lift it out of the water.
 On the next cast I guide the bugger below the bubbling surface water. I feel a short tug and immediately set the hook. The trout pulls away taking some line through my fingers and off the spool. I slow him down with tensioned fingers and the rod tip shimmies with the erratic moving trout. Not as colorful as the wild trout earlier but a healthy brook trout none the less.

  I pull one more brook trout from under the waterfalls before continuing upstream.

 

  Sprinkles of raindrops dot the surface of the calmer sections of water. I notice a darkness that has now come over the forest. Looking up through the branches the gray clouds move blocking the lighter reflecting clouds higher in the sky. As I cup my hand and light my last cigar I notice the occasional breeze is stronger. There also is a cold chill in the air I hadn’t noticed earlier.

 As I fish my way downstream I cast the Woolly Bugger in likely area. I’ll add or take lead weight from my leader as needed depending on the water depth and flow. I dead drift, as if nymph fishing, in deeper holes, swing the streamer in the wider sections and slowly strip the bugger towards me in tail outs. At times I guide the streamer over sunken logs and away from hazards.

 The trout grabbed the streamer in a sweeping motion by the way the fly line pulled away. I set the hook with a sharp upward tug on the fly rod. I feel the tip section arc as the trout pulls line from the lightly tensioned spool. I slow him down and turn him up creek away from a nearby log jam. The trout swims into the quicker current as he draws closer. I swing the 2 weight down creek and towards the bank. The fish u-turns down creek and follows the rod pull into the shallow water near the bank. A little more color is apparent on the sides of this hold over.

 As sprinkles of rain fall in bigger drops I make my way down creek a little quicker. I only make a couple of casts in deeper pockets and deeper runs. Near the bank, below my parked truck, I cast a few more times trying to finish the day with a last hook up but it doesn’t happen.

 I pop open a Dopplebock at the truck and take a swig of the brown color beer. Dark foam rises to the brim of the bottle. 

I change out of my fishing clothes under shelter and finish off the beer while watching the raindrops increase in mass. A foggy mist hovers over the creek.
 The sound of the water tumbling over rock ceases as I shut the truck door. The sounds of big raindrops are now heard on the truck roof. I take off my soaked ball cap and lay it on the dash. The 5.7 liter Hemi comes to life as I turn the key. I drive the RAM 1500 out of the  parking area, I drive through the forest and back into the traffic of reality. It’s been an enjoyable and relaxing time out in the Allegheny National Forest.

~doubletaper