Loon University: Stillwater Streamer Rig with Joe Garza
Dial in your stillwater or streamer game with Joe Garza’s quick, effective two-fly sinking rig—perfect for trout, bass, and other subsurface feeders.
Loon University: Stillwater Indicator Rig with Joe Garza
Stillwater fly fishing can be incredibly rewarding, but it requires the right rigging to be successful. In this Loon University video, Lake Almanor guide Joe Garza walks us through building a reliable stillwater indicator setup, breaking it down step by step using essential tools and techniques.
Whether you’re fishing Lake Almanor or any other trout-filled lake, this setup ensures your flies present naturally while keeping fish close and manageable once hooked.
STARTING WITH THE LEADER
Begin with a 12-foot fluorocarbon tapered leader. Because these leaders can be stiff and coiled, it is important to stretch them out first. A simple, steady pull or using a Leader Straightener will take out the memory, leaving you with a straight leader ready for rigging.
RIGGING THE SLIP INDICATOR
For stillwater indicator fishing, using a slip indicator is preferred. Slip indicators are ideal for long leaders because they slide on the hookset, allowing anglers to fight fish closer without losing depth control.
- Thread the leader through the post hole of the indicator
- Create a loop so the post locks back into place
- When a fish eats and you set the hook, the indicator will slide down to the swivel making it easier to land your fish
ADDING THE SWIVEL
Next, use the Loon Ergo Knot Tool to tie on a Loon Perfect Rig Micro Swivel with a nail knot. Swivels help reduce line twist and serve as a connection point for tippet. For trout lakes, use the smaller size, as larger swivels can actually draw strikes from fish.
Pro Tip: Always wet your knots before tightening to avoid friction and breakage.
EXTENDING WITH TIPPET
After the swivel, add a 3-foot section of 12 lb (3x) tippet, again tied with a nail knot. In most stillwater scenarios, leaders run around 15 feet total, so this tippet section helps extend the system to fishing depth. A second nail knot connects another 3 feet of 2x or 3x tippet, creating a clean, strong, tapered setup down to the flies.
TYING ON THE FLIES
Finishes your rig by tying on a balanced leech with a loop knot. Loop knots give flies more freedom of movement, which is critical for imitating natural swimming action underwater.
Above the leech, add a second fly, usually a midge, using a triple surgeon’s knot to create a short tag. This two-fly system is a proven producer in stillwaters.
PRE-RIG TO SAVE TIME ON THE WATER
One of our favorite tricks for efficiency is pre-rigging leaders on Loon's Rigging Foams. By building multiple setups ahead of time, you can quickly swap leaders to get back to fishing quickly.
Attach the rigging foam to your sling pack with a Rogue Tippet Post, and you will always have multiple leader systems ready to fish.
