Loon University: The Ultimate Guide to Fly Floatants
Chasing rising trout or prepping for a hatch? Keeping dries floating is key—but with so many floatants, how do you choose the right one?
Loon University: Stillwater Streamer Rig with Joe Garza
Dial in your stillwater or streamer game with a simple and effective two-fly rig designed for fishing beneath the surface. Whether you're running a full sink or intermediate line, this rigging system is perfect for trout, bass, or anything feeding subsurface.
In this quick tutorial, Lake Almanor guide Joe Garza walks us through how he rigs his leader and tippet for a sinking line setup. It’s fast, clean, and gets results.
Step-by-Step Setup
1. Start with a 7.5' Tapered Leader (2X or 3X)
Begins with a 7.5-foot 2X or 3X tapered leader. Straight from the pack. These leaders tend to have coil memory, so stretching it out or using a Leader Straightener is an important first step.
2. Tie on Your First Fly Using an Improved Clinch Knot
Tie on your first fly, which is usually a Hex pattern, and secure with a six-wrap improved clinch knot. It’s strong, simple, and reliable.
3. Add Two Feet of Tippet to the Hook Bend
Tie 2 feet of 3X tippet directly to the bend of the hook on your first fly using another improved clinch knot. This becomes the dropper for your trailing fly.
4. Tie in Your Trailing Fly
Use the same improved clinch knot to tie in your trailing fly. This fly rides behind the first fly and gives you a great chance of hooking into fish feeding deeper or keying in on smaller prey.
5. Trim Tag Ends and Get to Fishing
Finish the rig by trimming your tag ends flush with a sharp pair of Nippers.
Why This Rig Works
-Presents flies at different depths
-Great for lakes, slow-moving rivers, or anywhere you’re using sinking lines
-Keeps your flies spaced and drifting naturally
-Easy to set up and strong enough to handle big fish
