proby

MODELS OF MINI STREAMERS
Mini streamers are usually tied to hook
size 8-12. The fly model decides which
hook model can be used - long or short
wire. Traditional hook models with a
strong wire are common. The main idea
with mini streamers’ fly patterns is that
we try to imitate small (young) fish with
very simple patterns. Sometimes proby
Mikko Halonen
It is a known fact that grayling are omnivorous
and they can sometimes eat
nearly everything they can catch. Small
fish are also a part of grayling nourishment
and that’s why mini streamers
work especially well when fishing grayling
and especially when fishing them in
autumn.
HARSH CONDITIONS
Finnish and Nordic lakes near the Arctic
Circle are frozen from the surface for six
months beginning in autumn. The water
in rivers and lakes begins to cool down
in September and grayling fly fishing
can be continued usually to the end of
November depending on geographical
locations and the weather conditions
that change yearly. Near the Arctic
Ocean, Northern Norway, the fishing
season ends usually in the beginning of
October.
Over the years it has been noticed
that the best time for fishing grayling
is when the water temperature is
below ten degrees Celsius. At that time
grayling begin eating more actively and
prepare for the long winter ahead. Grayling
are well fed and fight harder at the
end of the fishing season.
AUTUMN BEHAVIORS
As the water get colder grayling change
their location in the river. The way the
habitat is formed affects very much the
behaviour of grayling. If there are a lot
of lakes in a river and between them
there are only small rapids then most of
the grayling are mostly in the lakes and
only seldom come to the falls to eat. If
the river is formed of tens of kilometres
of flowing water the grayling tend to be
located in the fastest flowing parts of
the river. Grayling change their location
in the river if their habitat, specifically
the currents and the temperature in the
stream change. The height of the water
is the most important property when
trying to catch grayling in the autumn.
When the water is low the fish are clearly
located in the main part of the current.
During autumn floods, even outside the
active period, grayling are located near
the river banks, even in water as low as
a half a metre.
When the water cools down
grayling can be increasingly found near
the rapids of rivers. Absolutely the best
place is the lower part of a rapids section
where the current gradually slows down.
As the autumn continues the grayling
seek waters with lower currents. Finally
they move to deep waters for the winter.
It has also been noticed in October that
there are also grayling some stronger
currents. This might be due to the fact
that grayling migrate or follow young
fish.
GRAYLING IS A TRUE PREDATOR
Grayling eat small fish as well as insects.
The well-known, Polish, grayling
fly fisherman, Stanislaw Cios, has noted
this in his research into fish feeding
habits. Cios has travelled extensively in
Finnish grayling fishing places. Small
(young) fish are found from the stomachs
of grayling all year round but recently
it has been noted that grayling
favour these fish particularly in autumn.
Grayling eat small sculpins, minnows,
perches and roaches. This is logical because
this way the grayling gets energy
much more efficiently than by catching
small insects from the surface of the
cooling waters. This has been noted
many times since grayling with stomachs
full of young minnows have been
found weighing as much as a half kilogram
while being only 35 centimetres in
length. While fishing at the river Pitein
Sweden we found out one 44 centimetre
grayling that had two six centimetre
undigested sculpins in its stomach.
Stanislaw Cios has even found a young
pike from the stomach of a grayling. So,
even the bigger streamers work well
with grayling.
40 41

By Mikko Halonen
vocatively coloured models are much
more effective than exact imitations. A
very important thing is also the shape
and liveliness of patterns. This must
be kept in mind when you are tying and
thinking about which materials to use.
Materials make your fly come to life.
Along with the naturally coloured
mini streamers, different kinds of
blue, red, orange, purple, white, black
and brown tones work as well. It has
been noted that the colours that fish
like best change nearly yearly. Later in
the autumn darker colours work better.
Often it is good to have a clear strike
point on the body or on the wing of the
fly. Some glimmer can also be added to
the wings. Also the clarity of the waters
affect the colour tone of the flies. The
ties can be weighted but it is better to
use external lead weights with these
flies. Weighting the ties weakens the
lively character of the flies.
ABOUT THE FISHING TECHNIQUE
When fishing with mini streamers it is
always better to use two or three flies at
a time. By using different colour combinations
one can easily bracket the best
colour for the situation. It is recommended
to change fishing techniques
when using mini streamers because
grayling seem to change their eating
habits in the autumn when the days
become shorter. A floating or intermediate
line at the most is sufficient. It is
important to have the streamer clearly
under the surface. If the grayling are not
found in the intermediate waters one
should start bracketing the different
depths of water by adding weight to the
fly. The grayling eat from the bottom of
the stream at times so then the fly must
be delivered there with the help of additional
weight. Repetition increases effectiveness
so when you find good places
for fishing you should take advantage
of them. Where you can find one grayling
you can definitely find more.
The fishing location affects the choice
of fishing technique. The traditional wet
fly technique (dead-drift) where the fly
is cast diagonally downstream and is
carried by the stream works when fishing
intermediate waters. When the fly is
carried freely in the stream it is possible
to make small lifts, just when the fly
comes to the edge of the current. The
hand twist technique is worth trying and
the rod can be slightly nodded multiple
times in addition. On the other hand
the classic nymph fishing technique
where the fly is cast upstream and is either
controlled of carried freely by the
stream can be used. The rolling nymph
technique is one of the most effective
when using mini streamers and fishing
the edges of the stream. Diagonal
movement of flies works well upstream.
When fishing the calm lower part of
rapid, an effective method is to let the
fly be still when floating downstream
quickly, and then make small movements
near the surface when the fly is
right on a slow flowing location such as
by a boulder. The small vibration from
the fly sometimes activates the grayling
to strike. Later in the autumn the flies’
movements have to be calmer.
TRY THEM
No exact directions can be given for the
best fishing times of the day. In September
the best times for fishing are one to
two hours before complete darkness.
The afternoon can also prove productive.
In October grayling are very active
around sunrise. Later in the year the active
time is nearer the middle of the day.
So the shorter the day gets the earlier
you should go fishing. Wherever and
whenever you have grayling in Europe a
streamer can and should be tried.
See pro-flyfishing.fi
River Teno’s Mini Streamer
Hook: 10-12, Kamasan B175
Rib: fine copper oval
Body: 1/4 fiery claret SLF (#13) and 3/4
black wool dubbed
Wing: brown-black Arctic Fox tail, 4 fibre
of Pearl Flashabou
Head: dark grey Arctic Fox Tail fur
dubbed and brushed
Mantissa Bleak
Hook: 8, TMC 9395
Tail: light brown bear fur / squirrel
Under body: wool
Body: flat silver mylar tubing
Wing: black marabou
Sides: fiery claret (#13) SLF dubbing
Throat Hackle: white squirrel fur or Arctic
Fox fur
Head: grey squirrel fur dubbed (fur
chenille dubbing loop method) and
brushed
River Konkamaeno’s Mini Streamer
Hook: 10-14, Kamasan B175
Body: black wool
Wing: brown-black Arctic Fox tail, 4 fibre
of Peacock Crystal Hair
Throat Hackle: few fibers turquoise blue
cock hackle
Head: dark grey Arctic Fox Tail fur
dubbed and brushed
42 43

VECTOR JACKET
POWER HOODIE
NITE REEL
MAG ROD
ATTACK FLY LINE
11.
7.
1.
9.
3.
3.
8.
10.
4.
2.
5.
6.
HOPPER SHOES
1. Mako wading shoes, 2. Kura waders, 3. Kura wading jacket, 4. Gt four rod, 5. Cdc reel, 6. Vibe 125 flyline, 7. Micro Hoodie,
8. Mega Bra, 9. Nano mono tippet, 10. Vision trout net (brown chassis and black net), 11.“Grey beanie”.
44 45