BLUE LINE’S CHOICE STREAMERS FOR FALL 2025

By A.M. Giacoletto

Ah, fall. Preppy girls flock in droves to purchase pumpkin spice lattes and decorate their abodes to the nines with Halloween decorations six weeks before it arrives, but for the streamer fly fisher, fall means meat hucking season – streamers fished for aggressive and (ideally) large, mature brown trout in the midst of early, chilly mornings and low light afternoons, and if the stars align, nasty, scuzzy, wet, and cool weather becomes a regular occurrence, which is preferred for this tactic.

Blue Line Co.’s foundation is built on streamer fishing for trout, bass, and other predatory species in fresh and salt waters, so picking patterns for a specific time of year, species, method, or rod can be intimidating and, at worst, downright confusing. This fall, we at Blue Line are rolling out our choice streamers for fall 2025 to help. Are these the only streamers fishable for the fall season? Absolutely not – there are dozens of fall streamers that a bucknasty brown will smash – like a college football offensive lineman on a cheeseburger – found on our online store, but I’ve put together a list of my top five picks from the streamer lineup for this fall season. These flies are based on my personal experiences on the river, typical fall trout behavior, and variable use on numerous rod sizes and presentation tactics. Also, for a limited time only this fall, when nine flies are purchased on Blue Line’s website, the tenth is free. Personally, I recommend these five streamers as a starting point for this deal:

1. The Conjuror – I know I said this is written in no particular order, but if I’m forced to pick one fly as my top choice, it’s the Conjuror. First, I want to address the elephant in the room. It is not a copy and paste of the famous swim fly the Game Changer. It’s related to the Game Changer in the same way you’re related to your second cousin – close enough to see the relation and make a marriage incestual, and illegal in most states (this analogy won’t make sense to you West Virginia, Alabama, and Big Horn County, Wyoming, folks out there, so I apologize), but far enough apart to have unique, individualized traits. Both are in the swim fly family, but the Conjuror boasts a slimmer profile with fewer materials, which ties into a quicker sinking rate when coupled with the tungsten beadhead hidden within the feathers and chenille, so it can be fished with sinking and floating lines without issue. Water doesn’t cling to this fly as it does to its bulkier cousins, so it casts well on a rod as light as a five-weight. Jackknifes, sways, turns, and dives occur when presented, and its action appears life-like and enticing to fish of numerous species (including trout). Swim flies are a must have in any streamer fisherman’s box, and if you can only pick one, choose the conjuror.

2. Catnip – One of the newer streamers to the Blue Line roster, this gem quickly moved into a regular spot in my fly rotation. Hobo Steve crafted this masterpiece on the banks of the Yellowstone River in a hut crafted from mud, rocks, logs, and elk scat (or so legend says). The original pattern imitates a whitefish, which for those who know the Yellowstone, they realize too well the sheer number of “whities” that swim in its waters primed as big brown trout prey. Because this puppy slaps, we couldn’t help but sell it in sculpin olive, another prolific western baitfish, as well.

3. The Stinger Minnow – Perhaps Blue Line’s most underrated pattern, the Stinger Minnow is versatile and inventive. A swing fly at its core, perfect for the fall Spey crowd (I recommend 5-7 weight Spey rods for this it; it’s a heavy fly, and trout Speys in weights 2-4 struggle to turn it over even on a Skagit head), its heavy head, marabou tail, and trailer hook swipe through the current with ease to a perfect stall and drop on the down stream hang. The detachable back hook allows for swapping to a fresh one, which makes it an inventive, clever fly for the clever angler, and sets this fly apart from other swing patterns that commonly bang against rocks and drag-bottom while dulling the hook point. If you want to avoid losing fish due to dull hooks, then buy this fly. On top of the innovation, it’s not just a swing fly as it can be fished with standard streamer actions on floating or sinking lines. In particular, it’s heavy dumbbell eyes cause it to jig well.

4. A.D.H.B. – The Articulated Deer Hair Bugger, not to be confused with any diagnosable mental conditions, is what the name says it is: an articulated wooly bugger with a deer hair head equipped to push and move water when stripped or jerked. This streamer comes in white, and adds a unique option into one’s meat locker. Small swim flies capable of pushing water with a head that naturally causes erratic movement are hard to come by because most small streamers these days have a slim profile, which is a worthy feature, but sometimes it’s nice to have an articulated streamer that isn’t the size of my hand and requires a seven weight rod, but also pushes and disturbs the water to engage the trout’s attention. A four weight could handle it, but keep in mind, it’s weightless and needs a sinking line, sinking leader, split shot, or tungsten beads to sink below the surface.

5. Scooter Pie Sculpin – Another swing pattern with versatility. I love this fly, and find myself using it with increased frequency thrown on my Spey and standard streamer rods. If you need a streamer that works any place at any time, similar to tacos as a dinner option any day of the week (and not just on Taco Tuesday), the Scooter Pie Sculpin is it. In colors of olive, white, and natural, this streamer thrives on bright days with clear water as it is slim and subtle, yet it’s naturally life-like as it flutters in the river's current. Strip it or swing it, cast it with a one-hander or two-hander, and watch it seduce aggressive fish off long jams, cutbanks, or from the bottom of a nervous riffle.

Now, jump onto Blue Line Co.’s online store, click on “Flies,” and load your shopping cart with any combination of these five streamers until you hit ten, which makes the tenth one free – this is for a limited time only. Dozens of other streamer patterns can be found on our site; however, I personally recommend the Conjuror, Catnip, Stinger Minnow, A.D.H.B., and Scooter Pie as a starting point, but you can’t go wrong with our other tried and true, quality streamers that solidify the foundation of Blue Line’s mission.

Stay tuned for the next five weeks. The succeeding blog posts will individually dive into each of the aforementioned streamers for deeper details and my first-hand accounts of fishing these flies for your fall 2025 streamer fishing adventures.