Picture Tuesday....The Cheater Hook.....

[Jay Anglin]

This is a great example of why ripping big streamers through dark water adjacent to cover in small streams can produce big browns and why using a dropper hook is a good idea(where legal). The majority of misses I've seen from browns are due to short strikes and body hits. A lot of times when they go to "nip" the streamer the cheater hook does the job.

Also notice the "POS" Scientific Anglers rod that served as an excellent back-up when my primary SAGE broke. I paid $15 for that rod at Wal-Mart on clearance. I'm sure it was mis-priced but I didn't argue. It's the best indicator rod I've ever used.

 

[Rick Kyte]

How often do you end up snagging a fish with the cheater?

 

[Jay Anglin]

Yes that does happen occasionally and that is the most oft heard argument against it-"you'll snag them in the eye" etc. But in my experience it happens more often with a un-stingered streamer. I believe this is for a couple of reasons. One, there are far more presentations made with a standard streamer so naturally the incidence would occur more often. Two, it seems that they often snap at a fly initially and then if nothing happens they will continue chase and often times put a body shot on the fly snagging themselves. If the fly has a stinger then they'll be hooked initially on the first try. Another concern is tha they'll inhale the fly and the stinger will end up their gills but I haven't seen this personally with trout but this is certainly why I would never advise using a stinger for steelhead or smallmouth bass. The bottom line, a spinner or plug with trebles is far more damaging than any streamer whether it has a stinger or not.

If the conditions are perfect ie clouds, dirty water etc I'll usually cut the stinger off becuase they'll typically lay waste to the fly anyway. The stinger does take some action out of the fly and of course occasionally gets tangled. If the fly is tied properly with a short tail and you use stiff heavy mono like #8 Maxima chameleon for the tag as well as a small egg hook(#10,#8,#6 depending on the size of the fly)for the stinger-they won't foul up that much and the action is still acceptable. The fly in the photo has a short tail, but plenty of bulk to move water at it's still 3 inches long.

Here's a brookie I caught the same day on the same streamer. If you look carefully you can see the stinger hook hanging out of the other side of the fishes mouth on the bottom. That's usually what happens when they are hooked on the primary.

 

[Rick Kyte]

The only time I've used a stinger is jigging for walleyes and sauger below the dams on the Mississippi, and using that method foul hook-ups are common.

Also, I occasionally use a dry fly with a nymph dropper on our local streams. That results in about one out of twelve fish or so being foul hooked--usually because I set the hook prematurely and snag the trout with the dropper.

I guess when you are stripping a streamer the fish are nearly always coming from behind so the opportunity to foul hook them is almost nil.

Speaking of cheap rods, you never know what's going to turn out to be your new favorite. I picked up some "Stowaway" blanks in the bargain bin at Cabelas last year for $20 each and finally got around to building a rod out of one of them. It's a 9', 5pc, 5wt, and casts like a dream. I've been using it to catch bluegills this spring with Mickey. By the way, he's turning out to be a better fishing dog than duck dog. I anchor the Bluebill in lily pads--about 3-4 feet deep--and stand in the boat with the rod and #12 CDC caddis ready to toss and I watch Mickey. His hearing is a lot better than mine, so I just wait for him to turn toward those little rises bluegills make and I cast in the direction of his "point." Works every time. As long as he gets to lick the fish he stays interested.

Rick