Hey there everyone,

If using a size 10 B175 for a stream pattern I would usually have the tail about the same lenght of the Shank. Someone suggested to make it longer like 3 - 5 times longer (marabou tail)...

Does having a longer tail on streamers make it a better fish catcher than shorter tails?

cheers

if you made it really long you wouldent connect with fish, the fish would just hit the tail.

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What a tourist terms a plague of insects, the fly fisher calls a great hatch.

It all depends if the fish are a chasing /aggressive mood,Or in a cautious/tail nipping mood.
In the first they will engulf the fly,In the second the will creep up behind and have half hearted nips.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

I am with your original observation. When I tied flies commercially in Oz I always made the tail the same length as the shank. If I wanted a longer tail, then I went to a long shank hook.
The basis of this was that fish sometimes 'nip' the tail and you miss the strike.

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I tied some experimental small long tailed streamers with a size 16 stinger trailed in the tail of a fly built on a size 10....

Caught about eight fish in a couple of sessions - only two of which were on the size 16.

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Plusnet/Madasafish > Liars to the internet community

I agree with 3lbgrayling. All depends on the mood of the fish and I'ld add that their size can also be a factor. Translation, there's no hard rule on this.

I disagree (which just shows there's no hard and fast rules) but the question is would a lure (streamer) with a longer tail catch more fish. In my opinion - ABSOLUTELY. the point of a lure is its action, and a pulsing marabou tail is extremely enticing. I fish mainly clear water and have observed fish's reaction to flies. VERY rarely does a fish nip the tail of a marabou tailed lure, rather they engulf the lot. if one does nip thetail, and the fly is continued to be retrieved, it'll often see the lure 'escaping' and really nail it. Sure you wont get them all, but you will catch more, which was the question here.

One thing though, don't go mad and have a foot long tail on a size 10. try 2 or 3 times the length of the shank.

Cheers
Alex

I would think that making the tail longer than 1" - 1½" would be pointless and counter-productive if the trout were in the "tail-nipping" mood, which seems to be a common occurrence, especially on C & R waters.

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Will captivate a greedy mind - Isaac Walton.

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you could always try something a long the lines of a single hook stinger (trebles are a bit nasty in my eyes especially if the fish is hooked up to the main hook) or something like a long tube fly.

Tie them long and if the fish are nipping surley you could make them shorter at the waterside?