Streamer Rigging

[Jekart]

I just bought a spare spool for my fly reel (5wt) to use for streamer fishing.
I have never streamer fished so I need some advice on the following.

1) How to rig the spool. I plan to use a dacron backing suitable for the reel and line capacity. Then the sinktip line, then of course leader\tippet. Is this right???

2) Please recommend a good sink tip - I use a 5wt Orvis rod and will be fishing the PM, Manistee and Ausable (for the most part).

3) Leaders\tippet. I hae no idea how long or what weight this should be.

Thanks all for the help!!!

[MSUICEMAN]

depends what type of streamer fishing you are talking about. if you are talking traditional streamer fishing, weighted streamer fishing, or jerk-stripping LARGE streamers, the setups are different.

[brookid]

...for a leader, in a pinch i'll cut back a 2x or 3x leader tapered leader to about 4 feet but usually i'm using a straight shot of 6 ot 8lb test maxima also about 4 foot in length.

I let the conditions dictate what line i use. If water is flowing low to normal i'll use either an SA streamer express or Orvis streamer stripper. If the water is high and clipping along i'll go with 200 grain Orvis Depth Charge.

I prefer unweighted streamers so thats why i like some kind of sink tip...i'm not a big fan of adding weight to the leader...ie shot.

your milage may vary.

[MSUICEMAN]

for jerk stripping, a prefer a class 6 or 7 full sinking line, about a 4' leader of a good 8lb line (usually a copolymer or flouro). usually on a 6 wt, sometimes a 7. Rio does make a class 6 for 5wt, so that would work, especially if its a nice fast action. This is with non-weighted madonnas, zoo cougars, double bunnies, rattlesnakes, etc.

[MSUICEMAN]

oh hey, i almost forgot, there is a book, called modern streamers for trophy trout by bob linsenman and kelly galloup that explains techniques for streamer fishing.

good book, good read.