Fly fishing with streamers can be effective and fun, and better yet, can be a great way to catch BIG fish. Our personal favorite time to throw streamers is when the weather and water start cooling in the fall. After extensively casting rods, we created a list of our favorite fly rods specifically for casting large streamers. Find all of these streamer sticks and more in our Bozeman fly shop.
Keep in mind, if you buy any of the streamer fly rods below, you will find yourself with a fly rod that you will be incredibly happy with.
1. Thomas & Thomas Exocett SS
The 8'8" T & T Exocett SS 250 grain made a run from the back of the pack when stacking up against the other rods. I had no expectations and had never cast it, but knew after only a few casts that the SS is a perfect streamer rod. It is a gorgeous rod with the perfect combination of feel and power. Easy and fun to cast but reliable in difficult fly fishing conditions. Having recoil guides, good looks, and a big round fighting butt are just an added bonus. The few inches it lacks makes it accurate within the inch but not quite as good for mending. The way that I fish streamers, mending is not required. If a serious fly fisher has never cast this rod, he/she definitely should.
2. Sage Igniter
The 9'1" 6wt. Sage Igniter is a badass, beefy stick that is packed with power. It is specifically designed for hucking mega-streamers. I prefer this rod in the 9 foot 6wt., while I like every other rod that made this list in the 7wt. Very fast action, yet an angler can receive enough feedback to feel and control every cast in difficult conditions. Accurate from 15 feet to 70. This rod is tough to beat when it comes to throwing meat. The only reason this rod did not take first is that it does not look quite as good as the Exocett.
3. G-Loomis IMX Pro 1
Yup. 8'10" 7wt. 1-piece fly rod. There is 1 big long piece of graphite that prevented this stick from taking first. Transportation is incredibly difficult with a 1-piece fly rod, while casting a 1 piece fly rod is enjoyable. Power, accuracy, and distance can be obtained with little to no work. The price point for this rod is right at only $495. Not the best of looks, but who cares when the performance is this outstanding?
4. Scott Sector
Great feel and power combined. Great for long casts, short casts, and everything in between. The Sector is the newest rod on the list and the best-looking. Recoil guides, blue accents, and unsanded blank really make the Scott Sector stand out amongst these rods. Windy fall day? No problem. Put the fly right where you want it all day with the Scott Sector in hand.
5. Orvis Helios 3D
Lightweight, accurate, and versatile. The 9' 7wt. H3D may be the lightest of the streamer rods. The only reason this stick didn't rank higher is the beautiful white label and the fact that it is just slightly older. It does sport recoil guides a comfortable fighting butt. Excellent tip recovery and unprecedented hoop recovery make this rod super easy to cast.
Note that different folks have different casting strokes. This is how rods stack up based on how I cast them.
Top Streamer Fishing Destinations
Ready to tangle with a trophy-sized brown trout on one of the above fly rods? Check out several of our all-time favorite streamer fly fishing destinations in the list below!
- White River Inn (Arkansas)
- Woodard Fly Fishing (Arkansas)
- Estancia Maria Behety (Tierra del Fuego)
- Villa Maria Lodge (Tierra del Fuego)
- Fish Partner (Iceland)
- Yellowstone Valley Lodge (Montana)
- Wind River Canyon Lodge (Wyoming)
- Dave Brown Outfitters (Canada)
- Chocolate Lab Expeditions (Argentina)
