What are your top 5 tips for anglers looking to land their personal best on streamers?

Fish everything. Even if the water doesn’t look “fishy”.
Commit to the big fly.
Match your retrieve cadence to the specific critter you are imitating with your fly.
Target prime conditions. (Weather, pressure, moon)
Be patient.

- Luis, how did you get into fly fishing, and what led you to focus on chasing trophy trout with streamers?

As an Idaho native, fishing has been rooted into my upbringing and always been a lifelong passion. My journey on the fly began with a basic Cabela's kit and a curious assortment of flies given to me by my daughter's great-grandma. Torn between the allure of fly fishing and the immediate gratification of conventional angling, I initially embraced spin fishing, finding success with large Rapalas and trophy trout. It wasn’t until I met my now best friend, Joe Bisig, that ignited my return to the fly rod. Under his guidance, I harnessed my existing angling knowledge and translated it into streamer fishing. Almost immediately, I experienced a newfound success that solidified fly fishing as my lifelong pursuit.

-When targeting big trout with streamers, what types of water or conditions do you find most productive?

My approach is to fish every potential holding spot: under structure, near banks, in turbulent or slow currents, at depth, and in shallow areas. I prefer cloudy days with low barometric pressure and new moons. While this combination can be rare, it often correlates with larger, more active fish that are more receptive to streamers.

-Streamer selection can be a game-changer. How do you go about choosing the right fly, and do you have a go-to pattern for those trophy fish?

When targeting trout, I primarily focus on olive, black, and brown/tan tones to mimic sculpin, baitfish, and crayfish. I've developed a preference for double or triple-articulated streamers with weight and a strong swimming action. More often than not I am fishing patterns I have tied, but sometimes when I’m slim on options I’ll tie something store bought on.

If I'm purchasing a streamer, I often gravitate toward Galloup's offerings or those tied by Rich Strolis. Strolis' streamer tying skills are exceptional. His Headbanger and Hog Snare, along with Galloup's Sex Dungeon, Peanut Envy, and Boogieman, are proven performers. While these may be considered cliche streamer pattern options, their effectiveness speaks for itself.

What’s one mistake you see anglers commonly make when streamer fishing for big trout, and how can they avoid it?

Chasing big fish on streamers can get into peoples heads sometimes. They fabricate the idea that it needs to be fast paced: cast as many times, change flies as much as you can, cover as much water as possible, etc. This frenzied approach leads to sloppy casts, squandered hooksets, and ultimately fewer big fish opportunities. Slowing down, breaking down a productive run, committing to a chosen fly, and carefully assessing the situation can be far more effective. By maintaining a methodical and consistent approach, streamer fisherman can increase their chances of connecting with a trophy trout.