StreamersComet
The Comet is a popular streamer pattern, known for its ability to attract both fresh and saltwater gamefish. Its bright, flashy design and lively movement in the water make it highly effective.
Spring, Fall
Intermediate
Salmon, Steelhead
Apr 2025
Overview
A classic salmon and steelhead pattern, the Comet uses a yarn or chenille body, bright tail (often orange or red), and large bead chain or lead eyes. The sparse hackle collar adds movement when swung through current.
Materials
Hook: Daiichi 2220, size #4–#10
Thread: Black Veevus 6/0
Tail: Red Marabou
Body: Silver Mylar Tinsel
Wing: White Bucktail
Hackle: Grizzly Saddle Hackle
Eyes: Nickel bead chain
Behavior & Presentation
Natural Behavior: Injured or fleeing baitfish dart erratically with bright flashes, their panic movements triggering predatory instinct. Salmon and steelhead attack these vulnerable targets during migration periods when aggression peaks.
Where Trout Eat It: In rivers, work deep runs, tail-outs, and structure. In lakes, target points, drop-offs, and tributary inlets at 5-15 feet depth.
How to Fish It: Retrieve with short, quick 4-6 inch strips. In current, cast across and downstream, allowing the swing to animate the fly.
Best Water: Fish runs, tail-outs, pools, drop-offs, and structure breaks where aggressive fish hold during spawning runs.
Strike Type: Feel jarring grabs as the line goes tight. Strip-set immediately on contact.
Fishing Strategy
Rigging Suggestions: Use a sinking line or weighted leader to get the fly down to holding fish. 0X to 2X tippet handles the aggressive strikes. A 7-9 foot leader is sufficient for most presentations.
Seasonal Timing: Most effective during runs from March through May and migrations from September through November when salmon and steelhead are moving through rivers. Water temperatures from 42-55°F are ideal.
Pro Tips: The bright, flashy materials create high visibility in stained water. The gold body and tinsel attract attention from aggressive fish. Experiment with retrieve speeds until you find what triggers strikes that day.
Entomology
Small baitfish schools panic and scatter when threatened, with individual fish darting in zigzag patterns or struggling with visible injury. Predatory fish key on these vulnerable fleeing movements and bright flashes, as wounded or isolated baitfish represent easy, calorie-rich meals that require minimal energy to capture.
- Organism Type
- baitfish
- Life Stage
- general