Overview

The Baby Gonga is Charlie Craven's downsized version of his Gonga streamer, tied by Umpqua. Craven is an Umpqua signature tyer from the Southern Rockies and owner of Charlie's Fly Box in Arvada, Colorado.

It measures about two and a half inches and is articulated like its larger counterpart, built on two size 8 hooks. That gives you the swimming, hinging action of a big articulated streamer in a size that a 5- or 6-weight rod casts easily. A two-and-a-half-inch fly matches the sculpins, small baitfish and juvenile trout that are on the menu for trout in most rivers, so it fits smaller water where a big streamer would be overkill.

How to Fish It

• Strip and pause: use short, sharp strips with pauses so the articulated body kicks and hinges.
• Bang the banks: cast tight to banks, logs and boulders from a boat or while wading, then strip it back.
• Swing: let it swing across riffle tails and through runs, adding twitches as it comes around.
• Line: a floating line works in shallow water; a sink-tip gets it deeper in big runs.
• Timing: overcast days, low light and slightly off-color water bring the best streamer fishing.

Choosing Color and Size

Gray is a natural sculpin and baitfish color for clear water. Rainbow imitates a juvenile rainbow trout, a favorite meal of big browns. Rust gives a warm, dark look for stained water and low light. All come in size 8.