After a period of relative obscurity, streamer flies are making a comeback. Nostalgic patterns like the Matuka, Spruce Fly, Hornberg, Mickey Finn, Nine-three and Squirrel Tail are being rediscovered and refurbished.

Originally tied to imitate bait fish that are found at all times in virtually all of our fishing waters, they are the fly fisher's most versatile lures. All game fish will eat smaller fish and even those that must have the fat content of an insect diet, can't seem to resist striking at a minnow imitation, especially if it behaves erratically as if crippled or injured.

Streamers are the staple of the fly-rodder who hunts trophy fish. Almost without exception, record fish captured on fly tackle were taken with streamer flies.

Patterns such as the Squirrel Tail, Muddler Minnow and those tied with Plymouth Rock feather wings, are excellent stone fly imitations, so if you are a purist who thinks using streamers isn't really fly fishing this may salve your conscience. Many stone flies deposit their eggs under water. When swimming, with their tightly folded wings extending well back of the body, they can measure more than two inches long which is comparable to a fairly large streamer.

Broadly speaking, there are two types of streamer flies, the ones tied with feathers and the ones with hair wings. The latter are commonly called buck tail flies although in small sizes, other hairs are normally used.

To further blur the distinction, many patterns call for both feathers and hair in their construction. Of the two materials, hair is the most durable and is usually preferred by anglers fishing for toothy fish such as northerns and walleyes. The important thing is that both feathers and hair wing streamers can be fished in the same way.

Many fly rodders think that streamers are useful only when the water is higher and rolly. It's true that under these conditions they tend to be the most productive fly but experienced streamer users agree that they are also good when the water is low and clear and that they take big fish almost anytime and place.

When fishing a streamer, retrieve is more important than with any other type of fly. The impression of life has to be imparted by the fisher. With other flies a dead drift may be an effective presentation but fishing a streamer in this manner hardly ever is productive.

Streamers may be fished up, across or down stream. when fish are not feeding near the surface, which is usually the case early in the season, the upstream cast is a good bet because the current will help take the fly deep. However, when doing this it's necessary to retrieve the fly a little faster than the current so the fisher can give it some action. A streamer just washing down with the current won't appear lifelike. This upstream tactic is usually easiest and most successful in slow moving streams.

Under normal conditions it probably works best to cast a streamer across and slightly upstream and retrieve it with short pulls. Try to give a darting motion to the fly. Make the pulls regular and only a few inches at a time, like a minnow swims. Retrieving across stream has the advantage of giving the fish a broadside view of your fly.

Sometimes casting in this manner and letting the current swing the fly deep and down stream before retrieving works good. Retrieving against the flow lets the current impart action to the fly so bring it back slowly, an inch or two at a time.

A fly with a weighted head can have an attractive action under these conditions because as you inch it upstream it will dip up and down like an injured minnow. Retrieving a few inches, then letting it drop back a foot or so often is productive.

Streamers can be weighted with a few turns of lead wire under the head wrapping, when constructed, or by sliding a glass bead or two on the leader just ahead of the fly.

Sometimes, when river fishing, fish will boil close to the fly without taking it. This seems to happen most often with a large gaudy streamer. Changing to a smaller, darker hued pattern will frequently catch these fish.

The best way to retrieve line is to use the first one or two fingers of the rod hand as an additional guide and strip the line between these fingers and the rod grip with the other hand. This gives constant control over the line and makes it possible to set the hook instantly. It lets the rod hand be used as a brake by squeezing the line against the grip when the fish takes. As line is retrieved it is held in coils with the other hand in preparation for letting it shoot through the guides on the next cast.

For lake fishing, streamers are productive all season also. In morning and evening, fish them in the shallows, and during the day use weighted ones in deeper water. In mid-summer, early morning is often best.

Because there isn't much current in lakes to give the fly action, retrieves are doubly important. A slow start and stop retrieve is always a good one to try. Remember, you are trying to make that minnow swim with a darting movement. Vary this with an occasional long pull. Often a fish will grab a streamer if it acts like it's trying to get away.

Use long leaders, at least nine feet, with light enough tippets so the streamer can swim naturally. In areas frequented by northerns, it's a good idea to use a short wire leader ahead of the streamer. For river and stream fishing, use a floating line because frequently when fishing across it will be necessary to mend line to keep the streamer in the area you wish to fish.

For deep water lake fishing at mid-day, sinking lines may give the best results. For fishing the shallow change back to a floater.

Trolling a streamer is a good way to locate fish in lakes. If paddling a canoe or rowing a boat, it usually isn't necessary to give the fly additional action because the paddling action can move it in a series of rhythmic surges. However, when a motor is used, it's a good idea to add action by keeping the rod tip moving up and down.

Trolling lets you cover water you couldn't possibly do by casting alone. When a fish takes, anchor and fish the area by casting.

Weed beds are good spots to fish a streamer. Fish along their edges and in the channels that run through them.

Deer body hair flies such as the Muddler Minnow are buoyant enough to be fished over the tops of weeds that don't quite reach the surface and if treated with flotant, can be fished on the surface like dry flies.

If you want a chance at trophy fish this summer, experiment a little with streamers. Remember, big fish will always eat little fish.