what streamer fishing is ACTUALLY like...

The White river is known for its big fish and quantity of them, at that. Some of the fish in here are huge.

A certain local fly shop, which will not be named, is pretty much solely responsible for the big push of streamer junkies that come down during periods of high water to throw flies that resemble a half chicken, or whole Cornish game hen, on a hook(or 2). Major kudos to that fly shop because it turned a sleepy little retirement town into a Mecca, or holy grail of big fish chasin’ fools!

Seriously though, what’s more fun than casting an 8wt, with flies as big as you can find feathers for, All day hoping to hook, or at least see one of the fish that brought you down here, to the middle of nowhere, in the weird-ass State of Arkansas.

I mean, A big fish is pretty much guaranteed, right?

HELL NO!

What many people don’t understand, and it’s the fault of most of us working on the river aka marketing, is that you have got to put your fu$&ing time in! If you are a future client, disregard everything I’m saying. If you’ve been here before, then you know what I am talking about. These fish are not a guarantee. They are not a guarantee for a number of reasons:

Reason 1: you suck, we need to nymph.
In order to productively fish streamers on the White, you have to be able to cast. It’s that easy. Not the casting part, but the explanation. A beginner fly fisherman or even an experienced flyfisherman that has never even thought once about throwing streamers does not have the highest chance of hooking up…… at all. Yes, we can all get lucky; But to up your chances, give it some practice and lower your expectations. If you have ever asked a guide what he does on his day off, he probably tells you “Chuck meat.” Well no shit, we stare at bobbers all day long with clients (see reason 1). Our expectations, even as professionals, are low. I mean, ya, “the conditions are perfect” and “the water is ideal” but we all have those fishing days that it just doesn’t happen. When it’s time to bobberdawg, then it’s time to bobberdawg. Don’t worry, the big ones (and I’m 99.99% sure the BIGGEST) are going to eat your nymph all day long. You can mark my words on that one. 💁‍♂️

Reason 2: conditions may not be right.

Nymphing is the most productive way to catch fish with a fly rod. Hands down. Ask any professional. An angler can catch fish on any day, in any conditions, in any water color, in any type of water. Well, it’s not that Easy but you get the point.
Streamer fishing is a lot more scientific than one would think. For example, out west, If you’re floating down the river throwing the streamer at the bank, making three strips, pick it back up, and repeat for the next 6 miles… you’re either going to see Fish or you’re not. It ain’t that way out here. There are a few factors that go into whether or not you should even TRY a streamer, let alone expect eats. Even during prime time, you might only even see, hook, or land one or two fish. That’s streamer fishing out here, It’s not a numbers game. It’s a… you guessed it… quality chase. And yes, you’ll likely see a fish that makes something come out your front or back side, if it even happens. The gist of reason 2 is this… better your chances around the spawn (notice I said AROUND), wait for high water conditions, clouds and rain and storms are your friend. And my own little piece of advice, change it up…. better yet, ROTATE your colors and styles of action. I’m also stubborn and will fish the same shitty fly all day, but you’re a better man than me. Probably not a better fisherman 😉, but a better man, for sure.

oh ya, don’t give up. Unless your guide recommends it more than twice… it’s probably for reasons other than “the bite’s off”… hehe

Reason 3: it’s streamer fishing, bro.

Like I said above, it’s not a numbers game. Guides do it because we can cast. Everyone wants to do it because big fish eat Little Fish. So relax, admire the big bugs your guide has stuck on his truck’s ceiling thing, and practice your casting. By the way, if you practice your casting, maybe you’ll even get good enough to chase the saltwater flats species that we all drool over!!! Get in contact to make that happen or visit www.thexflats.com

Ok, now that I’ve indirectly flirted with anyone that has the ability to cast on an “upper level”, I’m done.

This was not meant to push anyone away from trying to fish streamers, it’s simply to ”forceably” lower the expectation and give light to how it actually is. It’s work. A lot of it. Hundreds of casts. With big rods. Big flies. And worst of all, that damn hope I, I mean you, have that the next strip the line will be tight.

keep it up, listen to your guide, and hope- don’t expect.

*bathtub blog2 - - - fin 🛁