River Wire Blog

Fall is upon us and the scraggly people who love to "throw big junk" are starting to appear. Dirty wadered anglers will be walking the streets of Craig for the next few weeks talking about "Sex dungeons", "Flu shots", "Slumpbusters", "Belly Dancers", and "Bearded Clams". Please do not call the authorities on these anglers. They are not being creepy but in fact discussing their favorite streamer/bugger patterns. In fact, when encountering a conversation concerning a "Sex Dungeon" in Craig you should, in this instance and only this instance, jump into the conversation with earnest because most likely you have encountered a valuable fishing resource.

Streamer fishing is my absolute favorite way to fish the Missouri and a great way to get into big fish. It also gives you the unique opportunity to use the term "sex dungeon" in a sentence without being put under surveillance. I lack the cool/hip lingo of some anglers but enjoy the chase and take of streamer fishing as much as anybody.

Now is the time! Missouri fish are active. Browns are of course sassy but the Rainbows of the Mo are just as ready to attack a Belly Dancer as anything. Streamer junkies all have their favorite colors, patterns, lines, styles, stripping technique, water, etc, etc. They will all be happy to give you their own personal tips.....for a few beers of course. So here are a few simple, basic streamer tips from a caring individual....beer free:

-Fish with confidence

-Fast/sharp retrieves...Strip, strip, strip......in the fall. Slow and swinging in the spring.

-Be content with your cast....don't pick it up to gain a foot of distance. Chances are you will simply put your cast in the same spot over and over and over and over and over thus missing 100 feet of beautiful water.

-Fish in the Missouri live everywhere; bank structure, shallow flats, etc. Fish it all, use your head, focus. Strip, Strip, strip

-Limit extensive falsecasting, you are just missing water. Pick it up, shoot line and put it down.

-Look downstream, Focus! always search for the next spot. strip, strip, strip.

-Catching big fish takes work. stay at it, it will work.

Streamer Lingo/Brobonics: "Tight to the salad, lot's of opp's"...............I have yet to decipher exactly what this line means. From what I can gather, "cast your fly close to the bank because there are lots of opportunities to catch trout."

Good luck and stay classy