I need some schooling on streamers. For example.....99% of the time i fish the Ogden. Right now it's running low and crystal clear. What is the best way to approach it with streamers?
Side story...
i was on the river today an saw something really cool. I was standing still for a few minutes tying on a fly and something caught my attention. I notice some commotion maybe 20 feet upstream. I see is a large fish that looks like it's struggling in the shallow water near the edge. Well it was struggling alright.... struggling to choke down a smaller fish it ambushed! The scuffle only lasted a few seconds but it was awesome to see.
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Longer casts with natural colors. Stay low and go slow.
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Should i casting up? or down stream?
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I cast straight out, let it drift down then strip back. Sometimes I will start stripping back before it reaches the end of the drift.
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I use a couple of different tactics when fishing streamers the first on is "swinging the streamer" similar to what FG posted.
Stand to one side of the bank cast across and up stream let it dead drift down for a sec then grab the line and let the streamer swing across. I usually let it swig it across a deep hole.
Second is Dead Drifing cast up stream let it dead drift down then strip it back vary the strip from fast to slow
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The size of the Ogden will make it hard to catch anything across from you because you would have spooked it or stepped on it( too small). Do an up streeam dead drift as mentioned or across and swing below by casting across and down and letting it swing across were you think the fish are. As mentioned, stealth on the ogden makes all the difference,and the fish like to hang out in unexpected places as apposed to the deep holes you find them on other rivers.
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Thanks for all the advice! HTF... Your comment about "stealth" on the Ogden is an understatement. Such a tricky river to fish, especially now that its so low. But there are soooo... many fish in there. Obviously its not the Weber or Provo, but There are some monsters, and im determined to catch every single one.LOL! Add in the fact that i live in walking in distance, it's hard to talk myself into venturing out. But i know i should.....
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I grew up in walking distance,I find the best fishing on it in the worst weather.
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I like to cast upstream at an angle toward the bank and do occasionally short but quick strips with occasional pauses as the fly drifts downstream. One of my favorite variations of this cast, particularly in water where stealth is necessary is to cast so that my leader forms an upside down U along the bank of the river. Then when you start twitching, the fly will move up, then laterally, and then down away from the pool where you are targetting. If you think about it - baitfish don't typically swim upstream to escape their predators. Especially now, big browns are very territorial and looking to clear out the beds and nearby water. That is why the movement of streamers moving downstream really gets them
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I also do fish a downstream approach where I twitch it up stream slowly. Love doing this with white streamers for some reason - the slight twitch against the current can drive fish crazy! But remember, if stealth is required, you either wanter to be standing on the opposite bank or exercise very good stealth when throwing streamers. I often stay low and get on my knees if I have to throw a streamer downstream.
Last bit of advice - experiment with different patterns. Everyone says that the type of streamer pattern doesn't matter. NOT SO. I've experienced huge differences of success by experimenting with pattern, size, and color. For example, switching to crayfish patterns made a huge difference for me when fishing a certain stream a couple weeks ago. Resulted in a very fat brown just shy of 20 inches. GOOD LUCK MAN! Right now is a great time to play around with streamers.
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Thanks again for all the help. Im planning on getting out there Mon. or Tues. if anyone wants to come. Fishings been great up in the canyon.
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