Big Flies = Big Fish

[MattTucker]

Awesome stuff. If you had to venture a guess, how many fish in total that day?

I don't think we caught more than a dozen fish all weekend (and that is probably generous). The fish gods were smiling upon us that weekend. Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes, well, he eats you.

[Brian Wise]

Arofishing, the big streamer game is the exact opposite of the numbers game. Matt and Craig hit a great water level/clarity and did it right......and didn't stop casting big streamers until they were at the takeout(aside from wading in a couple of spots), and that is exactly what you have to do. I have talked to a LOT of guys that came down with the intentions of throwing big streamers and usually not even half-way through the report they starting nymphing. The Big Streamer Game isn't for everyone for sure, you have to know that you very well may get blanked, you have to be TOTALLY happy with a roll, charge, head turn, or follow......but typically when you do get one of those it is from a fish that will make you weak in the knees. Those guys that come committed and ready to throw big streamers have never left my boat saying "I really wish I had nymphed up a couple of fish" even if they got blanked. There is something about throwing big, usually bright streamers from the bow of a drift boat...you see your fly the whole time it is in the water, you SEE the fish eat, you SEE the fish roll on it, you SEE EVERYTHING--and it is crazy awesome. It will give you dreams...seriously.

[Arofishing]

I make a habit of asking everyone who fishes the NFoW how many fish they catch -- just so I can compare them to how my friends and I have fared in our handful of times to the river. I understand that fishing for big browns and rainbows involve different methods and one can't expect droves of fish. So thanks for the clarification as to them fishing for big trout exclusively, as that was going to be my next question.

Looking at the weather forecast, I am now feverishly trying to get a trip together for Friday. Unfortunately I don't have any big streamers yet, and we are just now starting to figure out where the 'bows are, so we'll probably still fish for those if we make it down.

[Brian Wise]

Looking at the weather forecast, I am now feverishly trying to get a trip together for Friday. Unfortunately I don't have any big streamers yet, and we are just now starting to figure out where the 'bows are, so we'll probably still fish for those if we make it down.

Great! As long as you are having fun doing what you want to do, that is all that matters.

[Matt Tucker]

I make a habit of asking everyone who fishes the NFoW how many fish they catch -- just so I can compare them to how my friends and I have fared in our handful of times to the river.

You really can't make a comparison from fisherman to fisherman; by number of fish caught. My guess at fish numbers is pretty much a guess (I guessed a dozen, but it could have been 7 or 18 I really don't remember); I quit really counting a few years ago (I used to be a guy that would carry a "clicker" down on the White) and started judging trips by the quality of the outing and not the quantity. Brian is spot on about the hero or zero game. Before Craig caught the last fish (the bigger one) he was trying to sit down in the bow because he was beat and I only had about 5 minutes more of rowing to get to the takeout. He put in the extra effort and at that moment the fish god's made it happen.

We went to specifically target big fish; because of the water level and talking with Brian. I have made numerous trips to the White River tailwater in AR the past two years with the same commitment to streamers and haven't been rewarded with fish that size yet. The fish gods were appeased that day, and that is all we could ask.

Looks like i will be back down the for at least 2 weekends in January, say hello if you are on the river.

--Matt Tucker

[zonker]

nicely done matt & craig! some seriously sweet brownies stuck/ released.

[jdixon]

How well would a pontoon boat work on the nfotw? I have floated the local tailwaters and really enjoy using it. not that great to fish and float at the same time but could stop and get out and wade. love the look of the river and would really like to fish it.

[Moanzie]

Nice Fish .........The problem with streamers is that it takes over your fly fishing. Those big browns definitely get in your blood. Nothing better than that flash, boil and take.

I still however love the perfect drift with a nymph rig.

Ray

[Gavin]

A toon works really well on the NFoW...if you can get a drifter down it...its definetly toonable.

[Justin Spencer]

It's easy for those of us who get to fish quite a bit to go throw streamers because we can go nymph tomorrow if we want to and catch fish. That being said you do owe it to yourself to try it for at least one trip. I have done most of my streamer fishing from a drift boat and think this is the best, but it can be done wading as well and I have caught and seen some nice streamer fish caught wading.

The other day a buddy of mine floated with me and I told him it was going to be a streamer trip for me. He nymphed most of the day and got skunked, and I streamer fished with a few chases here or there. Just after I had said I had never been skunked from my boat (and within site of the takeout) I caught a brown that inhaled my streamer and measured just under 22". I guess this made an impression on Brandon and while I was off in Florida he proceeded to start tying his own streamers and fishing them every day with much success. His own 22" brown caught on his last cast at James was enough to seal his addiction, now I don't think I could force him to put on an egg. It's not just a big brown game either, plenty of big rainbows also fall prey to the streamer, with clousers, zonkers, and the big articulated ones all catching fish.