Seeing the fly is one of the most enjoyable aspects of fishing. But there’s a world of education inherent, too. Watch the fly dance and fall as it mixes with the currents. Notice how it responds to rod tip animation and line strips. Then see a trout materialize around the fly and judge its reaction. Visible flies are teachers. Whether dries, wets, nymphs or streamers, watching the fly helps us refine the techniques that catch fish.
Keep moving. That’s the key to streamer fishing. And moving downstream with the currents makes it possible for hours at a time. Wade down and fish up . . .
Here are specific strategies for targeting edge water, with footage from two trips — one on small water and one on a larger river. I fish nymphs and streamers, changing frequently to suit the conditions.
The Troutbitten Shop Spring Sale ’26 is here, with all leaders, hats and stickers back in the Troutbitten Shop.
The Troutbitten Shop Early Winter Sale ’25 is here, with all leaders, hats, stickers and apparel back in stock.
Crossover Technique is streamers on a tight line. It’s part streamer concept and part nymphing. There’s always a streamer on the point, and sometimes a nymph is added as a second fly.
The Crossover is all about taking a streamer to the fish. Instead of stripping our fly away from the trout, asking it to get up and chase, the Crossover style makes it easier for a lazy trout to say yes to the presentation.
Crossover techniques are subtle but attractive. We’re trying to inspire the trout to eat a bigger food form, while having precise control over exactly where the fly is and how it moves, all because we’re fishing it on a tight line, Mono Rig system.
I think we ended up right where we started, realizing that small stream fishing leads us into everything there is to love about fishing, and maybe helping to teach us some of the most important lessons of all. Wherever you are, wherever you fish, take some time to hike upstream into a narrow, shaded valley. You just might fall in love.
This one’s about using streamers to find the biggest trout in the smallest waters. Our job for this episode is to highlight the changes we make, or the different strategies we might have, for fishing streamers in small waters vs the bigger ones.
The Troutbitten Shop Spring Sale ’25 is here, with all leaders, hats, stickers and apparel back in stock.
This leader is perfectly built for subtle streamer presentations, at longer distances, with less leader sag and more feel. I’ve been working on the Crossover technique for half a decade or more. But in the last year, after the addition of the Super Pause and the slight downsizing of flies, a different leader build has made all the difference.
This season has been all about options for moving the streamer. Our focus has been on the animations available to attract and then sell the trout on the streamer presentation. In this season finale, we talk about river scenarios and share some tips and strategies that help tie all of the previous episodes together.