Oliver Edwards Essential Skills No 6

Streamer Fishing on Rivers

Streamer fishing on rivers in the UK has never had a following. There is little written material, no books or patterns. Totally different to the UK reservoir fishing scene! A curious point, if you consider that streamer fishing on rivers is practised everywhere else in the world.

Contrary to what many people think, streamer fishing is not a chuck and chance it technique, it has its own particular skills, equal to any other fly fishing discipline and importantly, it attracts big, predatory fish. It'll help you improve your 'underwater brain' increasing your ability to spot likely holding zones or lies, instead of relying on tell-tale rise forms.

This is an essential skill for every river fisher's armoury, because on those days with no rising fish, particularly when the river is up several inches and slightly coloured, streamer fishing is likely to give you some good sport, with the possibility of a really big fish bending your rod.

This season, streamer fishing on the Wharfe gave me my best two fish on any Dales river. One, a wild fish of 20 inches! I didn't weigh it, but I'd guess it was around 2 ¾ pounds. It took a 2 ½ inch Snappy Poodle. I doubt that you'd have inter- ested this fish with a size 16 Partridge and Orange!

The fly tying is also full of interest; you'll be using many new materials and some old ones. There's plenty of new techniques to learn, it's great fun, you'll love it.