Continuing our series on streamers…..

While not immediately applicable in Yellowstone proper as of course there’s no drift boat fishing in the Park, we’re assuming that most if not all of those who fish Yellowstone fish in other places too, and (hopefully) that you fish out of a drift boat or raft at least some of the time.

There are a couple of things that we think make drift boat streamer fishing easier, though you could argue they’re not essentials.  We’d suggest a minimum 6 weight rod, and preferrably even a 7 or 8 weight for streamers out of the boat to give you the power you need to manage your heavier line and bigger fish in current. 

Again though not an essential, we like a sink tip line with a pretty rapid sink rate (a bit easier to manage than a full sinker), with a short (6 to 7 feet max), strong (0x to 2x) leader.  We like the rapid sink rate sinking tip to get streamers down to depth quickly.

Your guide / rower will help you a great deal - your targets are structure - anything - undercut banks, weed beds, rocks, trees, etc.  On target casting, combined with a good retrieve is also essential.  Our mentor taught us to strip with the rod tip very low, even in or under the water’s surface, and we tend to position our rods so they are more close to perpendicular to the bank - it’s helps with line tension and hook sets.   Obviously mending line is not a critical focus fishing out of the boat as you’re drifting at more or less the same speed as your fly for much / most of the time.

Streamer fishing from a drift boat can be fast and furious - if you’ve never done it set a trip up next fall - you won’t regret it.

The picture by the way is a water color done by Greg Tatman - Greg used to build drift boats and kits out in Springfield, OR, and we in fact have built a couple of his kits over the years.  Last we heard from Greg he had sold the business and was in seminary in Austin, Texas - he’s an interesting guy, a talented artist obviously, turned out a fine boat, and had a master’s degree in either literature or english literature.  Hope things are going well Greg wherever you are now….

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