Hunter or Gatherer?

August fishing is often a little slow on the Missouri. Warm water temps and a lack of hatches contribute to this. How do you overcome it? Maybe it's your tactic that's the problem, not the fishing. Far too many anglers search for the "secret fly" instead of searching for the fish. Some anglers are hunters, and some are gatherers. Which one are you?

The ultimate hunter...

Gatherers float down the river and pick up whatever is available. Usually they throw the nymph rig, maybe a hopper, and rarely have a pattern. They catch fish when they run into them. If the trout are not lying in the spots they are throwing, they get skunked. When they don't get them, they immediately head into the fly shop and ask what the secret fly is. When they are shown the same pattern they were using, they claim that it won't work...they already tried it. Technique is not a consideration to the Gatherer. All fishermen are equal...the fly makes the difference.

Hunters are proactive. If they are not getting them, they try to solve the problem. They may switch techniques, change tippet sizes, lengthen or shorten their leader, constantly change flies, spot fish from high banks, throw a streamer in the sun, change the amount of weight on a nymph rig, swing a soft hackle, try some new water...they often think outside the box. They do what others don't.

Hunters often stop fishing and observe. They observe other anglers, insects, fish, birds, sun angles, shady pockets and sunny flats. They try to spot fish in fast riffles. They wait an hour for a rise in a likely spot. They look for the "other" bugs. When PMD's are hatching big but the fish are rising sporadically, the Hunter sees the occasional Callibaetis drift by. He notices all the flying ants in the bushes. He sees the river drop 2 inches even though he was too far from the Dam to hear the siren.

The Hunter realizes that some days are going to be tough. He goes and looks for a big single Brown Trout, and spends the day trying to get him to eat. He knows that big trout like to sit under weed mats. He stares into skinny water looking for the slightest movement that indicates a fish eating nymphs. He takes him time. He's Patient. He applies what he has experienced in the past. He doesn't get excited when a 2 footer sticks his nose up because he's been there. He gets 'em.

Watch the Osprey. He's a Hunter.