The Best Way To Catch Big Wild Brown Trout! (Fly Fishing)

This is how my brother and I have caught some of our biggest wild brown trout!!
It's a pretty simple technique which just involves streamer fishing, moving the biggest brown trout you can, and then nymphing that spot hoping you can fool him into eating a nymph. You can easily move a bunch of water streamer fishing which is much more difficult to effectively do with a nymph, and it typically produces the biggest fish. But an effective tight line/euro nymphing setup and fisherman can easily catch some big fish if you can figure out exactly where they are sitting.
Andrew and I have used this technique a lot in the past year or two and it has produced some of our biggest wild brown trout, several of which were in the upper 20's. It is fairly easily replicated across the US and in big or small water. One of the reasons Fly fishing is so effective is in part due to how many techniques you can use with one style of fishing.
I hope everyone enjoyed! Thanks for watching.

[@phioshin]

Hi guys! I'm an Italian fly fisher, and your channel is really the best i found on youtube...I'm a fly fisher from "only" 20 years.. i say "only" cause every day there's something new to learn. Maybe that's why after 20 years this type of fishing has never bored me ... Now i'm 35, and when I watch your videos I see two guys respectful towards the fish and the river; two people who know how to be amazed by the beauty of their surroundings. This is the point: there are many good fishermen, but you are good fishermen who love everything that the river and nature gives us. Thanks for these videos! They make me discover new beautiful places! If you ever want to go on a trout fishing trip in Italy, let me know, I am hosting you! We have so many beautiful streams and rivers here too. Hello boyz!

[@hardmanfishing]

Italy is on the bucket list!! I'm 100% sure I'll end up in the Italian alps at some point chasing trout. But thank you for the kind words! And glad you enjoyed the videos

[@simonclough9781]

I'm a fly fisher in the UK, have visited Italy a few times now, it's my favorite country in Europe. Didn't realize that fly fishing was a thing in Italy. Are you in the north or south of the country ? Next time I go back I'll be checking out the trout fishing.

[@ChristiaanC458]

I‘m at The Moment nearby Aulla in Toscane, Sadly it was raining The last Couple off Days, today I’m going to try, The Water isn’t brown anymore, Do you have some Tips for Me, going to The Magra River. 🍀🙏

[@kylebunga]

Super good advice! It made me want to get out there and give this technique a try. It is so cool of you to take the time to help teach us all some cool new ways to catch big browns!

[@gaidin]

I love when talented fisherfolk share their ideas and thinking ....as well as show it in practice. Really awesome content, thank you!

[@jimm5119]

Great video! Thanks for the tips on how to catch larger trout. Your “move ‘em with a streamer, go back with a nymph” technique makes a lot of sense to me.

[@gordiejones2039]

I've been with your channel since the almost the beginning and it keeps getting better. Congratulations! Your roots are in streamer fishing and that's why I keep following. Just one tip that could increase your hookup rate. Keep your rod tip low and even in the water, to reduce the slack line at your rod tip, when stripping in your streamers. See if that doesn't increase your hookups and reduce your missed strikes. Tight Lines and keep up the great videos!

[@paulmurray4299]

Awesome fish! Love the detailed description on fishing approaches and strategy. Keep them coming!

[@supernachomachoman4031]

Hey, your channel got me into fly fishing. After trying it and getting a tiny better at it, I decided to buy a 3wt for tiny creeks and tomorrow I'm gonna try it out. Tyvm for your vids and keep up the good work, greetings from the Czech Republic 🇨🇿

[@vjaldere2]

Love it. That’s awesome

[@hardmanfishing]

That's awesome!! Good luck out there

[@bruh5612]

It’s takes time to learn how to cast, don’t get frustrated, once you catch on it’s a blast

[@nathanielbentz9502]

Love watching your videos. Awesome seeing giant wild browns. Been fly fishing for a while but this has been my first year finally slaying trout on the fly. Great tactics, hoping to find my first giant wild brownie soon on the fly! Keep up the great content

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you and good luck out there!

[@missouritroutbums598]

You guys rock and yes I've been practicing the whole streamer and Sculptin thing and its a lot tougher than it looks.

[@CK-mv6wh]

Hey I'm loving these videos. They are so very awesome, I am a fellow West Virginia boy born in raised on the Elk River in Braxton County. I've spent my short 23 years on earth solely spin fishing but today you have inspired me to go out and buy the gear to fly fish. Here's to new beginnings 🍻. You also gained a new subscriber. Looking forward to new content.

[@hardmanfishing]

That's awesome!! I've fished the elk many times. Thanks for the sub!

[@SouthernAppalachiaboiz]

What an effective way to fish!!! Great video and appreciate you explaining your techniques.

[@hardmanfishing]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@jeromedwojak918]

Another great video, nice fish, enjoyedcthe experience you shared. The importance positioning and presentation go hand in hand!

[@randyromines4506]

Some beautiful fish. You are so right about getting into the water. Love your videos.

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you!

[@freshfisher887]

This is the first video of you that i saw and being just getting into fly fishing ive already learned so much from this one video. Thank you and keep the great content

[@hardmanfishing]

Glad you enjoyed and welcome to the channel!

[@sippingrises7669]

Outstanding as usual. And, yep, time on the water! Thanks for sharing.

[@daveschlom4033]

I just discovered this channel and am so glad I did. I am at least 2x your age but I recognize sage (lower case) advice when I experience it. I am going fishing in NorCal for Monday afternoon through Tuesday night fall. Thanks for inspiring me (and giving me the great "excuse") to get my feet in the water and line too (except for the inevitable in the bushes part). Your casting technique is awesome. Reminds me of discovered golf approaches and putts. Does that make sense to anyone?

[@jshada58]

Great job. Very much appreciate the advice at the end. You are so right, only real practice will make you better. Thank you.

[@hardmanfishing]

Thanks for watching!

[@mikewolfe6496]

Beautiful fish. I have fished WV many years and never caught wild browns like that. The area you are in is epic. Congratulations

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you!!

[@wvlongshooter3912]

I have kinda morphed those two techniques together I guess you could say. It consisted of a jig streamer that I tie. It’s not like anything you can buy that I know of. It’s tied on a number 1-4 size jig hook, tungsten beaded and varies in size or length of 3-4.5”’s. Great video and content as always, thanks!!!!

[@hardmanfishing]

Yeah I use jig streamers a lot too. I just don't like them as much as articulated streamers, at least not for moving real big fish. Unless I'm out west.. then jig streamers are crazy good LOL Thanks for watching!

[@themidnightrider6805]

Dude I was impressed with your ending. Nothing but the truth, you gave me that kick in the butt to get out there!

[@hardmanfishing]

That's awesome!! Get out there and catch some fish!

[@justin00ish]

Just found this channel and I'm loving the videos! Can't stop watching them

[@ByongSun]

Awesome video learned a lot and love seeing the theory in action!

[@nwahr]

Awesome video. My 2 favorite ways to fish.

[@bengibson2383]

fly fishing i think is kind of in my blood from what ive learned about my family and watching your videos and hearing about my family has really motivated me to try to become the best fly fisher i can possibly be while also having fun with it, im new to fly fishing though, your videos are the best, thanks for the amazing content man.

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you!! Glad you enjoy the videos and good luck on your quest. Spend as much time as you can on the water and you'll become a great angler

[@FirstCastMedia]

Something about that murky water makes those streamer swipes all the more epic! Nice one!

[@hardmanfishing]

Couldn't agree more!!

[@patjordan1955]

Thank you again! I so enjoy your videos!

[@agib1368]

You are 100% correct my friend; watch some tutorials, read up on the fish and techniques but hands on time is the key. You’ll never get the nip if you’re flies don’t take a dip. Thanks for your patience and hard work buddy!!!

[@hardmanfishing]

Glad you enjoyed!! Thanks for watching

[@jimgollach6202]

Enjoyed the video,and your right Jon the best medicine is trial and error on the water,it's the only way you really learn, and you will develop your own technique. Tight lines. 👍

[@hardmanfishing]

Thanks for watching Jim!

[@e.mcguire1538]

Thanks. Enjoy your work so much.

[@forgottenforest1]

So true time on the water is the only way. Thank you for the great content. High five BUDDY!!!

[@michaelsmith7193]

Great video! Your system obviously works very well - and your sharing your techniques is greatly appreciated! But your best advice, indeed, is to spend more time on the water!

[@hardmanfishing]

Can't get better if you're not out there! Glad you enjoyed the video

[@waikarimoana]

Awesome video and great footage and nice fishing too, thumbs up and greetings from New Zealand Trout fishers, Tony.

[@briljantje9583]

Good instructive vid. Congrats.

[@oldsmugglerflyfishing]

Great video, a lot of action. Nice brown!

[@blueridgeflyguy9551]

Really good video that helped me out. I appreciate it.

[@Pwrcritter]

Interesting water color. Reminds me of the chalk streams in England, lol. Nice fish.

[@williammillar3493]

I really like this explanation you do a great job love these videos

[@hardmanfishing]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@mirnadavis3513]

Love, love your videos! Can you please share in detail both rods used and the lines used and leader setup down to tippet size? Reels, Plus, flies used? Thanks!

[@SUflyfshn-YT]

That day was great for it. I chose a spring creek instead. Shoulda woulda coulda. Great fish!

[@FlyFishDan]

Very true and well said; get out there and do it! Great vid and solid advice. Cheers!

[@hardmanfishing]

Thanks for watching!

[@larryhudson4511]

Great video! And good advice!

[@zacolson2550]

Very helpful video, always great content! What is the nymph rod set up you are running?

[@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy]

Love your channel! Envy your success hah! Going out early tomorrow to the Provo river in Utah to nymph for the first time!

[@hardmanfishing]

I wish I was in Utah!! Good luck out there

[@appleseeD552]

Great vid man.🙂👍 I really appreciate the info segment, cuz I was wondering what the reasoning was behind using the streamer then switching to the nymph. Thanks for makin this and kudos on that last "tank" you landed. 👊😁 Plz keep em comin my friend. Peace ✌😎 (and real quick, my apologies for not commenting as of late, I'm just getting over the Covid garbage✌😷)

[@hardmanfishing]

Glad you enjoyed John!! I've missed your comments and I'm glad you're feeling better. Get well soon man!

[@mojodojo5533]

I will say this: you do make it look easy my man.

[@darrellloftin1466]

Love the Gastons hoody!

[@larryhawes8295]

LOVED LOVED LOVED this video. Great job on both the video and the fishing. Simple question that I don't want a detailed answer to but where in the US are you fishing? East Coast? Mid West? West? Haven't seen much water like that and am curious thanks.

[@BlueLinerMedia]

Love the hoodie! From my neck of the woods! Haha good stuff!

[@hardmanfishing]

I love your neck of the woods that's for sure!

[@rodneyhaley1734]

Nice healthy brown trout

[@TheXeniaman]

Is that a tailwater? Great flow for this time of year! Love seeing the good water flow and good action.

[@stuartmarriott8056]

Another great, thought provoking video. I haven’t done any streamer fishing but would like to give it a try. Do you mind if I ask what streamer patterns you prefer? They look quite small compared to some I’ve seen. More manageable for a novice!

[@hardmanfishing]

I usually use sex dungeons or circus peanuts most of the time. Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed!

[@stuartmarriott8056]

Thanks for the reply. Kelly’s channel here I come!😊

[@fourdead552]

First time I hooked and landed a 7# brown I actually understood why the were called spotted pike. Hit an imitation crawdad I was fishing for smallies. Fly fishing is wonderful, even if it’s redear bluegill’s.

[@paulmanzone8373]

Great video!!!

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you!!

[@garylarson1811]

Nice fish

[@lambertsaldi1550]

Awesome footage and very nice fish 👍👍🇺🇸🗽🇺🇸 The Vermonter

[@pkflyfishing4803]

Hi nice video, what line are you using on the streamer

[@simonclough9781]

Great fishing sounds as though it's somewhere industrial. What length rod and line weight are you using?

[@johnnydennis3773]

totally dude, you gotta spend the time on the water! great advice and solid video! what flyline are you rocking for your streamer setup??

[@hardmanfishing]

Right now I have cortland streamer line. I believe its intermediate sink tip line. And thanks for watching the video!

[@magicworldbyjorg]

[@hamiltonborden2400]

Pure golf brother

[@jakepavlo91]

I've had my best fish swinging bead head nymphs, gonna tie some streamers up now!

[@ronrothrock7116]

Excellent video. This is the first video of yours I have seen and I can tell you know and understand the true reasons a person can get good fishing. While I don't use artificial flies I catch browns in the same fashion. I use large full sized crawlers (just as you use large stonefly nymphs). I go after it has rained and I go fish smaller waters like in this video just upstream from where they flow into a larger river or lake. The cold rain brings the browns into the smaller water. And your last bit of advice... spend lots of time on the water. People back home used to call me the fish whisperer because I was that good. The trick, as you say, is to spend tons of time on the water so you can actually learn what works and what doesn't. If you don't mind sharing, where abouts are you fishing in this video?

[@TheTroutWarrior]

What’s your streamer rod setup ? If you have a video on it a link would be great. Thanks !

[@hueskie9558]

Enjoy the videos & tips. Would love if you dedicated 20-30 seconds to the gear & rig your using. That being said what reel were you using. Looks and performs nice. Great job 👍🏻

[@aidanduda2059]

What streamer where you using

[@justinahmann9482]

Man, a 16 or 17" for me in general is a trophy, they don't really get that big here in Virginia, or at least the wild trout streams I can find, I have only ever managed too see o e that big that was a holdover and he was 30+ probably 15 lbs. Way too big, that was at Potts Creek in VA, where I is from haha, wonderful video man, hope too enjoy some more 👍

[@hardmanfishing]

They definitely get bigger! I've got friends who have caught 24+ wild browns out of Va.. although I have no idea where they're fishing LOL but glad you enjoyed the video man! And keep on looking around for some big ones!

[@justinahmann9482]

@@hardmanfishing I look for them all the time when I can, between the job, wife, and the 1 1/2 year old it's hard too get out, the biggest wild brown brown I ever caught was 18 but it was on a spinning rod, I can't quite finesse them Biggins on the fly 😂😭

[@justinahmann9482]

@@hardmanfishing hell one day if you wanna make a day and time so I can halfway organize my life I could show you some good wild brown areas down here, I need a good teacher anyways and obviously you know what too do 👍

[@Chrisgalin]

Do you use sinking or floating line? Second, do you use split shot to get the streamer deeper?

[@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy]

Sinking and bead or cone head streamers in this vid.

[@hardmanfishing]

I used sinking line in this vid, but I don't have weight on my streamers

[@RealTomCurtis]

What size tippet are you using on the Euro rig for those BIG trout???

[@thatgymlife2146]

Is this technique good for big rainbow and brook trout too?

[@frankwestphal4525]

6:54 that actually made me say "omfg" out loud.

[@frankwestphal4525]

In my area, creeks are often deeper and narrower so I'm not used to the fish moving horizontally as much.

[@hardmanfishing]

Haha that's awesome! Glad you enjoyed!

[@kriyashivajiva]

to catch those big browns, your vibe gotta be right

[@hardmanfishing]

Can't argue with that! It's always a vibe

[@skippindocs5793]

Could you perhaps teach us your nymph setup? It looks different from anything else I've seen.

[@richfisherman2664]

Always nice videos, what line are you using? If you don't mind me asking. Thank you and happy fishing 🎣

[@hardmanfishing]

For which rod?

[@richfisherman2664]

@@hardmanfishing at the beginning of the video

[@uncleknife9887]

You Hardmans definitely have a knack for landing some epic belting toads...🔪

[@714spoon]

how do you build your euro leaders, what butt section material do use before your sighter? Great Video!

[@billm7159]

I use Maxima Chameleon

[@hardmanfishing]

15 pound maxima chameleon for the butt section, sighter, then tippet. I keep it simple

[@SCYCOFISHINGHUNTING]

Man I would love to have some muddy water. Here in PA the creeks are super low and crystal clear. I want to streamer fish but the water needs to cool down first. What streamer do you usually use? Could you show it sometimes in some of your videos? I just want a reference to try to make something, can’t ever have too many patterns 😂

[@hardmanfishing]

Thye're usually somewhat basic like a sex dungeon or circus peanut. Occasionally I'll throw in a butt monkey or a cheech leach.

[@adamkuryea9163]

How has the conditions of that particular creek been with all the rain? I’ve been dying to go, but 3 hours is a long drive to find out it’s not fishable! Thanks for posting.

[@_fishingpa]

what creek is it?

[@user-ye7sm1kt1d]

I live here in Iowa there's no Clearwater streams for trout I dream of fishing at places like this

[@robertkreiling1746]

Nice job , is this the Clear Fork in north central , Ohio ?

[@larryscala7382]

It would be nice to know what type line you use, and other gear and flies.

[@briljantje9583]

John, I have reviewed your vid another time. Did you use a sink tip?

[@hardmanfishing]

Nope!

[@MrNcturkey]

What equipment are you using?

[@kingdomcome5394]

Are you using a leaded line?

[@rodqueen2910]

Tell me about that WV cap ? From Buckhannon WV originally, Elk river native brook trained.

[@wildsau1965]

have you thought about clipping a little bit off of the tail on the wollybugger .

[@liamkingsbury7438]

Where are these spots. I really want to catch a big brown like this. I just need somewhere to start.

[@nickyeli4484]

hi there what wt set up?

[@KevinKaffy]

Wild brown trout fishing is my favorite. Beautiful fish to eat also

[@garylarson1811]

Your right

[@Bobbybaitz]

I don't think its a coincidence that when you're catching these big browns, and I've seen it in several videos, that the water seems to always be dirty and high. I need to really go harder during those conditions.

[@hardmanfishing]

Great observation!

[@tedtresco5283]

What weight rod do you recommend

[@hardmanfishing]

For streamers: 6-8 wt For Nymphing: 3-5 wt

[@Tuleyne]

Curious as to what State this is?

[@OnThaMoneyFishin]

When the water chocolate milk like that the big boys come out

[@michaelhamilton5418]

What stre?am is that

[@blackghostgaming7415]

What state do you fish

[@hardmanfishing]

WV, Pa, NC, SC, Va, and recently, Colorado

[@prestoneasley3959]

People really do be forgetting how long a ruler is

[@dirtytear1696]

is that sinking line?

[@hardmanfishing]

yes

[@russellogden8071]

I notice when you catch a bigger fish and your fighting him you'll pull line from your reel....what is the purpose and or reasoning for doing thst5

[@louied6065]

Maybe it’s to check his drag.

[@russellogden8071]

@@louied6065 thanks thats what I was kind of thinking , makes sense

[@user-ye7sm1kt1d]

I love fly fishing and I totally suck at it but I am still in love with it but I cannot stand how these bass fisherman set their hook it is absolutely ridiculous

[@blakehoover6104]

Awesome! Patience catches fish. Changing baits and not trusting your presentation spooks fish and often happens.