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Tip of the Week // Jerk-Strip with Streamers
Move the Streamer with Your Rod Tip: A Smarter Way to Trigger Strikes
By Jason Harwood, Director of Education at Red’s Fly Shop
When it comes to streamer fishing, most anglers are taught to retrieve their fly using steady or varied strips with the off-hand. While that method certainly works, there’s another technique—made popular by Kelly Galloup—that we teach in our advanced courses because of how effective and intuitive it becomes once mastered: move the streamer with your rod tip
The Jerk-Strip Method Explained
Rather than pulling line in long strips, the jerk-strip technique uses short, deliberate jabs of the rod tip to animate the streamer. You then immediately strip in the slack line with your off hand to stay tight and ready to set the hook.
This combination creates a much more erratic and realistic movement—mimicking the quick, darting motion of a wounded or fleeing baitfish. That sudden, unpredictable action is often what triggers an instinctive reaction from predatory trout.
Why It Works
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More Control: The rod tip gives you micro-control over the speed and direction of the fly.
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Sharper Movement: Rod-driven twitches are crisper than hand strips, creating more convincing movement.
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Better Hook Sets: Stripping in the slack after each jab keeps you connected and ready to set the hook without delay.
How to Practice It
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Point your rod tip slightly off to the side of your line to create a clear angle for movement.
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Twitch or jerk the rod tip back quickly, watching your fly pulse or dart.
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Immediately strip in the slack to keep a tight connection.
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Repeat this in a smooth rhythm—twitch, strip, twitch, strip.
You can vary the tempo and size of the rod movements depending on the water type and fish behavior. In slower water, smaller twitches and pauses often work best. In faster water, go more aggressive.
Want to learn more about fishing these techniques this season? Join us for a course this season and let our team help you sharpen these essential skills.
Stay tuned for more summer fly fishing insights, and get ready for some exciting days ahead! We teach these techniques and more through our various courses in our University of Fly Fishing.
UPCOMING COURSES TO HIGHLIGHT
There are a ton of offerings currently and our stillwaters both warm and cold are on fire! All of these offerings can be accessed in the course calendar.
- Sunday, June 8th, Fly Fishing 201, 12pm
- Tuesday, June 10th, Euro Fishalong, 9am
- Tuesday, June 10th, Yakima Fishalong, 2pm
- Wednesday, June 11th, Trout Spey Fishalong, 9am
- Thursday, June 12th, Trout Taxi (Upper River) 11am
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Friday, June 13th, Tributary Fishalong
ENTIRE COURSE CALENDAR HERE
Our University of Fly Fishing is the most unique, comprehensive fly fishing education available.