Skip to content
The Woolly Gentleman logo

The Woolly Gentleman

Every Fly Has a River · Every River Has a Tier

ShopSubscribeOur TiersJournalFind Your FliesThe CraftThe Story
Home/Shop/Slumpbuster
SlumpbusterStreamerintermediate

Rocky Mountain West

Slumpbuster

$5.95

Available Sizes#2 - #8
Color Variations
Natural Pine SquirrelOliveBlack

John Barr named this fly the Slumpbuster because when nothing else works, this pattern breaks the curse. Pine squirrel zonker strip has a coarser texture than rabbit, giving it a different action in the water -- less seductive, more confrontational. It swims like something that wandered into the wrong neighborhood and is trying to leave quickly. Brown trout, which spend most of their lives being territorial and suspicious, find this irresistible. The cone head provides the weight and the wobble, and the slump gets busted. It is that simple.

Quick Facts

TypeStreamer
Difficultyintermediate
SeasonsSpring, Summer, Fall
Target SpeciesBrown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout
Sizes#2 - #8
Best LocationsYellowstone River, MT; Madison River, MT; Snake River, WY

Where to Fish It

Yellowstone River

MT · Freestone River

Madison River

MT · Freestone River

Snake River

WY · Freestone River

Map unavailable. Locations for Slumpbuster: Yellowstone River, MT; Madison River, MT; Snake River, WY

Related Reading

region guide

Rocky Mountain Trout: A River-by-River Guide

The Rocky Mountain West holds the finest trout rivers in North America. From the gin-clear tailwaters of Colorado to the sweeping freestone rivers of Montana, these waters offer everything from technical dry fly fishing to aggressive streamer hunting. This is your river-by-river guide to all of it.

seasonal playbook

The Spring Playbook: First Hatches to Full Send

Spring is the most dynamic season in fly fishing — water temperatures swing daily, hatches emerge in waves, and fish that have been dormant for months begin feeding with increasing urgency. This is your region-by-region playbook for fishing the awakening.

You Might Also Like

Woolly BuggerStreamerbeginner

Woolly Bugger

$3.95

Rocky Mountain West

#4 - #12

The most versatile fly ever tied. Marabou tail, chenille body, palmered hackle. Imitates leeches, baitfish, crayfish, and anything else that swims.

OliveBlackBrownWhiteBlack/Olive

Rainbow Trout · Brown Trout · Cutthroat Trout · Brook Trout

SprSumFallWin
View Details →
KreelexStreamerbeginner

Kreelex

$4.95

Rocky Mountain West

#4 - #10

Simple flash minnow pattern by Jim Kraft. Lateral Scale material over a hook with a bead head. Imitates chubs, shiners, and juvenile trout.

SilverGoldCopperRainbow

Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout · Cutthroat Trout

SprSumFallWin
View Details →
SculpzillaStreamerintermediate

Sculpzilla

$6.95

Rocky Mountain West

#2 - #8

Modern sculpin imitation with a fish skull head and rabbit strip body. Heavy and fast-sinking for streamer junkies.

OliveBrownSculpin OrangeWhite

Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout

SprSumFallWin
View Details →
Circus PeanutStreameradvanced

Circus Peanut

$13.95

Rocky Mountain West

4-6 inches (articulated)

Russ Maddin's double-articulated streamer, popularized by Kelly Galloup. Massive profile with two articulation points. The pinnacle of the modern streamer movement.

WhiteOlive/WhiteBlack/OliveTan

Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout

SprSumFallWin
View Details →
Zoo CougarStreameradvanced

Zoo Cougar

$11.95

Rocky Mountain West

#2 - #2/0 (articulated)

Kelly Galloup's articulated streamer for trophy brown trout. Deer hair head, rabbit strip body, articulated shank. The big fish fly.

Natural Deer HairOlive/WhiteBlack/Olive

Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout

SprSumFallWin
View Details →
Sex DungeonStreameradvanced

Sex Dungeon

$14.95

Rocky Mountain West

#2 - #2/0 (articulated)

Kelly Galloup's articulated streamer with a head designed to dive and dart. The name gets attention; the action catches fish.

WhiteOlive/WhiteSculpin OrangeBlack

Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout

SprSumFallWin
View Details →

The Woolly Gentleman

Every Fly Has a River · Every River Has a Tier

America's curated artisan fly marketplace. Every pattern hand-tied by the people who fish these waters.

Join the mailing list. We will tell you what is hatching.

The Shop

  • Browse All Flies
  • Our Tiers
  • Find Your Flies
  • The Collection
  • Monthly Delivery
  • The Journal

Fishing Regions

  • Gulf Coast & Emerald Coast
  • Florida Keys
  • Northeast & Mid-Atlantic
  • Rocky Mountain West
  • Pacific Northwest
  • All 10 Regions

The Gentleman

  • Our Story
  • Nationwide
  • hello@thewoolygentleman.com

© 2026 The Woolly Gentleman. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy|Terms & Conditions

Curated with conviction. Tied with pride.