Slump Buster

The Slump Buster, crafted by renowned fly designer John Barr, is a versatile streamer pattern celebrated for its effectiveness in enticing predatory fish species such as trout and bass. Designed to mimic small baitfish, the fly features a weighted conehead and a pine squirrel zonker strip wing, which together create a lifelike swimming action that proves irresistible to fish. Its simplicity and adaptability have made the Slump Buster a staple in anglers' fly boxes, particularly when traditional patterns fail to produce results.

Reverse Drift Mirage: Present the Slump Buster on a downstream cast, then retrieve it slowly upstream using irregular pauses. This reversal of movement mimics a disoriented baitfish, confusing predatory fish and triggering reaction strikes.