laker67

It has been my experience that the smaller trout serve as "bodyguards" to the larger trout. You phyically have to remove the small trout from the run to get to the lunker. This can be done by allowing the smaller fish to take the fly and gently leading them out of the crowd. If you allow them to get excited and put up a fight, they will scare off, or put the larger fish on guard. If this technique does not work, it can be done with several casts right on top of the smaller fish, or dragging your leader across the smaller fish to run them out.

Glow in the dark fly tying materials such as yarn and flashabo have been available for some time. I have not found them to be effective on lake taney at night. Like fly2fish said, a hook in a lighted indicator nets about the same results.

Another great fish Bman. She appears to be dropping a few of her eggs. That was exactly what I made reference to in Jeremy's article. His argument was to catch them staged up as verus catch them off of a spawning nest. Either way they are going to dump eggs sometime during the battle. Your fish is clearly a staging fish and not yet a spawner. You have had a great couple of days so far. I hope you show a bigger one tommorrow. Good luck.

Holy cow Bruce. I am not surprised on either count, that you caught it, and you were you were using a #12 "grey" scud. A tremendous rainbow and well deserved.

Hey! Welcome back to Missouri. I missed seeing you guys on friday night.

How do we know that it is really "you" holding the brown and not Matt. Nice fish Bruce.

Now you know why I don't fish with you. You make me look bad. Nice fish Leonard.

It was originated from folklore, and accepted as truth when the first issue was published in 1939. Named after the sun and the moon, but based on moon phases only. In my opinion, it was a marketing scheme way back then and still is today.

Welcome back to the Doty clan. I use the word "clan" lightly.

Funny you should mention this. This happened to me on friday night. As I was attempting to unhook a fish, the fly came out prematurely and embedded in the palm of my hand. As luck would have it, it was the only pattern that I had not yet converted to barbless. It buried all the way to the bend and would not come loose. I finally had to grab the fly with hemostats and twist and turn my hand until I wore the hole big enough for it to come out. Not a fun thing to do. The same happened last year as well. From now on everything will be converted to barbless. Good luck on your venture.

Good luck to you Jerod. If the generation schedule cooperates, I think you will find things to your liking this week. IF I see you on the 1st I will say hey.

That's a great fish Big K. Those bigger rainbows, at taney, are getting harder to come by with each passing year.

I much enjoyed talking with you last night and I delivered your message to Duffy this am. You need to give a report on how you did.

A great and informative article by Jeremy. Just exactly what every one should hear. I mean no disrespect to Jeremy and any others. I know Jeremy and he is an excellent fisherman and an excellent sportsman and steward to trout fishing. Using alternative methods other than fishing for fish already on their nests. What's the difference if you catch a staging, pre spawn fish, or catch a spawning fish. Chances are, the female will dump their eggs somewhere in the course of the fight. For the wading trout fisherman, this will be your best shot at catching a large trophy fish. Especially at taneycomo. Protected areas are in place on the norfork and the white. Wading anglers concentrate at taney because of limited access. In a previous discussion, I spoke of being respectful to any large fish you attempt to catch. Like Jeremy states, each river comes with it's own different personallity at spawn time. The derby mentality needs to go, but I don't have an issue with fishing for pre spawn or spawning fish. To me, they are one and the same. Thanks for the article Jeremy, and thanks to Phil for posting it.

WOW

Otters. They are more populated than crappie on the big niangua arm. You have to use a heavy duty wire basket{wire cage} or clean all fish the same day. A gentleman in Laurie, Mo. makes some baskets that are otter proof. He sells them to various bait shops around the area. We have set traps to no avail, but we haven't lost a fish in several years after using the heavy duty wire cage.

You just described all of the places that I trout fish.

I'm with you Chief. Each and every day of the year.

I would like to wish you luck in your pursuit of a large brown, as well as everyone else on OAF. In missouri, and especially at taney, you will be hard pressed to find a large brown unless it "is" spawn time. I suppose that "boat" fishermen have an opportunity year round, but not the "wade" fishermen. You are "not" putting the future of missouri's trout fishing at risk, at taney, by fishing at spawn time. Be respectful of any large fish you attempt to catch. It is a game of one on one. I don't think there is a magic formula for releasing a fish in good health. Do not drag them across the rocks, and take care in your hook removal. If the fish is foul hooked, break him off immediately. I have released hundreds of big fish with minor consequences. As far as tippet size, I like the challenge of light tippets. Regardless of the outcome, I am the winner each and every time that I hook up with a large fish. Keep us posted in your quest for a large brown.

You got it already figured out. The spent wing pattern works the best.

That would be me. When you can look any direction and see monarchs, the browns will be there.

I hope you are right. Springfield was forcasting heavy rains for wed and thurs.

The storm that just made landfall in the gulf is predicted to dump some rain on us for the next two days. I think that it is still early enough in the season as not to affect the major run in october. Floodgates at the end of this month would spell disaster, once again, as in the past two years.

I'm not sure they are undercover like they used to be Wayne. Several times, in the past few years, I have gone to the hatchery office in search of a GW. I was always told that none were in the park, but they could contact one and report the violation. Years ago, Jim Meyer and Ron Mccullough could enforce the game laws. Apparently hatchery employees no longer have that authority. It may be that the park ranger can, but I am not sure of that.