Water Report

[Phil Lilley]

After the rains yesterday, our lake is pretty muddy. But they're still catching trout.

In our area, off our dock, it's slow. Up towards Fall Creek it's better but no fishing reports yet.

Up further in the trophy area it's much better. Babler was out and they caught alot of rainbows on jigs. I'll let him do his own report.

Fly and spin fishing below the dam is good. Report of anglers doing well using sculpin 1/80th oz jig with an orange head under an indicator very good in the MDC boat ramp area down into the KOA area. Water is clear up there.

Not supposed to run water today but the clear water will gradually move downstream today. If they run water tomorrow, the water will clear quickly.

[Lshack2]

I fished above the MDC boat ramp and caught fish on most everything that I threw mid-day. Started stripping a pine squirrel sculpin and a black/olive wooly and did well. Did best with a small tan scud below a 16 zebra midge under an indicator. There were a lot of people out this afternoon, but everyone seemed to be doing well.

[Phil Lilley]

Just what I heard.

Water cleared up kinda at Fall Creek up at the end of the day. It will be better tomorrow.

Bill may not report so I'll do it for him.

They did well using sculpin micros under a float and they threw a purple 3/32 oz jig and crawled it on the bottom. Did the best from Andy's past the tennis courts mid lake.

At Fall Creek, clients came in off the lake and said they did well using night crawlers just below the line. Down in this area and lower it was slow.

Did have a nice smally come in. A gal caught it below the resort, released it at the dock. It was about 16 inches, 2.5 pounds. Not sure on what.

[cotterboy2007]

Hey guys, quick question. When using gthe jig and float, do you use spinning equipment like what you use regular jig fishing? I have never tried it without a fly rod. Also, do you use the round strike indicator like used in flyfishing so that you can vary the length of the dropper? A picture might be helpful. I am wanting to learn to use this on the White River in the Rim Shoals area. I really don't fly fish much, so wanting to learn the spin fishing method for the real light jigs, say 1/32 and down. Do you generally use the 1/80th oz? what other sizes are recomended? Thanks

[Phil Lilley]

We probably use this technique with a spin rig more than a fly rod. The rods are usually at least 6 ft and ideally longer. 2-4 lb line. Jig size depends on water conditions. Water running, heavier jigs. 1/32nd with water running. 1/50 down to micros for not.

I use carrot floats for most applications.

I do have an article on jig fishing someplace on this site. Babler has a jig and float rig someplace too. May be he will find it and post it.

[JD Dudley]

Fished this afternoon from 2:00 - 5:00 from lookout to about 100 yards down from tennis courts and caugth a ton of fish. The water is pretty stained in there (about 1 foot of visibility), but throwing dark colored 1/16th oz. jigs worked well. Got bit on almost every cast and hooked up on about a third of them which was great for my 6 year old son to experience. He had a blast and lost count at about 30 or so. At one point, he caugth 5 fish in 5 casts, so he's sold on Taneycomo AND riding in the "big" boat.

Also got to catch up with some "annual" friends that I typiclally only see at trout tournaments in the winter, so it was a privilege getting to fish around those guys... enjoyed the conversation... especially re-living the Alaskan experience.

All in all, a great day. I personally think the fishing was as good as it was b/c the water was stained and the fish didn't feel as threatened as they do when it's clear, so if you're worried about the water color... TRY IT OUT!

[cotterboy2007]

Anyone have any more tips for the jig & float technique? Really going to try and learn it soon.

[wily]

here's the article that phil mentioned

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Babler's Jig-n-Float Method, Bill Babler

We are using a 7'2" rod designed by the Rod Shop in Kansas City, it has an extremely fast tip, with a solid middle section and extreme strength in the butt portion, with extremely long cork handles.

Before most all the rods that were used before this were ultra lite, but were extremely wimpy and buggy whippy. This rod is the real deal for jig and float.

How to fish this method is probably our biggest topic at the seminars that Phil and I do and I will try to explain our setup.

First off you need a full size spinning reel with good line capacity, I am a shimiano man and use only stradic's in the 1000, or 1500 versions, these reels also have a marvelous drag system.

Spool the reel with 4 lb. fluorocarbon, you don't need to over fill the spool, just about 2/3 full. The fluorocarbon throws like a rock and remains memory free and is all I will use. Lots of good brands out there.

From the main line, I place a foam strike indicator on the line and then use a no 12 swivel below the float. I will also insert a small finish nail in the bottom of the float or a small split to help it throw. I tried a tungsten bead on the line but it cut the line and would not work. Float colors of either chartreuse or flo-orange work best.

From there, depending on conditions I use 2lb. fluorocarbon to my fly, judging the length of the tippet on the speed and condition of the water.

For actively midging fish I usually go about 2ft. of tippet, on most other times I try and stay near the bottom If I can. On extreme fast water, I will throw 9 to 10 ft. of the tippet material on the 7ft rod with no problem, that's how I got them yesterday. This is where the swivel really comes in handy, when throwing this much line, it prevents twists in your tippet material.

The main thing to remember is you have to stay in contact from your rod to the strike indicator, at all times and cannot let your attention be diverted, as the fish even on a fast flow, just will not hook themselves.

Keep your slack picked up without drag on the indicator and you will catch fish. I am constantly shocking the indicator will little rod tip snaps, this tells me I'm on the indicator and ready for a hook set. If I twitch the tip and the indicator doesn't move, you need to pick up the slack.

Start on no flow or soft moving water, and then graduate to full flow. On full flow, fish the fly down stream from the boat with no drag and you will have a blast.

As a footnote for the most part, I am adding on weight to the line to get the fly down. I either use weighted nymphs or micro jigs. If you attach even splits to the tippet and they hit the bottom they will just add another element to the tippet to catch the bottom and foreign material. I have had way better success with weighted bugs.

Fluorocarbon sinks and that also helps get your trout appetizers to the bottom.

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My advice --

i don't use a fly rod or a swivel. i use a float n fly rod from bass pro. 8 foot micro-lite with a shimano ul. also doubles as a good crappie rod.

i think you could use any rod, but the longer rod helps with casting and for staying in contact with the float.

use a medium sized carrot float...run the stop thru from the top and put a bb size split shot just under the float.

you can get away with 4 lb, but you'll probably catch more on 2 lb.

use a micro-jig or similar small jig...or a zebra midge

you really need to stay in contact with the float, and watch it for subtle movements. if it wobbles, or stops...it's probably a fish. sometimes they'll take it all the way under but usually it's subtle.

[cotterboy2007]

Awesome Wily, Thanks