Fishing Report

[Phil Lilley]

Took Tom and David, father and son, this morning on a trip. Buster took Tom's wife and two daughters. We started at 8:30- boated to Andy's house to start our drift. They were running 2 units just like the schedule said. We drifted egg flies down the middle, twice to Fall Creek. They caught so many rainbows we lost count. Nothing big but lots of action. On the third time up, we boated to the dam cause they'd never seen it. It was 10:05 when we stopped and the water looked to be almost off so we turned around and headed out.

Drifted again but this time stopped at the narrows and pulled out their brand new fly rods. Tied a soft hackle on and they caught several rainbows before having to head in. Fish were really becoming active as the last of the water dropped out. Very breezy blowing downstream making stripping soft hackles lots of fun.

Had a great time- caught lots of fish.

#8 egg fly- peach with a red spot.

#16 red or black soft hackle

[mburk5]

I was between 1 and 2,got there at 6am and didn't catch my first fish until 10 or so then they turned on, caught all mine stripping crackle backs and caught two really nice rainbows.

[Phil Lilley]

The trout really started midging after 10- after the water started dropping out. On the flat at the narrows, I could see rainbow flashing all over the place under the surface close to the bottom and close to the surface. Occasionally, they'd slash above the surface. They were all over a soft hackle.

[wily]

good work on the guide trip phil

i took both boys today it was another great day. we got to cooper creek about 1230.

the boys used a white gulp egg, and one red salmon egg.

jake who's six caught the most which was about 8. joe is 4 and he caught the biggest. i'd cast it for joe, and he did the rest. he caught 3 but boy they were all three toads.

i didn't have any time to fish...but i made 5 casts with my jig and float, and caught one so i quit...and went back to the chineese fire drill.

only saw one eagle...there were a lot of people at cooper creek. i even saw one boy swimming down by monkey island.

i guess all this sunshine in january got to him, but boy he had to have a bitter reality pill afterwards.

[Toby from MO]

the boys used a white gulp egg, and one red salmon egg.

Wily,

When your fishing two eggs what size hook are you using. Got my first trip to Taney coming up and was wondering about this. I picked up some Gulp eggs and Gulp dough chunks. Planned on trying the eggs prior to the dough as they seem to be a bit more durable...but looking at those dough chunks a fella might have to cut those things in half or be using a fairly large hook. I almost bought the trout nibbles...I think they call them. Even the eggs are fair size...I have a #8 tied on as for now.

Thanks, Toby

[wily]

i usually use 10 or 12's but i'm sure 8's will be fine.

with the dough bait mold it so none of the hook is exposed. with the salmon eggs it's harder because you have to pierce the skin.

another important thing is to have a long leader on your c-rig. 4 or 5 foot is ideal.

[Phil Lilley]

I know you already bought the nuggets and nibblets but I'd wager none of us guides mess with any of that. Gulp eggs are all we use. I use a #8 or #6 hook. I don't worry about hiding the hook at all. Night crawlers- I hook the worm one time and leave most of the hook exposed.

Not saying this is the only way to do it, just how I do it and it works for me. Might save the next guy from over buying on the bait stuff. I guess that might cost ME some $$$ in my shop but this is what I tell people in my shop and alot of the times they buy the dough anyhow. To each his own.

[Toby from MO]

Thanks Phil & Wily,

Phil...What you said about the eggs is equal to most the feedback I've received. That said I have only bought 2-3 jars of Gulp Dough and probably 6-7 different colors of Gulp eggs. Given your comments I may not buy anymore dough. I also bought some Gulp & Gulp Alive Earthworms...both large & small, both natural and red in color. I've been told these work as well as the real thing but with higher durability and without the mess...is this true? I've been reading all the reports and no one is mentioning minnows...are they not on currently on the minnows? You happen to have a report on what colors eggs are working best?

Wily...you mentioned a C-rig. What is this?

Phil or Wily...Currently I have a three-way tied using the smallest three-way swivel I could find...I think #10. I have a 1' leader to my weight and about a 2' leader to my hook, a #8. Do I need to make the hook leader longer or the weight leader shorter? Also...I currently have a 6lb spool on my real but using 4lb leader to the hook and weight. I thought this might allow the weight leader to break before breaking the entire rig, when hung up? Is this type rig OK...should I not be using the 6lb main line? I chose this rig over simply putting a split shot 18-24 inches up from the hook because I thought it would give me better feel of the hook...i.e. being my first time for trout. Please tell me if I'm wrong.

I even thought of tying on a second leader (off the main hook)...using a scud or some other type fly...maybe even another live bait choice.

Not knowing what to expect for my first trout trip I've rigged several other rods. All light action rods and medium action for casting larger baits.

- My drift rig mentioned above (light action).

- Light action, 4lb green...Flo. Orange Indicator over 1/64 Trout Magnet. Currently have no other jigs on hand as I'm going to wait to purchase from Phil's once I get there...following a report on color/size to minimize purchase of huge variety.

- Light action, 4lb green...1/8oz Chatter Bait (basically a jig head with small blade on front)...Natural color minnow skirt. I got a good selection size/color Little Cleo's and Super Dupers to switch too also.

- Medium action, 6lb green...Rapala XR8...got a ton other sizes/colors of Rapala XR's, F's, J's & CD's from my bass'in box.

- Medium action, 8lb green...Cotton Cordell 4" Rogue. This lure came to me from a good source who said the color is the closet he could find to the type shad in the lake. Who know's for sure but thought I'd try it.

- I've got extra spools of line ready to go for most all my rods ranging from 2-6 lbs.

Thanks for the input guys.

Toby

[Phil Lilley]

Babler uses drift rigs, I don't, so I'll let him answer that question.

Colors on eggs- white and another color. Other colors vary daily and sometimes hourly.

Color and sizes of jigs... size depends on conditions. It would take an article to cover conditions- and there are articles on OA that'll do that. Color- again changes but the basics are light and dark - white, ginger, pink, gray - sculpin, black, brown, olive and combinations of all.

[Phil Lilley]

Minnows- sorry I missed that. We just started carrying minnows on the dock again. Most use them when drifting but some use them when the water is not running. Rainbows and browns both will hit them.