Members dfield Posted April 28, 2009 Members Posted April 28, 2009 A while back I saw a post about big fish on the Eleven Point and how to catch them. I have caught my share of big fish over the years and I thought it might make an interesting forum topic +). What Missouri water would you go if you where hunting big fish (25”+) and what would you use? While I love the Eleven Point I wouldn’t rate it highly as a place to catch a big fish. I don’t get around to all the water in Mo. I would rank Montauk’s winter season as the easiest big fish water, I like a #20 200R dressed with a stripped peacock. I am sure Tany still produces big fish, #16 flash back scud is my favorite day time tail water pattern.
laker67 Posted April 29, 2009 Posted April 29, 2009 A while back I saw a post about big fish on the Eleven Point and how to catch them. I have caught my share of big fish over the years and I thought it might make an interesting forum topic +). What Missouri water would you go if you where hunting big fish (25”+) and what would you use? While I love the Eleven Point I wouldn’t rate it highly as a place to catch a big fish. I don’t get around to all the water in Mo. I would rank Montauk’s winter season as the easiest big fish water, I like a #20 200R dressed with a stripped peacock. I am sure Tany still produces big fish, #16 flash back scud is my favorite day time tail water pattern. Well it's all about timing in most places. And I assume by 25 inch fish you are referring to 10 pound plus. At T-como that is possible any time of year. Naturally there is a bigger concentration of 10 pounders in the fall. For browns, in and around the trout parks, July and August are the prime months. As the river waters warm, the browns will migrate into the spring branches. Rainbows, in and around the trout parks, is an all year event if the fish are available. A 10 pound rainbow is getting to be a rare item in recent years. Winter season is a good bet for rainbows because of some large brood stock turned out about every 3rd year. I have caught 10 pound fish at t-como, RR, BSSP, and Montauk. I lost the only one that I have ever hooked at Meramac. As far as the rivers go, I have fished for some 10 pounders on the current, but 9 pounds is the largest that I have landed there. Below RR I have fished for some large browns, but never hooked up with any. Right place at the right time is the key. In the past 34 years I have been fortunate enough to land 29 trout over 10 pounds. All were released unharmed with the exception of one very large brown that I kept. All of these fish were caught in the missouri waters that I have listed above. All of these waters are capable of producing large fish at the right time of year.My choice of fly would be a 12 or 14 grey sowbug.
Members dfield Posted April 29, 2009 Author Members Posted April 29, 2009 Well it's all about timing in most places. And I assume by 25 inch fish you are referring to 10 pound plus. At T-como that is possible any time of year. Naturally there is a bigger concentration of 10 pounders in the fall. For browns, in and around the trout parks, July and August are the prime months. As the river waters warm, the browns will migrate into the spring branches. Rainbows, in and around the trout parks, is an all year event if the fish are available. A 10 pound rainbow is getting to be a rare item in recent years. Winter season is a good bet for rainbows because of some large brood stock turned out about every 3rd year. I have caught 10 pound fish at t-como, RR, BSSP, and Montauk. I lost the only one that I have ever hooked at Meramac. As far as the rivers go, I have fished for some 10 pounders on the current, but 9 pounds is the largest that I have landed there. Below RR I have fished for some large browns, but never hooked up with any. Right place at the right time is the key. In the past 34 years I have been fortunate enough to land 29 trout over 10 pounds. All were released unharmed with the exception of one very large brown that I kept. All of these fish were caught in the missouri waters that I have listed above. All of these waters are capable of producing large fish at the right time of year.My choice of fly would be a 12 or 14 grey sowbug. Maybe I am wrong but I would think a 25" rainbow would run 5 or 6 pounds, or course a brown would be more. Interesting that we have caught most of our big fish on the same basic fly. 29 over ten is quite impressive.
mhall02 Posted April 29, 2009 Posted April 29, 2009 24" rainbow I caught was a stocker at RR when I was 10 or 11, 6 pounds 13 ounces. Biggest brought to hand was a 28" Rainbow at Taney, around the Rebar. Didn't weigh it, got a pic and let it go. I would guess it in the 8-10 pound range, and that was 1990 when I was at C of O and this was not a 'trophy' designated area at the time. Taney would get my vote for the big fish category, although there are some giant Rainbows in the spring pool at RR, I would guess this is where the currrent state record escaped from.
Members dfield Posted April 30, 2009 Author Members Posted April 30, 2009 there are some giant Rainbows in the spring pool at RR, I would guess this is where the currrent state record escaped from. Wasn't that some kind of strange deal? not to open old wounds but wasn't that fish caught during the C/R winter season. In the hay day of tany 30" bow would just be pushing ten, of course every fish is different. They have a formula based on length & two girth measurements that is fairly accurate.
laker67 Posted April 30, 2009 Posted April 30, 2009 Maybe I am wrong but I would think a 25" rainbow would run 5 or 6 pounds, or course a brown would be more. Interesting that we have caught most of our big fish on the same basic fly. 29 over ten is quite impressive. Thanks! Park fish take on the football look. Not much current to fight so they lay up and get extremely big around the girth. A 25 x 16 would be around 8 pounds, and a 25 x 20 would be 10 pounds. Taney's rainbows would be pushing 29 to 30 inches with less girth. Most of these football fish are females. Males are long and skinny as a rule. I caught a 31 inch male that only weighed 10.25, that was at BSSP.
duckydoty Posted April 30, 2009 Posted April 30, 2009 DD'sMC recently caught a 25" bow at RR that weighed in at 8 1/4 lbs and my brother caught a male the very next week that measured 25 1/2" and weighed in at 6 3/4 lbs. RR's catch and release season can produce some very nice fish but like laker67 said.....the 10 pounders are getting hard to come by. A Little Rain Won't Hurt Them Fish.....They're Already Wet!! Visit my website at.. Ozark Trout Runners
Bman Posted April 30, 2009 Posted April 30, 2009 Wasn't that some kind of strange deal? not to open old wounds but wasn't that fish caught during the C/R winter season. In the hay day of tany 30" bow would just be pushing ten, of course every fish is different. They have a formula based on length & two girth measurements that is fairly accurate. That formula would be, length x girth x girth divided by 800 = a very accurate weight for trout. I would think a trout of 30" just pushing 10lb would be one VERY hungry trout. The only good line is a tight line
laker67 Posted April 30, 2009 Posted April 30, 2009 I would think a trout of 30" just pushing 10lb would be one VERY hungry trout. A very hungry 10 pounder. What more could you ask for?
duckydoty Posted April 30, 2009 Posted April 30, 2009 A very hungry 10 pounder. What more could you ask for? A hungry brown over 20 pounds A Little Rain Won't Hurt Them Fish.....They're Already Wet!! Visit my website at.. Ozark Trout Runners
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