Trout Worms

[Fly_Guy]

Finally got down to the water today - it's about time! Payed a visit to Lilley's at around 5:30 am, and caught 4 (around 12 or 13 inches) before you could say 'flibber-jibbit". These for the frying pan. Caught on Gulp eggs. The bite was so quick, I thought I'd try some of the trout park worms, and promptly caught the biggest trout I've caught off the dock - I have a replica 3.5 lb trout at home, and this was identical in size by my estimation (I unhooked him by laying on the dock while he was in the water). Kept fishing the worms, and kept catching bigger sized fish. Had a (bass) worm weight, and fished the worm about 1.5 ft below the weight by quickly ripping it along the bottom about 10 inches at a time.

Went up to the dam for a bit around 8 or so (stopped by Backcountry Outfitters t'other day and stocked up on chanelle for some san juan worms) - today I fished pink, red, tan, and tan/yellow. Caught one on pink, and lost one on tan/yellow. just wanting to try some 'exotic' colors. Not much going on at the top- there was no one there when I was there.

Went back to Lilley's, signed in, dodged the drunk raccoon, and caught a few more. Fun day.

Bottom line, if you enjoy tossing out an egg or two and having above average success, it's a good time right now. Fly-fishing kinda stunk.

Also, does anyone else ever fish trout worms at taneycomo?? They were killer today.

Also also, I'd like to say THANK YOU to everyone at Lilley's for their hospitality, and for letting us yokels without our own boat fish off their dock when guests are lite.

[Gatorjet]

I have never tried the trout worms, but have found them in fish I cleaned for the table. I'm sure going to give them a try now.

A couple years ago, while at Lilleys for the R.A.W. Tournament I caught a 3 1/2 # Rainbow off the end of the dock about 15 feet from shore over the neighbors boat ramp. Of course it was the day before the tournament!. My boat was is a slip close to the downstream end where Phil keeps the pontoon boats. I noticed one of my jig & float rods had a loop in the reel. The pontoon was out of the slip, so I cast out to remove the tangle. I looked up and saw the float twitch a few times, when it started to move away I set the hook thinking it was aa little fish. When the 7' rod doubled over, and the fish started taking drag I got a little excited.

You just never know what you will catch off of Phil's dock!

[Phil Lilley]

Speaking of worms... I'll post a video I shot this evening.

[AZ_Trout]

I fish the trout worms on my fly rod --set anywhere from 1-4 feet under an indicator. I'll use 1/3 - 1/2 the original worm, this helps get a better hook set vs the whole worm.

I started doing this set up maybe 20 years ago, while fishing at Ft. Riley KS for stocked trout in Camron Spring pond. The locals where doing real well with live bait and power bait while I'd pick up 1 -2 trout to like 5 of theirs. I thought there had to be a way to fish a worm or bait via the fly rod, but with out it falling off in the cast. I had a slow epiphany, it took about 2 days then it hit me --try the trout worms we use at the parks for the kids or when the water is up and dirty. It worked, it took some time to refine my approach, but it worked. I've done this at Lake Shawnee in Topeka, Lake Henry in Lawrence, and now out here in AZ they stock local lakes for the winter season and I've converted a few locals to the Ozark worm.

I will still fish a woolly bugger, or a soft hackle, even a nymph under an indicator in these lakes first. I like the feel of the strike, it's a far better feel than just the slow take of the worm and then setting the hook, but hey a bent rod is more fun than an empty one!

If you have the opportunity to try out the worm under a float, try it, develop the timing to get a good hook set yet not gut hook the fish, and have fun.

Plus it will drive the other people around you nuts when you tell them what your doing.

[Gatorjet]

Keep in mind that the trout worms are a "soft" bait, and not legal in the restricted area above Fall Creek.