Fly fishing slack water in trophy area

[Seth]

I was just wondering what techniques you guys like to use for catching the trout that are eating scuds in the slack water. There are always lots of fish there, but I can't get my scuds or gbugs to look natural without any current. The trout always come up towards my flies but then turn away at the last second. I can only think of maybe three fish I've actually caught dead water up there.

Brett Rader sight fishes for them in that dead water and catches a bunch the way it sounds. Sight fishing is my favorite way to fish and thats why I was wondering how you guys catch these "dead water" fish. I would like to get down there again soon and try and catch some of the browns with some new techniques

[James Thomason]

I was just wondering what techniques you guys like to use for catching the trout that are eating scuds in the slack water. There are always lots of fish there, but I can't get my scuds or gbugs to look natural without any current. The trout always come up towards my flies but then turn away at the last second. I can only think of maybe three fish I've actually caught dead water up there.

Brett Rader sight fishes for them in that dead water and catches a bunch the way it sounds. Sight fishing is my favorite way to fish and thats why I was wondering how you guys catch these "dead water" fish. I would like to get down there again soon and try and catch some of the browns with some new techniques

Seth, I am not an expert flyfisherman, however you might try twitching the rod tip slightly as you bring your line in.

[McFlyGuy]

Seth,

What size tippet are you using? You've pretty much got to go with 7x fluorocarbon in that situation.

McFlyGuy

[Seth]

Yep, I always use 7x flurocarbon.

I usually fish with a #6/8 split shot and a small football indicator. Should I not use any weight and possibly just use one of those pinch on palsa indicators?

I normally dont put lead on my flies, I think I might try that one my scuds and try that next time so I can get the fly down with no split shot.

[McFlyGuy]

The other thing is fly size. Brett often uses size 20-22 scuds when fishing the slack water.

Definitely try the Palsa indicator. Only need half of one. No weight needed in the edge water either usually.

[Seth]

I tie all my scuds in size #20 for the most part.

Too bad I don't live closer to Taneycomo. I want to go fly fishing down there so bad right now again. With rifle and muzzleloading season coming up for the next month, there won't be any time to get down there

Deer hunt or trout fish....what a good problem to have hehe

[Phil Lilley]

David Freeman turned me on to fishing for trout in the dead water below the dam years ago. McFlyGuy hit it on the head- everything he said... the only thing I'd add is place the palsa about 18 inches from the first fly- use flourocarbon tippet (it sinks better)- no weight at all, not even in the fly. It needs to look natural on the bottom- move the float when a fish is near to trigger a look and/or strike- Brett carries great flies to use for this type of fishing but you can tie a scud using ostrich (which he uses), making the bug breath and move, making it look alive- use orange in some of the dubbing to make the fly look dead (scuds turn orange when they die)- try to fish choppy water verses slick- you can get away with using 6x tippet, you sight fish to tailing trout while they feed on the bottom. This is good down towards the bottom of the narrows or the top of big hole.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I might add, keep as far away as practical,. These fish see a lot of flies, and fishermen.

[Seth]

I try to atleast keep my feet in ankle deep water so the fish dont swarm my feet while I am fishing for them.