Perfect Bait For Big Browns?

[ozarkstripers.com]

Most of the places i fish for walleyes have good populations of browns. I have caught several on accident while walleye fishing using rogues, swimbaits and jigs. I would like to start intentionally fishing for browns while the walleye action is slow but I do not know much about actually fishing for them. If I could have a tray full of brown trout baits what would ya'all recommend... I fish mainly tailraces or small clear water rivers and i assume the same set up I have for walleye (9 foot med/lt spinning with light line) would work for big browns as well but what do i need to tie on?

[ozarkstripers.com]

Also, while feeding, will the trout be located along the current breaks and eddies or should i look for them in the faster water right below the tailrace? Any help would be appreciated

[FishinCricket]

Worms... Nightcrawlers if you gots em.. (not them Canadian ones though, their turncoats )

[rps]

Suspending jerk baits. Wall eye and big browns love them.

[Evolution]

Brown trout color lures may work since browns are cannibals themselves. I've heard of fly chuckers using rat baits for browns at night. When all else fails, powerbait, as I believe the MO record brown did inhale that stuff.

[troutfiend1985]

Are sculpins legal for bait?? I've heard that draws them out, however no clue if its legal.

[RSBreth]

Crankbaits, and suspending jerkbaits would be my first pick, then inline spinners and spoons. Cast across the current and work your lures so they "swing" past current breaks. Try high in the water column at first then dig deeper with each swing. After trying several lures in each spot, move on to the next.

[Hotdawg Guide Service]

Most of the places i fish for walleyes have good populations of browns. I have caught several on accident while walleye fishing using rogues, swimbaits and jigs. I would like to start intentionally fishing for browns while the walleye action is slow but I do not know much about actually fishing for them. If I could have a tray full of brown trout baits what would ya'all recommend... I fish mainly tailraces or small clear water rivers and i assume the same set up I have for walleye (9 foot med/lt spinning with light line) would work for big browns as well but what do i need to tie on?

As a long time guide on the White River in Bull Shoals they are a number of lures that work well for big Browns. Countdown Rapala's,Rattlin' Rogues,Lucky Krafts, and X-Raps to name a few.Some of the top baits would be Sculpins,River Shiners,Nightcrawlers,Crawdads,and Shad. The time of year and water conditions are what determines what I try first and then move to.When the shad are coming through that is the best fishing and the easiest for big ones as they want only one thing SHAD or something that looks like shad.Jig fishing is also highly productive all year long especially fishing on the rise.GOD Bless and good luck Hotdawg!!

[ozarkstripers.com]

Thanks for the all advise.....Did manage to catch a couple last night in-between walleye bights.one 24 incher, beautiful fish... One on rogue and one on inline spinner. Tried the night crawlers and kept coming back with half a crawler...will be using some stingers tonight. Did manage to find a few eyes overall very good night on the water.

[RSBreth]

Thanks for the all advise.....Did manage to catch a couple last night in-between walleye bights.one 24 incher, beautiful fish... One on rogue and one on inline spinner. Tried the night crawlers and kept coming back with half a crawler...will be using some stingers tonight. Did manage to find a few eyes overall very good night on the water.

One other thing - sometimes it's not the lure you use for big Browns, but the time you use it. If it's a clear night with a bright moon, then dusk until full dark is good, but if it's been cloudy for a few days (especially with a warming trend) before daylight until dawn can be better. I catch most of my big Browns in the hour before dawn - year-round.