Perfect Bait For Big Browns?

[laker67]

I know that most of you are "big bait" fishermen, so my opinion will not have much impact on what you use. My experience today re-affirms my position on small flies for big browns. Myself and several other oaf members have caught several large browns,over ten pounds, on 14 and 16 sowbugs and nymphs. Most, if not all, are caught in the daylight hours. I hooked one today on a 16 tan sowbug that would go 11 or 12 pounds. He was a great fighting fish, two full body jumps, a trip through the moss, and then a run across the creek. When browns are laid up in slick water, a small fly is the way to go. Most times a "long fly" will put them on guard and scare them out of the feeding lane. This is a productive way to approach wary fish.

[Matlock™]

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

You have to catch them before you can use them as bait. Not a easy thing to do

[rps]

Actually, not that difficult on the White below BS. I go to a slack water area with rocks in 3 to 4 feet of water. I bait a size 12 hook with a tiny bit of worm and drop it down in cracks between rocks. They will dart out and bite your bait.

[Matlock™]

I'll have to give that a try. We were trying to catch them barehanded lol