Browns on the move

[Bill Babler]

Guys, the Browns are moving up in really good numbers and it seems maby better size than they have shown the past several years.

Vince kind of got us started with that nice fish a couple of weeks ago and since we have seen several really nice browns up to 8lbs in the top of the bait area.

Most of the Crawler guides are reporting catching multiple Browns on every trip. Yesterday, I had 5 with the biggest at about 18 inches. It was a hen, and she was so fat it was unbelieveable. Probably weighed 3lbs. Plus.

No picture, I just kept her in the water for support and released her as gently and quickly as possible. What a fish!

Have also been seening lots of Browns crusing the lower section of the restricted area and Buster reported seeing multiple Browns crusing a Short Creek with 1 he thought was at least 15lbs.

Could be a great fall for the big red spotted fish.

[Aeronikl]

Bill,

Great to hear. I plan on fishing later in October, and since I fish mostly at night, I wanted your opinion on full moon vs. new moon. During the rest of the year, I find periods around the new moon better for night fishing....except for in the fall for browns. I've caught my biggest browns one fall during/around a full moon. Was it a fluke? Which phase do you recommend I plan my trip around? Thanks. Gary

[Greg]

Thanks for the report Bill. Best time of the year for those of us that love the browns!!!

Greg

[Leonard]

Aeronikl....

As night fishing goes, I know quite a bit..but im not an expert.. and "I" by no means claim/or think to know everything about night fishing... but here is my opinion....

New moon is great fishing.. but when the browns come up.. they dont get really active till the water has been calm for a few hours (I mean not alot of fisherman walking though the water).. some night can be the best fishing ever.. next night not even a bit

Full moon... If you have the right flies/jig/rapalas... fishing can be really good... like last night it was hard to catch a fish on a fly... but we did..3am.. got out the spinning rod and rapalas.. we were get hits on ever other cast...

but on the nights of a new moon... I dont do that well on rapalas.. but thats just me and my opinion

Leonard

[Aeronikl]

Leonard

Thanks for the info. I usually flyfish with streamers at night, and the results are good enough that I haven't tried much else lately, but I'm tempted to try larger Rapalas on a spinning rod next trip, for the browns. On my last trip in July, when it got slow on streamers and I saw a large number of fish lined up in the slot down stream, I experimented with micro-jigs, using glow-in-the-dark strike indicators (I've been coating the foam ones I use during the day). I did catch fish, and the indicators were visible, but it was hard to see them go under the surface although you could see them "move", like in daylight. I also had some fish strike the indicator. I've heard of others using glowing indicators and assume they are "home made" since I don't think they are commercially available as small as the ones we use for trout. I wonder if anyone on the forum is making them, if they would be willing to share how they are making them, what paint they use, paint color, etc. I would appreciate the help or any ideas anyone might have. I'll try the method again in October with some different colors and report on the results.

Gary

[Leonard]

Gary...

They do make a glow stick that fits inside of the big bell floats.. but I think you have to drill alittle of the float out to get it to fit....

E-mail me you mailing address and I'll send you a few (3 or 4) floats and (5 or 6) glow stick...Only on one condition... the next time your down.. let do a little night fishing..

Leonard

[Aeronikl]

Leonard - Thanks, I'll let you know before I go, as soon as I set the dates. I'll be on the river every night during my stay, so you can choose when to come, but let me know so I can meet you. Gary