October Tactics

[dnj21]

I always get down to Tanneycomo in Feb or March, have never made it in October. Looks like there is a good chance I can spend this weekend fishing while my wife and little one play with the in-laws.

Plan on hitting the trophy area wading, any advice on things to try? Yes I know the search button is my friend, I am reading as much as I can before we leave.

Have always read about the Brown's running in fall but haven't really had the opportunity before. Taking both the 5wt and 8wt, but if it was worth a shot at a big one I would throw big streamers with the 8wt. Never caught anything over 5# in the 15 years I have been going down there, but would like to change that.

My usual tactic is to go hang out in Phil’s shop for a bit and see what is working, can always try that when I get there.

Dave

[Lancer09]

Big rod with a sink tip. Fish the big flies. And fish at night. Put in enough time and you'll get a big one.

[BassHunter132]

Not really for big fish but, size 18 midges with 7x flourocarbon tippet usually does good for me.

[Phil Lilley]

You can go with either extreme... and that's your options.

Extreme #1 - Big Stuff, but mostly at night. But Tim Homesley has proven you can catch them during the day on leaches.

Extreme #2 - Small Stuff. Brett Rader and Chuck Gries have been doing well wading below the dam and catching nice browns. Brett's using #20 and #22 scuds mainly, 6x tippet. Where you fish is important though and I can't give you those spots because I haven't been up there to find them. Of course the outlets will be full of fish and anglers too. I'd seek out slow moving water and out of the way places where fish haven't been bothered too much. Go slow and watch for them.

Honestly- I think more big trout are caught on the small stuff than the big stuff on Taney.

[ruthead]

Is it because more people are fishing the small stuff? Or is it directly proportionate to the number of people throwing big stuff or people throwing small stuff?

[Phil Lilley]

In my experience, I catch very little on the big stuff. Others have had more luck. Big streamers work better when the water is running than not. But even then, I've never did well using big streamers.

[dnj21]

That is very interesting, counter to what I was thinking. Glad I asked, I can use the set up I normally would the Trophy area. Have to work on the go slow and take it easy. Hard not to get excited when you get down there so infrequently.

I haven't used my 8wt yet, I may have to fling some big streamers just to justify my purchase though. Tough to work it in on a trip to BSSP or Meramec Springs....

In my experience, I catch very little on the big stuff. Others have had more luck. Big streamers work better when the water is running than not. But even then, I've never did well using big streamers.

[Lancer09]

I'm sure you have some bass fishing around you. I use an 8 and 9 with a lot of my bass flies.

[dnj21]

Reporting back in:

Sat- got out about 300pm Sat afternoon and fished until 530pm. Caught one nice Rainbow on a brown beadhead wooley worm on sinking line stripping it (throwing the 8wt). Had a hard time, water was coming up and by the time I left you were standing under the trees trying to roll cast. Saw very little being caught, except a few out of guys running up in boats. They seemed to be doing better.

Sun- Back out around 930 until 1230. Caught one decent Brown on a dark green beadhead egg and a smaller Rainbow on a tungsten green scud (16) dropper below a brown San Juan worm. Guys seemed to be doing pretty well, I just couldnt get it going. They were jumping all over, saw some really beautiful fish both in and out of the water. Best fish I saw hooked was a Brown about 150' down from the outlet, swam close enough I could see it a couple times. Solid 5+ pounds, broke off after five or ten minutes. Lot of guys using 6 or 7X and getting broke off it seemed like.

I need to get down there more in October, this will NOT be my last trip when the Browns are up!

[Jack Jones]

When I see then jumping like that I usually throw on a crackleback. It manages to catch a few of the jumpers if I strip it near the surface. Suprised 6x was breaking off. I never go to 7x because it always snaps. I guess with the colder weather and such it's time to move up to 5x.