Tail Water Info Needed..

[meat man]

I was thinking of going to the tailwaters this winter and fishing for walleye and trout . I have only been on this area once with a guide about 10 years ago or so.

I was wanting to know where the best place to go with my boat and if I can make it all the way up and down the tailwaters below trophy area to holiday island in a 16 ft war eagle with a 25 hp 4 stoke yamaha tiller ?

Will there be any issues with getting back up and are there lots of hazards ?? Any help would be appreciated.. Thanks..

[rps]

Going upstream from HI, depending upon discharge and water levels, your rig will go as far as the Hwy 62 bridge and maybe as far up as Spider Creek. If headed downstream only you can launch as high as Parker Bottoms for a drift down. But that will involve a shuttle. During the winter, the shelf wall just below the 62 bridge holds brown trout - try a suspending Rapala/Smithwick/jerk bait. If you can get just above the 62 bridge the car size rocks in the river hold trout and walleye on the downstream side. From 62 bridge down to Beaver, the winter jig and minnow fishing for walleye yields very large fish every year.

Good luck.

[Feathers and Fins]

I wouldn't put a War Eagle in above 62 Bridge that water gets skinny and rocky and without a lot of knowledge of the area is dangerous. Launch at Holiday Island or Houseman access ( I prefer Holiday Island as its a nice ramp and safer for vehicles being left ). RPS covered everything else nicely but remember it gets cold on the river so be prepared for that. Also if they generate watch for shad stuns the trout and walleye will go on a chew as will the local stripers.

[sfiser]

no way in the world you can operate a boat in low water above the 62 bridge. the shoal just downstream of the bridge is SKINNY and is 2-4 inches deep in most spots. Also the shoal just above the bridge is even skinnier and the one at spider creek would be a prop eater for sure. Bring waders and launch at Housemans and motor up to that shoal below the bridge and hop out and wade fish. There is some good water but nothing a boat can get to on dead low water

[meat man]

I appreciate the help ,I dont own a set of waders,lol .. I will proably try putting in at HI and work my way up ... To the 62 bridge area.. Thanks everyone

[Ham]

That sounds like a great fishing trip idea. I might need to find someone crazy enough to make the drive over with me in Feb 14

[remi74]

So . . . streamers . . . anyone tossing streamers right now or mostly throwing the meat at them right now? Looking to get back in the trout game at Beaver. Love streamers. Chasing smallies too long now. Haven't been to Beaver tailwaters since 03 or 04.

[Feathers and Fins]

Remi right now I would be tossing shad imitations for flies such as Clousers , FOF, and Abel Anchovies. For other artificial thin fin, redfin, shad raps, flicker shad and Keitech. But Live crawlers or shad would be the go to bait. Also keep the profiles of flies and artificial to 4'' and under preferable 2 to 3'' as that is typical shad size. Slow approach works best on the area from 62 to HI.