jerkbaits for browns

[Smithvillesteve]

Hope everybody had a great New Years Day! Some questions for you boys on using jerkbaits for the big browns. Do you use the standard jerkbait that i would use for bass? Or do you use the smaller size? Do you throw them on a baitcaster or spincast? What lb test line? Any advice on the best colors for Tanneycomo? Any advice would be deeply appreciated. I am strictly catch and release. Thanks and best of luck fishing in 17!!

[Phil Lilley]

I don't throw them very often but this is what I do.

Baitcast - yes.  Heavy line too.  Just like bass fishing.

Regular size, just like bass fishing.  A lot of the guys are throwing megabass lures. 

[Mitch f]

Agree with Phil, at least 8 lb test. Lucky craft and Megabass110 work well. Also one of my favorites for shallow riffles in a youzuri Pins Minnow, the medium and large size. Youzuri also makes an absolute killer when the shad kill is on. It's called a 3D fingerling, it's shaped more like a shad. Get it in white or chrome side with a prism color. Work them crazy fast and then let it rest about 2 seconds. 

[Johnsfolly]

I fish F9 and F11 hand painted Rapalas for browns with spin tackle with 6 or 8 lb line. I fish Yozuri hybrid line in 8 lbs or 6 lb nanofil line with fluorocarbon leader. I am typically fishing shallow (< 4 feet) water. This set-up works best in 2 to 3 feet of water. Don't know how effective these baits would be in deeper water during the day without some means to get them deeper. I find that in deeper water the trout swim beneath the bait and often don't strike unless there is more than one chasing the bait. Lately I have been throwing Rapalas UL jerkbaits in fast water less than 2 feet deep. I want to find out if these would work in Taney particularly at night. Hoping to get down that way in the next two months. 

Let us know how you do.

[Gavin]

They do work. Luckycraft, Megabass Smithwicks, Rapala's, Duo Realis, Yo-Zuri, Excaliburs, & McStick's work well but one bait might out fish the others. More a factor of depth, and size, more than color. You will want a few different baits in different sizes and some that run deeper or float. Faster presentations than you would use for lake bass.

 

[Joenothum]

I've thrown a bunch on Taneycomo and the best I have found is the Rapala Shadow Rap deep jerk bait.  I add a "Suspand Dot" (storm makes it I think) under the head so it sits slightly nose down on the pause and I think helps it get down.  Dark colors on low light conditions or cloudy days, brighter colors on sunny days.  I throw them on my jerkbait rod which is a baitcaster and I've got it rigged with 8# fluorocarbon.  The smaller line diameter and fluro helps the bait get down deeper.  I'm casting toward the bank, cranking it down for a few turns then  ripping it hard twice and then pausing long enough to reel up the slack.  Majority of the time I'm getting hit in about 10-12 foot of water I would guess.  I really try to get the bait as deep as I can. 

 

Have some patience with it, a lot of times I'll go out and have 2 or 3 hits and that's it.  If they are really generating water then it will be a lot better.  Last year when the shad were coming through the flood gates in January you could catch fish after fish on a jerkbait. 

[JestersHK]

I fish sticks mostly at night.  Use all different color patterns, lots of shiny and white in the darkness.  Generally only throw 2 hook ones.  

I've never thrown them during the day, but will be trying some out chasing browns next time I'm down.

[Smithvillesteve]

A sincere "thank you" to all you boys for giving out some valuable information to a novice trout angler. I only get down to Taneycomo once a year, a tournament my buddy puts on in late Jan. But I would like to start getting down there a little more often to fly fish. I am starting to kinda get into that. Once again, thank you for the great info. You boys, and gals, on this website are outstanding at sharing information. 

[JestersHK]

10 minutes ago, Smithvillesteve said:

 I only get down to Taneycomo once a year, a tournament my buddy puts on in late Jan. But I would like to start getting down there a little more often to fly fish. I am starting to kinda get into that. 

Taney is an amazing fishery for sure.  I used to get worried about water conditions and such and would try to plan my trips around flow generation and such.  I have found to just roll with it lately and be willing to adapt and try new ways and areas to fish it.  Main thing is just trying to get down there as much as I can!  

High flow?  Throw some sticks and work your way down from the outlets, or hit up Phil and rent a boat for half a day.  

Water all the way off?  There's a ton of small water to cover out there to fly fish on, and places to explore on the "other side" of the lake.  

Once I quit worrying about what the flow was, and realized I just needed to be more flexible fishing the different water conditions, Taneycomo really became one of the top places for me to fish.  

Good luck out there!