In-search of MONSTER Browns

MoCarp · June 17, 2017

We all know record Browns live in Taney want one? here how, be warned this can become an obsession.....

Huge fish get big because they are wary and LAZY...swimming around eating dead and dieing trout, Shad that get chopped up and stunned....... but we can't use trout for bait in Missouri...... but we CAN use shad...

So how do we do that an release the fish?...easy.... Euro style quick strike rig....It takes planning and effort.....

1st things 1st gathering the bait, a floating light at night in TR will gather shad, a cast net will get you all you want, put them on ice and freeze them in gallon size ziplock bags. The cleaner and better you keep your bait the better it will work. you need lots of bait several pounds

Scouting....big browns don't hang like other fish, many times they will hang in water considered "marginal" down lake, treat your scouting like your Muskie fishing, huge lures to get a fish to show itself.. ask your buddies buck fever hits when you roll a 40"er.. If you have to liquor him up to spill the beans do so.....you need to locate areas where you have seen larger fish lairs, Where people clean fish are good places, big fish roll at night and pick up easy meals. just down current near boat ramps. you don't need a boat, this can be done from the bank, though its better to scout with a boat and if possible fish from the bank near the spot you think is a brown's hide-out or supper table, use the chum to get them into casting range near your swim, if a boat is near Mr Big wary Brown.. you can count on them knowing, They didn't get big by being stupid...

don't Trespass, get permission if you explain what your doing many times if its not in someones back yard with you screaming at 3am you can get permission... if need be,.. liquor them up too.....there are MANY good places to do this on Taney....

prep your swim area BEFORE you go fishing last thing you want is a lot of thumping around to let the fish know you are there.....cut down weeds, remove fish losing snags, you want a clean area to net that fish of a lifetime. Check out that spot when the water is generating, last thing you want is to be trapped at night as the water comes up, if you look you usually can tell where that water line is, be sure you can back up, if the water gets rolling

pre-baiting is a must once the area is located, thaw out a gallon pack in warm water in a bucket, then cut the bigger shad into chunks, leave smaller ones whole, do this for several weeks at several fishing spots 1/3 a bag per spot

hook bait is important... save the big shad in the 10-12 inch range and freeze them in bags of 3 baits each, if you want smaller Browns/Rainbows 3-6" shad... use rubber gloves on all bait handling for hook baits. last thing you want is having your bait smell like dawn dish soap or cigarettes, BIG no-no....prep some food color in deli containers, and use a Q-Tip or craft sponge to paint the hook-baits like a Trout ....Blue works on the back, pink/ red stripe...don't forget the spots!...paint them before you freeze them, with practice you can blend the food colors to look like that dead trout you see laying on bottom, where johnny tourist yanked out his 30 cent hook and tossed it back

as a note gathering your bait at night and keep them Iced till the next day, THEN bag and prep hook baits, last thing you want is have your wife get up at 2am and your stinking up the kitchen painting shad to look like stocker rainbows....if need be liquor her up too

Once your ready to fish and the bait is thawed, keep them on ice, even pre rig them, Take a shad and flex it from head to tale your taking the stiffness out before its rigged, see illustrations on how to set up a quick strike rig. my favorite hooks are Partridge Hooks CS1ST - V.B. Straight Eye Pike Hook... pricy but worth it

Tackle should be for salmon sized fish, with a smooth drag, if you hook a 30+ and have flaws in anything from hook to rod butt, you can count on it failing, Euro-type carp rods, and Bait runner reels are Ideal, casting a 10" bait with hardware takes a rod that can handle it.... 12-13 foot 3# - 3/4 test curve 2 piece carp style rods are VERY pricy and can lob a bait farther than most people can chunk a bass plug....in a pinch a quality flipping stick and large capacity casting reel will work. Bite indication, alarms are a huge plus! you can get them reasonable now from online sources based in the USA.

Keep an eye on fishing moon faze time to fish for Trophies is three days before and three days after the new or full moon, it is well documented more Trophies, state and world records are Taken at this time, planning pays off.

TIME FOR THE MISSOURI RECORD TO FALL!

Dead Baiting 101 this is for Pike but works great for Browns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klOXcKH0iEk

Making fish oil https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ4oqiHJWbA

IMPORTANT! oiling your dead-baits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ioxfm5Dz-Ns&t=1157s

Tie a Quick Strike rig https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqRRmZUw7xQ

Browns love dead baits! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dbbrxalmuo