duckydoty Posted June 25, 2007 Posted June 25, 2007 If'n ya plan on fishun with Leonard---Ya better bring a "BIG" stick duckydoty A Little Rain Won't Hurt Them Fish.....They're Already Wet!! Visit my website at.. Ozark Trout Runners
Terry Beeson Posted June 25, 2007 Posted June 25, 2007 Hey Ducky... I think Leonard is recruiting a new "Netboy"... Wrath... Be careful if Leonard hands you a net and says, "Here... hold this for me for a second while I land this fish..." You'll never get to make another cast... TIGHT LINES, YA'LL  "There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process." - Paul O’Neil
Micheal Kyle Posted June 25, 2007 Posted June 25, 2007 Night fishing Taneycomo I have been night fishing down at Taneycomo for well over 15 years maybe longer. And have seen people come and go, and people who go always will find there way back to the night time is the right time. One thing that I have noticed over the years is that the fishing is always about the same it is ether on or off. On the night that it is on you will catch 40-60 fish depending on how long your down there. On the nights that it is off you will catch maybe half that amount and have to work at getting them. My dad and I have night fished back in the day when night fishing Taney wasn't cool where we would catch 120 -150 fish between the two of us. With the night fishing growing in popularity it is though to have those night because some of the prime spots are taken. That is why I have done the home work and know spots and fish spots that no one will even consider to fish at night. Now I'm not trying to be big headed but the night fishing takes a little time and a little work to master. I usually will avg about 150 nights a year on Taney, with everything that happen this year I will not make the avg. There was one year that my dad and I were down there over 250 nights and what a year. I am pretty sure that I have cast everything including the kitchen sink at them to try and see if it would catch a fish. I used to try and keep mental notes and that got too hard for me to remember everything. So now I keep a journal and keep everything from the weather to moon phase wind direction, who was with me, to how many fish we caught and what we caught them on. I have been going over all of this and it seems that the conclusion that I have come up is just about everything that I have tryed has caught a least one fish on. OK maybe the kitchen sink didn't catch any fish but it was fun trying to cast that thing on my 3'2wt(LOL). We all have our favorite spots and will seldom move but in my own experience I will start at one end and work down to the spot that I want to end at and by doing this I have found some awesome spots between point A & B. I have had people watch us get ready in the parking lot and actually have people ask me where are going with all that gear. I try to always keep a sinking line like a type 2 or 3 on hand just because they are not running water does not mean you can use one. I have been known to cast a floating line in the shallows then put a sinking line in the deeper water , and when I say deeper water any water thats is over 4 ft in depth. And then there are all my boxes way too many flies to go over right now. When you see my fly box you might think that I'm crazy OK I'm sure that some of you already think that. Back to the main point I have top water flies all the way to the huge sculpins. Now the time of year will dictate what size flies that I will have on hand. For the general purpose of this summer time will yield the size to be 10-6 and the fall will yield the size of the fly to be 6-1/0. Two reasons for the dramatic size change, for the most part in the summer time there are a lot of fish in the area that are 15-18 inches there are a few over 18-24 about but they are few and far between. I will use the month of July as a feeler to see how I think the fall will be. In my years of fishing down there if you start catching a lot of Browns at night in July the fall we be good as in lat year I had 8 fish that were over 10lbs and one that pushed the 15lb mark. So to sum up summer time fishing and you want numbers fish small flies if you want to go after some bigger fish fish some bigger flies and you might need to move down stream. A lot of people do not know this but Taney is stocked the heaviest during the summer because of the add people down there. Now to the fall and the big stick time, I will have big flies and a big stick to be able to cast the flies. I will generally have in hand a 9'8wt. For two reasons the ease of casting bigger flies not to say you cant cast them on a 6wt. And for the ease of getting big fish in. When you catch these big fish as in 24-28 inch fish you want to get them as quickly as you can so that you do not harm them. Remember the reason that the big fish are coming up is to spawn. Now the MDC says that the fish do not spawn in Taney, that can be a whole other topic. However the MDC does come down a get the big fish and milk them so that they can continue to produce the fish in the hatchery. I will use a lot of articulated pattern's with stinger hooks in them. Two reasons for the articulated patterns is I can get a larger fly and not have to have a huge hook in the fly.; I will tie a bunch of articulated leech's that will have a number 4 octopus hook in it and the fly is 4" long the hook is only about 1" long. A lot of home work has gone into this information and this is only the tip of the iceberg. I have a lot of information that, I will be sharing , I am planing on having a hands on seminar for night fishing here in the next month. The seminar will cover a lot of stuff we will have to limit the numbers because I want it to be on Taney. It will not be the only seminar that I do that is like this. I will have several over the next month or two so that we all can get ready for a big fall. I only through streamers and only fish when the water is off. That is how I have done it for years I have had some people try and get me into nymphing at night no offense it's not me. I like the action of streamer fishing. I also believe that it is the most productive way to fish because you can cover more water at night whipping and stripping streamers. Starting to get busy must get to work now. See you all down ther tonight. I hope that this what not to long. Michael To Know People Is To Know Thier Ways!
Terry Beeson Posted June 25, 2007 Posted June 25, 2007 Geez, Michael... Don't tell everyone about that seminar. If we get 'em all fishin' at night, it will be like finding a spot during a holiday... Now that you've heard from the "voice of experience" let me chime in from a "newbie's" perspective. I've only fished Taney at night for less than a year. But, if you have not fished at night before, I think my short experience can give you a few pointers to remember: 1. Practice casting with your eyes closed. Casting a fly line at night is WAY different from casting during the day. You can't really imagine the difference until you have experienced it. I always thought I did not look at my line or rod during a cast, but found out that I DO use my peripheral vision. No dice at night... it's DARK and you can't see anything unless there is some good moonlight. And that's still a lot different than even an overcast day. 2. DO NOT forget a light. And DO NOT carry a big 2 million candle power spot with you unless you want to be eaten by the Giant Man-Eating Taneycomo Killer Squid (aka: another fisherman.) Michael has some good headlights, but I carry a small LED one AAA battery light that serves its purpose OK... 3. On the same note, wading at night is also very different. BE CAREFUL! Leonard keeps moving the big rocks around so that they are in a different spot. That's one reason for the light. But keep the light off as much as possible. 4. There are certainly others, but if Michael or Leonard tell you something, LISTEN... Another one would be Duckydoty since he seems to live in a van down by the river. Just don't pay attention when he or Leonard says "Aw they're only runnin' two units... We can still fish at night..." Maybe THEY can... but not THIS ol' man... 5. Forget the conventional things about leader and tippet. Bulk up. Especially during the fall/winter when the big boys come out to play. I'm playing with 2 ft of 20 lb and 3 ft of 15 lb Amnesia followed by 6-10 ft of 6 lb or heavier "tippet" of the Maxum or Vanish variety right now. Works good during the day. I'll let you know about the night stuff. (Kudos to Davy Wotton.) 6. Another tip to get ready is to fish a streamer during the day with your eyes closed. The feel of the take and how you react is a bit different at night. Also remembr you won't be able to see where your line is most of the time, so you have to follow the fly with your rod by feel. 7. Safety is a big issue with me. I don't recommend going at night without someone knowing you are there. I do fish alone a lot, but there is usually someone there who knows I've gone in and if they turn on a unit or two, I would HOPE they would recognize if I was not back. Same goes for me. If I know a couple of guys are fishing down there and they don't come out, I tend to worry a bit. At least I'll go down and look for a light. Thank God that hasn't been an issue yet. 8. Either dress warm or carry a jacket/long sleeve with you. It gets cold down there at night. It can be 110 during the day and you'll freeze your arse off at midnight down there. ESPECIALLY if there is a nice westerly breeze... 9. If you are getting use to the peaceful quiet of the water and hear loud music coming from the parking lot... it's ok... It's juse either me or Michael pulling in and gearing up. Enjoy the entertainment while it lasts. 10. Be prepared for the squawk of a heron, a beaver tail slapping water, and other strange noises that will sneak up on you and sometimes give you the creeps. If the bear or GMETK Squid are after you, you won't hear them until they have taken their first bite anyway... Just my beginner's take for what it's worth... TIGHT LINES, YA'LL  "There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process." - Paul O’Neil
duckydoty Posted June 25, 2007 Posted June 25, 2007 Good stuff Michael and Terry. Terry--its a truck not a van. Watch your drift during the day to see how your line swings in the water at night. Can be very usefull duckydoty A Little Rain Won't Hurt Them Fish.....They're Already Wet!! Visit my website at.. Ozark Trout Runners
Leonard Posted June 25, 2007 Posted June 25, 2007 Good point guys... I agree 100% ... BUT... 1 more thing... dont forget the big drys... cracklebacks 6 or 8, hoppers 4-6, and even a few big "foam" stones... If you decide to nymph fish at night... You dont alway have to have an indicator... there has been a few nice fish caught on nymphs at night.. Man... I cant believe fall is almost here again... http://www.taneycomonights.com
Micheal Kyle Posted June 25, 2007 Posted June 25, 2007 Like I said big top water flies work extremely well. In the summer time not so much in the winter not to say you won't catch fish on them they just work better in the summer. As far as the leader tippet goes at night throw it all out the window, I use heavy fluorocarbon at night usually it is about 10lb test in the summer and even larger in the fall. Cast your rod during the day with your eyes closed so that you can actually learn when and how the rod is loading. That is the key people try and cast to fast wind knot is next going home is next. It can be the most frustrating item in night fishing. If you can keep the knots out and flies tied on it will improve you odds of keeping the whole night thing up. Watch your drift during the day you know how you mend during the day do the same thing at night it is harder than hell to set the hook on a fish with a big bow in the middle. Remember this the straighter the line is the more hook ups you will have. When you want to swing a streamer at night get the line as straight as you can and let it dead drift down at the end of you'r drift thats when you will start stripping the fly line in. Keep your rod as close to the water as possible that will keep everything pretty well in a straight line. And a lot of time now when I set the hook instead of picking my rod up I will use the strip set. Everyone has made some good points I just pulled them out to explain at little more I hop that you don't mind. I have a nice play list ready to rock and roll. Michael To Know People Is To Know Thier Ways!
gonefishin Posted June 25, 2007 Posted June 25, 2007 I cant believe fall is almost here again... HUH The dog days of summer aren't even here yet. Have been smoking some of those 'Mexican Buds' you were talking about on the other topic?? I would rather be fishin'. "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." Benjamin Franklin, 1759
Don Posted June 25, 2007 Posted June 25, 2007 9. If you are getting use to the peaceful quiet of the water and hear loud music coming from the parking lot... it's ok... It's juse either me or Michael pulling in and gearing up. Enjoy the entertainment while it lasts. So, which one of you were blasting that new Sanjaya CD at 90 decibals last Friday night? Don Don May I caught you a delicious bass.
Leonard Posted June 25, 2007 Posted June 25, 2007 HUH The dog days of summer aren't even here yet. Have been smoking some of those 'Mexican Buds' you were talking about on the other topic?? None lately.... but my eyes are still squinted from when I did 6 years ago... http://www.taneycomonights.com
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