NIGHT FISHING TIPS

[FEATHERFLICKER]

Hi there, i am making my first trip to taney tomorrow ( sunday the 12) an am staying at lillys. My wife is worried about me heading out at night in un-familliar water. Are there any areas to be worried about in the trophy water, ie un readable ledges, or potential snaggs , that might not be noticable to a 1st timer ? I have fished at night many of times, and have 20 years of river reading under my belt, so i am just asking about any thing that you feel you should warn me about ?

thanks in advance.

If anyone wants to join me on sunday night that could be fun to.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Other than the occasional large rock, I can't think of anything above the rebar that should worry you, as long as they aren't generating.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

I've got an old article from 1998 on night fishing in the Lake Tanetcomo artricles at the top of this L/T section.

Here is a link if anyone is lazy : Night Fly Fishing Guide Trip Article

If it not too cold - I might see ya down there.. and I'll bring the Stanleys Ice Off paste to keep the guides from freezing up to bad. (do not use Chapstick.. it'll clog the tiny pores of the fly line )

best fishes - Brian

[FEATHERFLICKER]

Thanks, i had allready checked out the 1st article, well done . Sound advise in the second link as well, i could t not agree more regarding the importance of de-barbing all hooks. It seems that there is allways a splash just out of reach and about the time you dig a bit deeper, here comes a good cross wind.... no barbs sure make it easier to get the hook out of my fleece jacket... any how thanks for the reply, sounds like a "safe" place to night fish. I am looking forward to it.

[jdavis]

I'll bring the Stanleys Ice Off paste to keep the guides from freezing up to bad. (do not use Chapstick.. it'll clog the tiny pores of the fly line )

best fishes - Brian

Brian, Where can I find Stanleys Ice Off?

[Cheese slinger]

If you're unfamilar with the lake I would suggest waiting till daylight to head out and restrict your 1st night of fishing to a dock - action on bait can be awesome this time of year, imo no sense risking a twisted ankle or smthg that cld ruin your trip the very 1st night.

Good luck to you sir.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

Brian, Where can I find Stanleys Ice Off?

I have an extra new one.. you want it ? $5 shipped to you jdavis.

Apply it to your line the night before.. this stuff is awesome!

best fishes - Brian

[Micheal Kyle]

Brian is correct on the ice off; I have found that it is the only product that will not hurt the fly line. I have fished a lot on Taneycomo @ night, If I were to sit down and take a look @ my journal I would have to say that I have logged 10-12 thousand hours on Taney @ night. I believe that there is just as good of action on Taney when there is a full moon. What I try to do is fish shadows where the tree line makes a shadow across the water. I will also lighten the color of the fly that I use. Whites and grays work great for that kind of action.

When the dark of moon is ocurring I will throw the same patterns except for I will darken the color, I love purple and reds. The purple and red take less light to show the color @ night because they have longer wave length in the color spectrum. I really think that the best time to fish is during the half moon stage, when the moon starts to set around 2-3 am the fishing really gets good; and I mean good. There have been nights during the half moon that I have had 60-80 fish during an 8 hour trip.

One thing that I would like to point out is that the big fish come out to play at night, with that said, big fly= big fish. I don't disgree that you can catch a big fish on a tiny scud because it can happen. I do think that the chances of you catching a big fish (an 8-12 pound fish) on a regular basis at Taneycomo is more likley to happen if you have a big pattern on. I love the baitfish patterns: sculpins, muddlers,and any type of shad pattern. Not to overload your system with all of this information, but lets not forget about the old traditional wet flies. I do love the Mickey Finn, Gray ghost and the Black Nosed Dace. I wish you luck and hope that you catch a huge fish.

Michael

[loo10]

Brian is correct on the ice off; I have found that it is the only product that will not hurt the fly line. I have fished a lot on Taneycomo @ night, If I were to sit down and take a look @ my journal I would have to say that I have logged 10-12 thousand hours on Taney @ night. I believe that there is just as good of action on Taney when there is a full moon. What I try to do is fish shadows where the tree line makes a shadow across the water. I will also lighten the color of the fly that I use. Whites and grays work great for that kind of action.

When the dark of moon is ocurring I will throw the same patterns except for I will darken the color, I love purple and reds. The purple and red take less light to show the color @ night because they have longer wave length in the color spectrum. I really think that the best time to fish is during the half moon stage, when the moon starts to set around 2-3 am the fishing really gets good; and I mean good. There have been nights during the half moon that I have had 60-80 fish during an 8 hour trip.

One thing that I would like to point out is that the big fish come out to play at night, with that said, big fly= big fish. I don't disgree that you can catch a big fish on a tiny scud because it can happen. I do think that the chances of you catching a big fish (an 8-12 pound fish) on a regular basis at Taneycomo is more likley to happen if you have a big pattern on. I love the baitfish patterns: sculpins, muddlers,and any type of shad pattern. Not to overload your system with all of this information, but lets not forget about the old traditional wet flies. I do love the Mickey Finn, Gray ghost and the Black Nosed Dace. I wish you luck and hope that you catch a huge fish.

Michael

Michael,

You carry any of that "Ice Off"???

[Micheal Kyle]

Michael,

You carry any of that "Ice Off"???

Yes I have about 10 things of it in stock and it's 4.25 a tub