Fish rising, slightly off color water after a “worm rain”. It might be the greatest understatment in fishing, but there's something special about big brown trout. Cast your line from a bar that is beside a feeder creek during the fall. Browns prefer warmer water in the spring and area also likely to be near the shore when the wind blows out of the east. Although a fast retrieve will work with a big lure and big fish I estimate that 80 per cent of the overwintered trout I catch come to patterns fished statically or with a … As they grow larger they also prefer to feed after dark as long as available food sources permit this. Trout fishing is a sport that doesn’t require a lot of expensive equipment. Their allure comes not only from their size and beauty, but also from their wily nature. Some places are well known for holding big Browns. A whole book could be written on the subject, and one should be, but night time fishing big hairy flies is the main event. It may be obvious. Whatever is most common is a good start but there are other considerations. With bait casting, aim your lure about 10 to 15 feet away from where you expect the Brown Trout to be and reel it in so it’s close to their position, within about 4 feet. Rainy days are big fish days, as long as the water is safe and not total mud. When water is high, and better yet a little stained, cautious fish feel safer and feed more casually. The weight is something to look at when getting your fishing supplies. The big brown kicked his tail and back-flipped out of the net. That’s column C and it’s time for the fortune cookie! Brown trout can easily retreat into the depths for safety. Couldn’t help but notice the Croft Craft in one of the pictures. – Seneca The Younger. Look for places and days when you can have some water to yourself. I’ve even targeted and landed brown trout during the Hex hatch that were in places impossible to reach with a dead drifted Hex fly by swinging a mouse in front of the feeding fish. We fished on Pitsford Water, but Rutland, Grafham, Eyebrook, and many other large reservoirs will have a decent head of big brown trout that are instinctively acting in the same manner as the fish we caught on Pitsford. That and persistence will get you what you’re looking for. You may go brown trout fishing from a stance on shore or in a boat with any of these types of bait as well. Trophy hunters fish trophy waters. To land these massive fish you need stack as many cards in your favor as possible. That’s right– we’re talking mousing. There’s a lot that goes into a good presentation and I’m not going to waste time talking about drag-free drifts and line mending. Cast your fly within a few feet of where you expect the Brown Trout to be located. On my first cast the water erupted with a loud take but the fish missed. How to fish for brown trout, brook trout, cutthroat trout, and trophy rainbow trout. Records Fly Fishing Album, Search out the Small Water in the Big Water, Restore an Old Bamboo Fly Rod #4: Video Series. Here’s a few tips to make that dream a reality. Big browns are highly opportunistic and readily switch feeding behaviors as different food sources become prevalent. You have to strike when the time is right. Fall is the peak of brown trout aggression. While it’s not a slam dunk, it is the most consistent pattern throughout the warm months, and works well on those late evenings and nights when the fly hatch you were after didn’t happen. He has a brilliant, and time consuming, method that works well. What not to do: Trolling won’t catch Brown Trout Low light is always a trigger for big Browns to feed. I was fishing a pool on a small steam over the weekend, stacked with Browns over 8lb and most were unresponsive to our offerings, bar 2 monsters that we landed over 9lb in a tiny spring creek no more than 6 foot wide! After all, fish don’t have hands, there’s only one way for them to satisfy their curiosity. By the grace of God the hook held. As mentioned, big browns are highly piscivorous, with minnows, sculpins and smaller trout providing the most consistent and sizable meal source in any given stream. That’s your best shot at hooking a leviathan. We got down to one of the last holes with a feeding run above it and parked the boat. Brown trout are notorious homebodies, spending most of their lives in one run or even under one rock. Don’t despair. A little later, mayflies will be very active. Presentation is always the most important part of the equation. We had lost two big Browns that day and we’d just talked about how, “sometimes it’s better not to know how big a fish you have on.” Justin was white knuckled. It was several minutes before the fish turned and made a downstream run. You end up with a situation where smaller fish are forced to feed during the day and in positions easily fished to, while the largest fish feed only at night or in spots impossible to reach. Landed some huge ones this past week on a stretch in CO well known for monster fish. He goes to the river on low flows with binoculars rather than a rod. There is a local lake nearby where I live that has monster browns. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. “Water temperature is especially important for fly fishers,” says Rosenbauer. Don’t get in a rush. Since then I’ve caught several dozen fish over 20 inches, my biggest being over 28 inches long and about ten pounds. While in fresh water, diet of the Brown Trout will frequently include invertebrates from the streambed, other fish, frogs, mice, birds, and insects flying near the water's surface. Days like that are what we, as anglers, live for. When fishing for brown trout, there are three ways to go: spinning, baitcasting, or fly fishing. This big-fly type of fly-fishing is for those of you looking for a certain kind of trout, a fish of a lifetime—a “unicorn,” if you will. Your email address will not be published. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Justin and I did just that the other day. But if you’re wading, make sure you’re wading silently, casting carefully, trolling long lines or, if you’re casting from a boat, make sure you’re keeping as silent as possible. The point is moot as to which they are really after as both behave in similar manner and both get regularly eaten. It’s a prime opportunity to get your picture taken with Mr. Big during the daytime. In general, the best way to catch brown trout is to be stealthy, silent, and smooth. You need to get a sturdy fishing rod and fishing line, which can stand the fish’s weight. Unless the fish is rising or there is an obvious hatch, start below the surface. Catch rate studies show them to be 5 to 6 times more difficult to catch than rainbow trout in areas with similarly sized populations of each. Photo by Louis Cahill. Hit one of these hatches and you have a great chance at a nice brown. This includes major fly hatches. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! These articles give me inspiration. . Best Fly Fishing Equipment for Brook Trout . The height of their spawning season is around the full moon of November. The fish taped out at 29 inches on the nose. You’ll find … … A sub surface eat asks less of the fish and is a surer bet. Obviously I’m just skimming the surface of three very different techniques, but it gives you an idea of where to start in the quest for big fish. Time on the water The end of the day put us at run number three. Small trout have to fend for themselves as best they can, while large trout will always take up the best, most secure lies in a system, and defend them from other fish. Moving up river in inches rather than footsteps is crucial. … Don’t target fish on redds. Not all streams or rivers grow big browns. But fall gives you the best chance to do just that, and hopefully these tips can eliminate some of that steep learning curve. I pulled the hook on a gonzo sized brown last weekend. The fish you are after knows the game and he’s on the lookout for predators. Stockies undoubtedly prefer a fast retrieve whether you’re fishing with lures or dry-flies, and this should be avoided. . Besides it is a a good bass river so why give that up? Trout don’t get big by being careless. Fishing for trout is a sport in itself, as they fight hard and have even been known to jump or run after being hooked. Especially the big ones. If you want to catch trout in a lake from shore, you have to start thinking like a trout. I don’t get paid for this stuff so more often then not I carry a fly rod. You must first be in the presence of big brown trout to catch big brown trout. Watch the water and you’d be surprised what you might see this time of year if you’re paying attention. Time on the water Run two, Justin hooked and lost a nice brown. Sometimes a fly that just gets him curious does the job. Captcha loading...In order to pass the CAPTCHA please enable JavaScript. Thanks. Time on the water There are certain events and times when they will venture out and, to catch them, you either have to know where they are or where they’re going, and when. Under the right circumstances those big fish will come out and feed. He calls it a Trout Brain and it’s one of those flies that preys on the fish’s curiosity. You can increase your odds by getting after fish in smaller water when they are moving to spawn. Here are three more ways to do that. Time on the water Smacking the fly on the water triggers their instincts to hunt, thus more likely to strike. Early mornings, dusk and full-on night are great times to catch big fish. I’ve always wanted to catch a giant Brown trout. That put us behind in the count but we were still motivated. They were all nice fish. Most brown trout head to deep holes at the base of rapids to avoid the current. The world record is over forty pounds, and in lakes and reservoirs they commonly average ten to twenty pounds. Another common way to catch trout is fly fishing. So I plan on using your advice to catch a big brown this year. Brown trout are tough customers. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Reputation alone, however, is not enough to go on. Oh… nice brown too. Actually streamers and a couple of other strategies work well at night too, but most of the time you’re trying to imitate a mouse. I placed my next cast where the fish had hit, made a couple of strips and let it coast. You’ll need every advantage. I talked to one angler who hunts for big Browns on a local tailwater, and catches them. Every brown trout between the Glenn Cayon Dam and the mouth of the Paria River on the Colorado just had a bounty put on their head. never saw one of Phil’s boats this far east. On the right day and conditions, big browns will eat all day long, giving multiple opportunities for a photo op and a ton of excitement along the way. In midsummer, brown trout start to zero in on mice falling in or swimming across the river. What we think we are seeing are big browns making their living in the main river, a pretty good smallmouth fishery, and moving into the cold-water creeks during hot spells in the summer, cold spells in the winter and like you said big flows and to spawn. Locations for How to Catch: Small brown trout like slow-moving water. Occasionally someone will land a big brown while fishing for smallies but they are pretty spread out and way out numbered by the bass so they would be tough to target on the river. There are some good guidelines to start with. If you’re just looking to catch fish, a nymph or dry will serve you much better. Catch a few smaller browns to confirm fish habitat, even baby brown trout are a good sign. I can’t tell you how many anglers have told me, “I just want to catch a big brown.” We all want that but if you are serious about turning that want into real-life experience, you’ll need to work for it and you’ll still have to be lucky. He was in a section of a stream that I visit often to watch flows and count bugs as we are finishing up on a dam removal, 12 years after we started. Really good advice and it comes at a really good time for me. Due to warmer than usual temperatures and less rain, the majority of the lake run fish have not entered the river systems yet and those that already have are mostly paired up. Justin had a tape measure in his pack. So are cloudy days and even places where overhead vegetation blocks out the light. Know what’s in the water. For night fishing, try using a bass plug. We are in the middle of Autumn (fall) here in New Zealand and the Browns have started to move. Required fields are marked *. A prime example is during the spring Hendrickson hatch. I hooked and landed a big rainbow, which was great but I assumed that would put down the big brown I knew lived in that run. Do yourself a favor and buy or borrow the book Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout by Kelly Galloup and Bob Linsenman. A less robust rod … Moody, smart and reclusive, they put trout anglers to the test. I’d chose stealth over instinct any day. If the fish is sipping BWO’s don’t start with a streamer. Time on the water While young trout mostly feed on insects and larvae (think mayflies and nymphs) as they reach that magical twenty-inch mark, insects no longer serve to curb the appetite. Here's where and how to catch these trout. If using a rod, it’s best to pick a medium-weight one that’s about six or seven feet in length. Fly fishing is best done with a fly fishing rod/reel set-up and with fly lures. Brown trout are notorious homebodies… It was about 1:30 am after a very long float down a tiny stream. This varies a little with geography and weather but in the month or so leading up to the spawn brown trout are highly aggressive. Here are some guidelines to start with. Fall. I’ll assume that you know how to properly fish your chosen fly and get to some things that get talked about less. Productive fall brown trout fishing locations during the spawning run include the mouths of tributaries, deep pools which offer a sense of security from winged predators and the prying eyes of human anglers, gravel-bottomed riffles and tail-outs that make superior sites for redd-building and, best of all, the holes at the bases of impassable waterfalls. I have used many of these tactics you have mentioned to catch them. Stealth is huge! A $25-$33 bounty per Brown Trout caught, that is. We went to a stream where I know, from experience, three runs that hold big brown trout. In midsummer, brown trout start to zero in on mice falling in or swimming across the river. Great article. You just need a big fly that leaves a tell-tale wake across the surface. It’s more likely that you’ll be guessing. Gather your equipment. In the upper Midwest these include the Hendrickson, Isonychia, Gray Drake, brown Drake, and Hexagenia hatches. You talk about being “delicate” with the presentation of the fly, but big browns are apex predators. The second time he went in the net, I had his tail. The same holds true went it rains. Pale yellow sucker spawn patterns in the spring are like kryptonite for brown trout. Even fly choice is easier when you can see how the fish is behaving. That is the spot that browns migrate to from a lake or river for spawning. Egg. It pays to fish in the middle of the week or the bitter cold. Use your eyes. Once you identify the river where you think you can catch that big boy, you have to start narrowing it down. I think it is so important to scout a stretch of water before you just cast blindly. I highly recommend it. Stipe Takes on Gierach, R.E.M. Time on the water So I have been reading up on the big fall pre-spawning browns and where to find them. Go for a 7-8 foot rod with a sturdy butt. Streamers or mouse patterns in low light. Each of these methods have their purpose. When the fish went in the net we almost lost it. The brown trout is a medium-sized fish with an average weight of 44 pounds. In midsummer they shift their diets to include mice and frogs eaten at night. Pressure is a huge factor too. You must first be in the presence of big brown trout to catch big brown trout. We also see small to medium browns drop into the river during big hatches like the white mayflies that blanket the big water but not the smaller streams. Here are the six best trout flies and fishing tips to catch big rainbow and brown trout in winter rivers. River environments tend to limit brown trout growth more than lakes, but most streams will still hold good numbers of browns over twenty inches. At this point they become largely piscivorous, or fish eaters, according to researchers. Get a feeling for how far to cast – not to mention where to not back cast – and what the water is like when things are visible. I know I’ll never forget the look on Justin’s face when he held that fish. My buddy Dan and I were throwing around some dates for a fishing trip the other day and when those dates started falling in November he said, “As you know, fall will be all about finding big brown trout.”. My point is, you have to make a plan and do the research. There are two ways to get one. My international fly fishing trips have also mostly involved chasing big browns. Pingback: 11 Incredible Proven Brown Trout Streamers That Will Make Your Day – Gray Wolf Life – Emergency Preparedness Survival Skills, Gear Reviews, Excellent article, we mostly fish for Mahseer and trout in the Himalayas in North India. Conclusion. The best time to catch brown trout during the summer is during the first hour after sunrise. I’m pretty sure this brown isn’t a resident of this section. Your best bet is the combination of good timing, the right conditions, the right place and a great presentation. Watching the weather and timing is important at this time of year, getting in just after a serious rainfall can reap the best rewards as fish are on the move, it is important to intercept them before they begin to school and pair up. That’s one from column A. It’s October and the Browns are in pre-spawn mode, that’s one from column B. Brown trout are late fall spawners and the time leading up the the spawn is a great time to catch big browns with their guard down when they are … I’ve caught them at night and during the day by a variety of methods. Spring is good too, when the fish are putting weight back on after the spawn. Required fields are marked *. Choose the right fly. Catch Trophy Brown Trout By Stacking The Odds In Your Favor | Fly Fishing | Gink and Gasoline | How to Fly Fish | Trout Fishing | Fly Tying | Fly Fishing Blog | The Ozark Fly Fisher Journal, Stacking The Odds In Your Favor: Gink & Gasoline Blog | The Ozark Fly Fisher Journal, Tippets: Anatomy of a Fly Rod, Fish as Athletes, Chasing Trophy Browns | MidCurrent, 11 Incredible Proven Brown Trout Streamers That Will Make Your Day – Gray Wolf Life – Emergency Preparedness Survival Skills, Gear Reviews, Stipe Takes on Gierach, R.E.M. Unless you’re fishing for trophy brook trout in Newfoundland, a 3-weight fly rod is ideal for brook trout in the U.S. This year I have scheduled 3 extra days in the first week of November, by myself for exploring other parts of Montana. Just fish hard, fish smart and stack the odds in your favor. Prime months for streamer fishing are April/May and September/October, or when water temps are around 55 degrees. Even in a hatch a dropper is worth your time. Reputation alone, however, is not enough to go on. In good water the only limiting factors are mortality and food abundance. Way more fish than either of us expected. Best Lake Trout Lures. Best Fly Rod for Brook Trout . I have also observed that large browns are generally more aggressive during high water times and can be targeted effectively through streamers. Pair it with a spinning reel and four or six-pound monofilament line. Your best bet is to be a sniper; one shot, one fish. The wind blows food into the shore area and typically muddies up the water. Once you’ve found a place to fly fish for brook trout, the next step is acquiring the right gear to match the unique challenges offered by the species. Approach the water slow and quiet. During the right season, eggs are like a drug to trout. The only problem is getting the correct presentation in the deeper sections. Justin tied on his favorite fly. First thing that morning, I hooked a monster brown trout and lost it just a few minutes into the fight. You don’t want to fish the same patter every other angler has shown him. Your email address will not be published. General, the right place and a great presentation near the shore area typically. Moon of November, by myself for exploring other parts of Montana monster fish monster... Cast blindly that morning, I hooked a monster brown trout to be located think rods. Gray Drake, and even fly selection all play a huge role week... Them at night and during the fall, especially after a “ worm rain ” marks. D had several days of steady rain odds immensely I placed my next where... Best strategies is to simply fish in the spring are like a trout is your chance get. A favor and buy or borrow the book Modern streamers for Trophy by! Don ’ t help but notice the Croft Craft in one run or even one. Best chance to get inside the fish ’ s head a brilliant, and we drift the big trout! 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