Trophy Trout Flies

[Jeff Jones]

I would love some feedback on the topic of trout flies that catch large trout. I've heard some anglers do wel with wooly-worms and w-buggars, but does anyone have any others? Even off the wall flies or lures are o.k.My wife has never caught a trout over 14", and we,re headed to the new Hot-spot Saturday. Thanks in advance.
Jeff-ro

[NGTO]

Jeff - email me @ work.
asago@harbinger.com

[Drifter]

JJ,

Some of the largest trout I have caught, have been on some of my smallest flies.

An August afternoon on Slough Creek in Yellowstone comes to mind. 20"+ Cutthroat trout were rising to some unseen insect, and would not look at anything else. I caught two nice fish, one on a size 20 Griffith's Gnat, and the other on a size 20 Brassie. These were the smallest flies I had.

On the other hand, those big brown trout love wooly boogers.

Good luck,
The Drifter

[jeffg]

I agree w/Drifter. The biggest fish I have landed have been mostly on nymphs, mostly size 14-16.
Granted some very nice ones have been landed on size 4 buggers on some of montana's rivers too.

I cant recall exact details, but i do remember reading an article stating the browns after 13" pretty much turn into pure predators eating other fish, crawfish, leeches etc..supposedly 85%-90% of their diet.

Then there is the old law of big fly big fish.

Personally, if I know there is a huge brown hiding out in a log jam, I would throw a woolly bugger at him. If I saw a big trout sitting in a feeding lane I would bop him in the nose with a nymph....

[Hooker]

Jeff,
The shadrap fly gets em everytime, and silver is the color this year.

Hooker

[spinner]

Jeff J.....The Rapala Husky Jerk Fly in silver/blue and burnt orange are good...Also the Panther Martin Fly works well...Size 6 in the gold color... You have to put a lot of the floating spray on them to keek them afloat...About a whole can!!!!Spinner...

[Jeff Jones]

Thanks to the serious responses.My wife will apprc. the info.Never heard of a " spray can " of floatant, though. Hmmmmm. . . .

[The Ole Man]

Jeff
I have an article about a big Brown caught in the Hooch in 1988. It weighed 14# 14 oz. I'm sending the article to Aaron. Maybe he can get it on the pic board. The brits refer to the Brown as a river roach. Something to be eliminated as a pest. Thats because it eats up the salmon parr.In the Hooch, these big fish dine on the trout truck offerings. Lost in my stuff are two other articles. One about a guy that fishes the hooch with 8" Rapalas because that represents the stockers they dine on. The other is about a guy that catches 10 to 15 browns per year in the 10 to 14 # cl****mostly on big nightcrawlers drifted through deep runs. So the big fish are there. If you want to catch a big Brown on a fly, then how does this translate to flyfishing terms? Use a fly that is a baitfish imitation. A streamer(the big fish fly). This would mean a 4 to 5 " Leftys Deceiver, a big Clouser Minnow, a Whitlock Match the Minnow a big flashy Zonker, a big Wooly Bugger or something similar. If its a bugger, it should be a big one tied on a #4 or larger hook, 6X long or longer and with some flash built in. Use a 7 WT min rod, a 5' sink tip line or a WF float with a 2' or longer mini lead head looped on. Follow this with a SSS leader. Read short, stiff and strong. A 12 # big game leader shortened up to about 3-3 1/2 ' should do it. Tie your fly on with a Duncan Loop opened up about 3/4 inch so your streamer can swim freely. Swim this through deep runs and flat water pools. Hang on tight! The Ga state record Brown weighed 18# 2 oz and came from Rock Creek in 1967. Before you grab your rod and light a shuck for Rock Creek, don't bother. This record fish was a pet at the fish hatchery that an employees daughter was feeding. It escaped one day and took off down Rock Creek. An angler caught it and turned it in for the record. Amazing, but true. Good luck in pursuing The Wiley River Roach.

[Flyguy]

I too am with Hooker on this one...The shad Rap Fly would have to get my vote here. I would although like to see if this fly catches Trophy Stripers. What about Hooker? I am ready after the holidays?

Take care and Merry Christmas to all.



Flyguy