Dawn vs Dusk and Low vs High Water Levels

[DC]

Any opinions on the advantages/disadvantages of fishing at dawn, dusk, or during mid-day? How about low vs high water levels on some of the shoals on the Hooch?

[Flyguy]

I would have to say you would not want to fish on the Hooch during high water as the current is very swift and all or most of the shoals are covered with water.

I have noticed that you tend to catch more browns in the moring and evening hours and the bows are more of a mid day type of fish. You will catch both types at all times of the day, but the brown is more of a low light or night time feeder....especially the big browns.


Good Luck and I hope to see you at the Fall Fling.....


Flyguy


Flyguy

[jeffg]

IF you have a boat and your fishing in Arkansas, the best time to get a big fish is when the water is rising. The rising water sweeps up crayfish, sculpins, scuds etc ... and the bigger fish will come out and gorge themselves..... It is neat to see..one minute you do not see any fish, then the water comes up and they are everywhere.(great time to throw on a size 4 muddler minnow!!)

I prefer the evening hours more so than the morning....but then in the heart of winter I prefer 2-4 in the afternoon, because the sun will have enough time to "warm"the water and maybe bring a few insects to the surface.

Kinda depends on time of year, what the stream is like etc..

[Bird Dog]

DC,
I worked on a brown trout radio tracking study in 1995-96 and without a doubt the 30 trout (all 10" to 18") I followed all showed an extreme preference for nocturnal activity. Most would hold under ledges during the day, move to feeding positions at dusk, and then back to their resting positions under ledges again at the first sign of daylight. There were exceptions to this rule, but for the most part they all followed this routine, even in the dead of winter.
This was in a natural free flowing stream. I wouldn't be so bold as to say browns exhibit this same behavior in the hooch, but maybe they do. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[Hooker]

Bird Dog,
That pattern also show up on the Hooch. Once the sun hits the water, the Brown bite is over, and the Rainbows come out to play. The best time to catch large Browns on the Hooch, is at night or during high water.

[DC]

Thanks for the info. I hope to see some of you at the Fall Fling.