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Midwestern anglers have an excellent chance to catch a trophy brown trout.
Brad Wright, of Branson, Mo., recently caught a 39-inch, 25.35-pound brown out of Lake Taneycomo, located by Branson, on two-pound test line. He caught his incredible trout on a handmade jig to set a new two-pound-test line world record.
Wright's trophy brown was certainly newsworthy, but not a total surprise. Big, brown trout lurk in this narrow lake that is chilled from waters off the bottom of Table Rock Lake, filtered through several huge chutes. This is partly because of established trophy areas that run from the areas marked as Fall Creek to the Table Rock Dam. A daily limit of one brown, 20-inches or larger is another key to establishing a trophy trout area.
Taneycomo fishermen claim that their waters are loaded with numerous browns in the five or six-pound range. You can find them easier when water is not running out of the Table Rock Dam. Catching a big brown is like hunting for trophy bucks. Pass on the smaller bucks until the bigger bucks are located. Fighting the smaller browns may spook a really big fish into deeper water. The key is patience.
Experienced trout fishermen practice catch and release on the bigger browns. They try to protect this cherished resource. Most are photographed and released.
Taneycomo has become one of America's premier brown trout trophy lakes. The state record caught from Lake Taneycomo on Nov. 20, 2009 by Scott Sandusky weighed 28 pounds, 12 ounces — a remarkable brown trout and a fish that was probably one of the first stocked in Taneycomo.
But fishery biologists and experienced brown trout fishermen know that bigger browns exist in Taneycomo. In fact, the MDC staff captured and quickly released a male brown trout estimated to weigh 37 pounds several years ago.
I had a smaller taste of success on the White River in Arkansas in 2009. Ice-cold water flows through the Bull Shoals Dam locks, creating fast-moving torrents down the narrow White River. Big brown trout slip into comfortable zones, searching for a good meal or safe haven. These spots can mean hooking a big brown.
That day J.R “Richie” Hays, a guide for Gaston's Trout Lodge powered up his outboard motor and drove his 20-foot Jon boat upstream for a run through this productive water.
Hays learned what areas to fish in certain conditions. He is faced with varying amounts of water being released from the dam or weather changes. Both affect fishing conditions and the Arkansas guide makes a living on the daily bite. Customers don't pay for boat rides on the river. They want to catch trout.
We drifted past productive spots while casting chunks of shrimp. Suddenly a sharp strike vibrated through my Cabala's medium-heavy action spinning rod. I set the hook and line started slipping off my reel. I could only hold on and wait.
Five minutes, 10 minutes, who knows how long the fight lasted, but the fine brown finally gave up and slipped gently into the net. We quickly measured her at 22 inches long and between five to six pounds. I slipped her back into the river and she disappeared in a flash, a good sign that no damage was done.
Arkansas fishermen are spoiled by catching big browns. The past world record brown trout that weighed 40 pounds, 4 ounces was caught from the Little Red River in Arkansas, north of Little Rock, by Rip Collins on May 9, 1992. The record was broken by a 41 pound, seven ounce brown recently caught in Michigan. Yet, many feel that Taneycomo might turn up the next world record, good news for Missouri fishery biologists who worked hard to establish this hearty fish.
“Brown trout are not native to Missouri,” said Chris Vitello, fishery management biologist. “Programs to establish fishing opportunities for this hearty fighter have existed just short of 100 years. Fry were first reared in the Neosho National Federal Fish hatchery in 1890. This program stocked southwest Missouri Rivers until 1936, then was discontinued because of cost. Rainbow trout simply offered anglers more opportunities for the expense. But the browns are back in force today.”
Anglers occasionally complain that Missouri's brown trout are difficult to catch. Department personnel consider this a positive comment because this strain of brown trout has maintained its wild integrity. Department personnel started stocking the Sheep Creek strain in Taneycomo at a rate of 50,000 10-inch browns annually by 1981. Brood stock was difficult to hold in the hatchery setting because of their wild genetic makeup. Mike Kruse, resource scientist for the MDC reports that 10,000 browns are stocked annually.
SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT FOR BROWNS
Most on Taneycomo and The White River use a five to seven-size flyrod with about 50 foot of fly line with about 100 yards of backing. Flies vary from day to day, but good choices might be San Juan worms, brown, red, and orange, any colored Scuds and any pattern of Midges. Live or imitation sculpins are popular in Taneycomo. Spin fishermen are advised to try a 4 to 5 lightweight rod and open faced reel. Roostertail spinners a good for early fishing, then switch to jigs or small plastic worms worked slowly. Colors depend on water clarity and insect hatches.
Bass fishermen might be interested to learn they probably have a tackle box full of brown trout lures. Jerk baits that imitate minnows are preferred on medium to heavy action spinning or baitcasting rods and 10-pound testline. Varieties that will run through under-cut banks or behind gravel bars work best. Colors vary by the brown trout's desires that particular day. Light line is important in Taneycomo because of clear water conditions. Successful anglers use 10-pound test or lighter. When it gets cold, it's time to “stick” it to big brown trout with long, slender minnow-type stickbaits.
Bass guys know them by many names — Rogues, jerkbaits, twitch baits — and they all share a generally common “stick” shape. Few bass guys know, however, that these lures are the best lures for big brown trout, especially during the cold months.
Midwestern anglers have an excellent chance to catch a trophy brown trout.
Brad Wright, of Branson, Mo., recently caught a 39-inch, 25.35-pound brown out of Lake Taneycomo, located by Branson, on two-pound test line. He caught his incredible trout on a handmade jig to set a new two-pound-test line world record.
Wright's trophy brown was certainly newsworthy, but not a total surprise. Big, brown trout lurk in this narrow lake that is chilled from waters off the bottom of Table Rock Lake, filtered through several huge chutes. This is partly because of established trophy areas that run from the areas marked as Fall Creek to the Table Rock Dam. A daily limit of one brown, 20-inches or larger is another key to establishing a trophy trout area.
Taneycomo fishermen claim that their waters are loaded with numerous browns in the five or six-pound range. You can find them easier when water is not running out of the Table Rock Dam. Catching a big brown is like hunting for trophy bucks. Pass on the smaller bucks until the bigger bucks are located. Fighting the smaller browns may spook a really big fish into deeper water. The key is patience.
Experienced trout fishermen practice catch and release on the bigger browns. They try to protect this cherished resource. Most are photographed and released.
Taneycomo has become one of America's premier brown trout trophy lakes. The state record caught from Lake Taneycomo on Nov. 20, 2009 by Scott Sandusky weighed 28 pounds, 12 ounces — a remarkable brown trout and a fish that was probably one of the first stocked in Taneycomo.
But fishery biologists and experienced brown trout fishermen know that bigger browns exist in Taneycomo. In fact, the MDC staff captured and quickly released a male brown trout estimated to weigh 37 pounds several years ago.
I had a smaller taste of success on the White River in Arkansas in 2009. Ice-cold water flows through the Bull Shoals Dam locks, creating fast-moving torrents down the narrow White River. Big brown trout slip into comfortable zones, searching for a good meal or safe haven. These spots can mean hooking a big brown.
That day J.R “Richie” Hays, a guide for Gaston's Trout Lodge powered up his outboard motor and drove his 20-foot Jon boat upstream for a run through this productive water.
Hays learned what areas to fish in certain conditions. He is faced with varying amounts of water being released from the dam or weather changes. Both affect fishing conditions and the Arkansas guide makes a living on the daily bite. Customers don't pay for boat rides on the river. They want to catch trout.
We drifted past productive spots while casting chunks of shrimp. Suddenly a sharp strike vibrated through my Cabala's medium-heavy action spinning rod. I set the hook and line started slipping off my reel. I could only hold on and wait.
Five minutes, 10 minutes, who knows how long the fight lasted, but the fine brown finally gave up and slipped gently into the net. We quickly measured her at 22 inches long and between five to six pounds. I slipped her back into the river and she disappeared in a flash, a good sign that no damage was done.
Arkansas fishermen are spoiled by catching big browns. The past world record brown trout that weighed 40 pounds, 4 ounces was caught from the Little Red River in Arkansas, north of Little Rock, by Rip Collins on May 9, 1992. The record was broken by a 41 pound, seven ounce brown recently caught in Michigan. Yet, many feel that Taneycomo might turn up the next world record, good news for Missouri fishery biologists who worked hard to establish this hearty fish.
“Brown trout are not native to Missouri,” said Chris Vitello, fishery management biologist. “Programs to establish fishing opportunities for this hearty fighter have existed just short of 100 years. Fry were first reared in the Neosho National Federal Fish hatchery in 1890. This program stocked southwest Missouri Rivers until 1936, then was discontinued because of cost. Rainbow trout simply offered anglers more opportunities for the expense. But the browns are back in force today.”
Anglers occasionally complain that Missouri's brown trout are difficult to catch. Department personnel consider this a positive comment because this strain of brown trout has maintained its wild integrity. Department personnel started stocking the Sheep Creek strain in Taneycomo at a rate of 50,000 10-inch browns annually by 1981. Brood stock was difficult to hold in the hatchery setting because of their wild genetic makeup. Mike Kruse, resource scientist for the MDC reports that 10,000 browns are stocked annually.
SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT FOR BROWNS
Most on Taneycomo and The White River use a five to seven-size flyrod with about 50 foot of fly line with about 100 yards of backing. Flies vary from day to day, but good choices might be San Juan worms, brown, red, and orange, any colored Scuds and any pattern of Midges. Live or imitation sculpins are popular in Taneycomo. Spin fishermen are advised to try a 4 to 5 lightweight rod and open faced reel. Roostertail spinners a good for early fishing, then switch to jigs or small plastic worms worked slowly. Colors depend on water clarity and insect hatches.
Bass fishermen might be interested to learn they probably have a tackle box full of brown trout lures. Jerk baits that imitate minnows are preferred on medium to heavy action spinning or baitcasting rods and 10-pound testline. Varieties that will run through under-cut banks or behind gravel bars work best. Colors vary by the brown trout's desires that particular day. Light line is important in Taneycomo because of clear water conditions. Successful anglers use 10-pound test or lighter. When it gets cold, it's time to “stick” it to big brown trout with long, slender minnow-type stickbaits.
Bass guys know them by many names — Rogues, jerkbaits, twitch baits — and they all share a generally common “stick” shape. Few bass guys know, however, that these lures are the best lures for big brown trout, especially during the cold months.
