R
Ron 'The Hat' Clay (ACA)
Guest
My local reservoir has a good population of brown trout, some of which are very big indeed. PersonallyI would not be surprised to see one taken during November of over 10 lbs.
Brown trout in large still waters behave quite differently to the more commonly stocked rainbow trout. As they grow larger, they become more inclined to a diet of fish. In fact a decent sized brown can have large sharp teeth which can give you a nasty stab when unhooking them.
Brown trout are also very territorial. They tend to find themselves a bolt hole and from there will ambush prey as they swim past, much like a pike in a way; although I think brownies are far more aggresive than pike.
So how do we target them?
If boat fishing were allowed on our reservoir, I would be out with a fast sinking or even a lead cored line, coupled with fish imitating flies such as zonkers, appetizers or minkies. The doyen of big brown trout in reservoirs was Fred Wagstaffe. He created such patterns as the "Waggie", a large "fly" with a double hook and a flexible plastic wiggle tail. On Rutland Water in its halcyon days, Fred caught many big browns from his drifting boat. He located underwater structure such as flooded buildings - trout bolt holes of course.
But I shall target my brownies by using a clear slow sinkingline with various fish imitating flies, and some big damsel and dragon fly nymph imitations. With the slow sinking line I can count down to the taking depth. I did this yesterdayand hooked a whopping great brown on a size 8 Cormorant that got off!!!!
It must have been 6 lbs or so. I caused me to sit for a while to get my composure back. My heart was going likethe clappers. Hooking big browns is one of the most exciting experiences in fly fishing.
Brown trout in large still waters behave quite differently to the more commonly stocked rainbow trout. As they grow larger, they become more inclined to a diet of fish. In fact a decent sized brown can have large sharp teeth which can give you a nasty stab when unhooking them.
Brown trout are also very territorial. They tend to find themselves a bolt hole and from there will ambush prey as they swim past, much like a pike in a way; although I think brownies are far more aggresive than pike.
So how do we target them?
If boat fishing were allowed on our reservoir, I would be out with a fast sinking or even a lead cored line, coupled with fish imitating flies such as zonkers, appetizers or minkies. The doyen of big brown trout in reservoirs was Fred Wagstaffe. He created such patterns as the "Waggie", a large "fly" with a double hook and a flexible plastic wiggle tail. On Rutland Water in its halcyon days, Fred caught many big browns from his drifting boat. He located underwater structure such as flooded buildings - trout bolt holes of course.
But I shall target my brownies by using a clear slow sinkingline with various fish imitating flies, and some big damsel and dragon fly nymph imitations. With the slow sinking line I can count down to the taking depth. I did this yesterdayand hooked a whopping great brown on a size 8 Cormorant that got off!!!!
It must have been 6 lbs or so. I caused me to sit for a while to get my composure back. My heart was going likethe clappers. Hooking big browns is one of the most exciting experiences in fly fishing.
