The Trout Zone: Hungry Brown!!!

Guided Trips

FISHING REPORT AND SYNOPSIS: 12/3/2019

Winter fishing is nearly upon us. Snow yesterday has given way to falling water temperatures in the Smokies. In general, fish will be hunkered down, although by tomorrow they should start to get more active again as temperatures warm. For the next three months, expect many more fish in the slower places in the Park. Think nymphs and maybe streamers but don't be surprised to find fish rising to blue-winged olives or midges on some days.

On tailwaters like the Clinch, brown trout and some fall spawn rainbows are doing their thing. This is a good time to review good ethics when it comes to spawning trout. Remember that these are the next generation of trout and the best thing you can do is to leave them alone. Avoid wading through spawning areas and don't fish for obvious spawners. For the foreseeable future, we should have high water thanks to big rains this last weekend. Fishing out of the drift boat will be very good through the winter with both nymphing and streamer fishing a distinct possibility. Want to swing for the fences and go for just one monster? Streamers will just get better and better going into January and February.

The Caney is slowly coming around. A few shad are coming through the dam, but lingering water quality problems are limiting the fishing. Winter streamer floats will produce shots at larger brown trout for anglers willing to work hard. Next spring should bring good fishing again.

Winter is our favorite time to get on the musky streams. In between bouts of high water, those will be fishing well for the next few months.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Hungry Brown!!!

I've seen some interesting things that trout have spit out before. Half digested shad during the shad kill on the Caney? Yep. A mouthful of earthworms after a heavy rain? Check. However, I had never caught a fish with another fish sticking out of its throat, until yesterday that is. I've heard plenty of stories, just never seen it for myself.

After finishing up another half day guide trip, I headed up to fish in the afternoon. Not too long after starting, I hooked a feisty brown that was somewhere between 10-12 inches, and after getting it in the net I noticed that its mouth didn't look right. A quick glance showed a tail protruding out of its throat that was nearly as large as its own tail! Even more amazing is that this fish swirled once on my nymph and then ate on the 2nd drift. Talk about a hungry brown!!! Even with a mouth full of sculpin it still wanted a #10 nymph for dessert.

6 comments:

Mel Moore9:13 AM
A Brown Trout Motto: "Its a fish eat fish world". Browns are amazing.
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Mark Kautz-Shoreman10:13 AM
A hungry Brown has no scruples.
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Kristen10:46 AM
Exactly what Mark said, these guys play by completely different rules!
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Brk Trt6:46 PM
I've seen brookies cough up a 3inch minnow after taking a bomber.
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Howard8:23 PM
When you see a trout with two mouths, something in each mouth, let me know. I want a pictures. Thanks David.
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Atlas4:21 PM
Awesome photo, thanks for sharing!
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