Right now I am watching Joe Humphreys, with Guide, fishing in Arkansas for big browns.
They are fishing mostly at night.(day scouting)
Does anyone out there know WHAT these browns eat to get so big. This is not big water their fishing.
Thanks,
Doug
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Right now I am watching Joe Humphreys, with Guide, fishing in Arkansas for big browns.
They are fishing mostly at night.(day scouting)
Does anyone out there know WHAT these browns eat to get so big. This is not big water their fishing.
Thanks,
Doug
Forgot to mention Joe is fishing the Little Red River and using sculpin flies.
Doug
Doug,
Big browns eat other fish. Little browns, sculpins, young of whichever other types of trout may be present. They will also eat crayfish, snakes, lizards, mice, little birds, and anything else they can catch and swallow.
Occaasionaly they will even eat bugs.
Good Luck!
Buddy
Ask Leonard,,, he guides at night for those big Browns. That IS his job.
There are 20 pound browns in central OR and I know they eat chubs, but that is in a big lake.
The Little Red River doesn't look any bigger than a creek.
I suspect the big fish migrate or cover a lot of territory.
I will ask Leonard.
Doug
The Itinerant Angler podcast has an episode where they are talking to that guide about that very show. They discuss just why the browns there get so huge. From what I recall, the water chemistry happens to be just right to support a huge variety of aquatic life that apparently agrees with the concept of big brown trout.
A big brown is usually a fish eater. Look under any trout dock on the White, Norfork, or Lake Taneycomo and youll see them chomping on fish guts. Cheers.
DShock,
I too saw this. The water is a special reg. catch and release only. Therefore the fish can live longer and grow bigger than normal. Like he said about the world record 40 lb. brown that was caught in there, it was 17 years old.
WWFF
Whatever they want to. :D
Our waters are full of sowbugs, scuds, and baitfish. The dams suck through and kill tons of gizzard and threadfin shad when water temps are cold or during periods of extremely high power generation. These shad cannot survive in water below 41 degrees F. And the water gets down to that point in the winter in the lakes near the dams. So the fish go limp and get sucked through the turbines. This is what we in the Ozarks call a "shad kill." That's fishing time unless it's a huge shad kill. If it's too big, the fish gorge themselves and stop eating for several days and there's too much live bait in the water for artificials to compete with.
Finally, we stock HUGE #s of 8-14" Rainbows (depends on where as to size in that range) in our tailwaters. And the large Browns love them.
It sounds like the browns have a never ending BUFFET!
Doug :D P.S. They don't even have to go to VEGAS!
We used to catch Rainbows that big on Taneycomo as a matter of routine: 5-10 lb. Rainbows were COMMON. But as these fisheries mature and stabilize over the decades since they were created by the dam constructions, the Browns become increasingly the "trophy" species and the Rainbows become "Plan B." We catch a LOT of them in between hookups on big Browns. An average Rainbow landed on Taneycomo, for example, is probably 13-17" now. With usually one fish out of about 20 being larger than 17". Nowadays, a 5 lb. Rainbow makes the local fishing news with a photo. But a few times each year, someone really lands a brute. Most of our fish over 5 lbs. are Browns. And a decent angler does have a realistic chance of hooking one of those on each outing if he has good local knowledge of the stream and techniques.
This is pretty much true of the Arkansas streams as well, only their Rainbows are a bit smaller. They stock them smaller. They also stock brookies and cutthroats. And so you can even catch the occassional cut-bow.
The Little Red River has produced a few world records. So have the Norfork and Taneycomo. In fact, they do so every few years...each. The Little Red and Norfork are skinnier water than the White River or Taneycomo (actually White River main channel as well...on the MO side of the border). But these are NOT spring creek size rivers. They are rivers. In many places, we have multiple skinnier channels running through a shoal side by side at low water. And on a video or TV show, fishing one of those channels often gives the impression that one is fishing a small stream. In actuality, those guys are 200 yards out into the river bed. But the Little Red is the skinniest of our really productive trophy trout fisheries over much of its productive beats.
Doug:
I was the guide on that show. Joe was fishing a black sculpin pattern but at night as long as it imitates a bait fish it really does not matter.
Different areas of the 3 main rivers here offer different forage but all grow HUGE fish. The Little Red is supported by massive moss beds which are full of sow bugs. Those big fish expend very little energy and basically feed all day and night.
The White and Norfork are sculpin and midge fisheries. Sculpins are thick on the bottoms of both river and trout forage on them with abandon. During the day light hours you will see 48 inch fish sipping midges as they lay motionless on the bottom of the river. A 50 pound fish on 7X is just about as usefull as spitting on a forest fire but it's fun to try.
Joe has lost several fish over 20 pounds here now. The first show we shot was about 4 years ago and he missed 4 fish that were pretty well in the 20 pound range. The fish Joe just lost on this last show was waaaayyyy over 20 pounds. In fact it would have probably been in excess of the current world record. To have a fish like that on the line and then let it slip the hook.... Joe was crushed......
John Wilson
I read that the Arkansas River in Colorado has few rainbows, because the browns eat all the bows that are stocked there.
Poor little guys. :(
On the other hand it makes fat browns. :D
John,
It's special to have you respond to my Post. I am very impressed by your patience. the FTW show was the second one I have seen of you and Joe.
I think this show was better than the last one, because it showed more balance and information. Showing more daylight fishing helped me see where you were actually fishing.
I think it is a tribute to Joe that he has that kind of determination. I can only wonder what I would do with a 20 pound brown on the end of my line, in the dark! :lol:
Thanks for your efforts and I'm looking forward to watching you again!
Doug :D
What are you using for vision to flyfish at night? redlight? blacklight?
Are you using a chuck n duck technique and avoiding big casts?
Rawthumb:
Really even though it is at night you still have some available light to see. I very rarely use a light of any kind since it drastically puts off the fish.
A couple of summer ago I guided a night trip on the Norfork. We entered a public access and walked about a mile to the spot where we wanted to fish. It was on a moonless night with a little cloud cover. We walked in the river since I was more familiar with the river than the potential hazards on the bank.
I told the two guys I was fishing to stay right behind me as we walked and there would be no problem. Since it was their first night trip I think it was a little disconcerting for them to walk in the river waiting to fall into a deep hole, trip on a log, or catch a tree limb in the eye. All the while you could hear the noises of the dark in the woods along the bank. We spooked a heron on the bank which made a loud squack and flew into the air only a few feet away. Even I jumped a little.
We spent the rest of the night catching lots of fish including several good browns. Nothing huge but several good fish over 20 inches. One of the guys caught his largest brown of about 25 inches. When we took a picture the flash killed the fishing for the rest of the evening. Any light at all and our fishing was over.
If you want to learn to night fish you need to learn the post you intend to fish first. Make a few land marks on where the holes are. I will often line up the limb of a tree to find the direction. I'll tie a piece of mono on my fly line at the correct length of footage to the middle of the hole for distance. If you prepare in the day light hours it can lower the stress level of the night considerably.
John Wilson
http://www.flyfishingarkansas.com
Doug:
By the way if you have an interest in seeing more of those type shows you might contact Barrett Productions and tell them you enjoyed the show. Joe does not have many years left in him so we may not have a chance if we delay for long. We've talked with them in the past about doing another show but I think they are concerned about doing the same thing more than once.
John Wilson
http://www.flyfishingarkansas.com/
John,
I understand that Barrett productions doesn't want to duplicate shows. In my opinion it isn't duplicating if it's the next season.
Also a fisherman like Joe Humphreys needs to be on those FTW shows because we lose veteran flyfishers all the time and he is a good example for us.
Thanks for your efforts in doing a show about fishing for browns at night. Filming during the day is all we ever see on Fishing shows.
My prediction, John, is THAT show should increase your bookings.
Doug :D
Hi Doug - I for one thought those two episodes of FFTW were the most exciting fly fishing shows I've ever seen. I wish you could see the "fire" in Joe's eyes when he talks about that huge fish he lost at the end of the 2nd show. It haunts him like you wouldn't believe! John Wilson is right about there not being a whole lot of time left for Joe Humphreys to complete his quest for the 20lb brown, and I encourage anyone that would like to see another episode (or more) of that quest to send John Barrett an email at:
frontdesk@barrettproductions.com
Let John Barrett know that you'd like to see the quest continue. Your opinion counts :!: .......Ed
I talked with Joe last night about the World Championships in PA this year. He's ready to come back here and give it another shot.
Norm McClean might be haunted by waters but Joe is haunted by the one that got away.
John Wilson
I'll second that. Best fly fishing episode I have watched.Quote:
Originally Posted by DShock
The freakishly huge browns found in the Garrison Dam tailrace in Central ND are pigs when it comes to smelt.
Dear nj,Quote:
Originally Posted by njsimonson
Would those smelt be deep fried or raw? :lol:
If they are deep fried I know some people who are pigs for them too.
Best Wishes,
Avalon :D
A friend of mine us to live in Arkansas and he said a lot of those big fish were actually raised to those sizes in the hatcheries.
I'll third it. Great entertainment. Joe and John are a gret duo.Quote:
Originally Posted by slinger09
Quote:
Originally Posted by pspaint
What? That is the funniest thing I've every heard. :lol: In fact the fish in the Little Red are 100% wild fish. The Little Red has not had a brown trout stocked in for nearly 40 years. The last world record was a little over 17 years old and was a little over 40 pounds.
I know as sure as I breath air that there are fish in these river that would easily top 50 pounds and possibly 80. It is difficult to really be able to tell how much girth a fish has while it is in the water. The previous world record was slightly over 40 inches. I have seen fish (with my own eyes) that would possibly top 50 inches and have a with across their backs close to 18 inches. The math on that size fish staggers the imagination.
Big fish are by no means out of the norm here. I've guided fish over 20 pounds every year for the last 5 years in a row. By guided I mean hooked, landed, took a picture. There have been countless numbers of fish hooked and lost. Actually the odds of landing a huge fish are relatively slim. Just ask Joe. ;)
I hope he gets another chance.
John Wilson
I know as sure as I breath air that there are fish in these river that would easily top 50 pounds and possibly 80.
Big fish are by no means out of the norm here. I've guided fish over 20 pounds every year for the last 5 years in a row. By guided I mean hooked, landed, took a picture. There have been countless numbers of fish hooked and lost. Actually the odds of landing a huge fish are relatively slim. Just ask Joe. ;)
I hope he gets another chance.
John Wilson[/quote]
I just decided there is another destination besides Montana in my near future!!!
Around here you get the occasional mouse plague and browns will gorge themselves on little mice trying to cross a stream at night. They get real big and deep in the belly real fast on this diet.
You set 'em straigh, John! Cuz that be the gospel truth!Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyFishAR
What that fella's friend might have been talking about was the RARE release of hatchery breeders as they pass their prime breeding age. That DOES go on. Those fish generally go in the 8-15 lb. range. That's a far cry from a world record, of which the Little Red, Norfork, and Taneycomo have had plenty. And it doesn't go on in the Little Red. It's also a far cry from "all of those big fish." Those releases probably comprise considerably less than 1% of the fish in these fisheries. Nope! The answer is FOOD...and a lot of it!
Gringo:
We get the same sort of thing except with gray squirrels.
Once again 0%, none, nadda, of the browns in the Little Red are stocked unless they are something like 40 years old. Browns are "not" stocked in the Little Red.
Brown trout are stocked in a very limited amount in the White and Norfork. As a percentage of the total stocking it is something like 1/2 of 1%.
John,
If those big browns are anything like a CAT, eating a squirrel would cause a hellacious furball!
Doug :lol:
Squirrells eh? Them pesky little critters LOL. Do you have a squirrell fly? For the brownies we throw out a mouse fly at night and drag it in the surface. I have never done it, but I know a lot of the big fish are caught that way. The mouse is generally tied with black deer fur, and can be small or really large.
A squirrel fly? Good lord! U'd need marlin fishing tackle to control a fly like that!Quote:
Originally Posted by Gringo
A squirrel fly. :lol:
Well I've heard stories but never actually witnessed anything that would lead me to beleive that browns actually would take a squirrel here. I've tried the mice pattern here at night with zero success thus far. I doubt that squirrels would do much better. :wink:
I've heard tell of those big browns taking down small children at night. Just keep that in mind when you plan your trips. That's no place for youngsters or timid women-folk under 5'4" tall. Be safe!
SilverMallard,
Don't cha believe you may have left out the " :shock: :? :wink: :roll: :twisted: "
Nah, but maybe a :lol: would have been appropriate.
Here's a hawg that some nincompoop caught while chub fishing in December. It's no sowbug-fed farmgirl, but she would have gone close to 15 lbs before the spawn. On 2X...
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...2006035new.jpg
Marty