Browns at night?

So I just moved to an apt where the Gallatin River runs through the backyard, and I work til midnight a lot of the time, so I figured I'd try for some big browns after work. What's the best way? I think I'll try woolly buggers tonight. Thanks!

big and floating,,, mouse, bat, humming-bird, gopher, small dog.

Yikes! I'll be fishing with a small dog alongside of me. Maybe I should stay out of the water. Thx.

Dear SquatchHunter,

At night trout feed more on sound than they do on sight.

Try tying large wet flies, size 1/0 to 4, with bulky profiles. Pheasant breast feathers tied so that they are splayed out to the side create a lot of motion in the water. You can make the head of the fly out of wool so that it will sink deep, or you can spin deer hair and make it a floater.

Pre-rig your flies on sections of stout tippet and use a loop to loop connection to attach them to your leader so you aren't fumbling around in the dark as much.

Start fishing right in the riffle and work your way down through the pool. Make sure you are fishing familiar water at night. A wrong step could create big problems for you.

Best Wishes,
Avalon :D

Chris might have the best POSTS, but JC has the best REPLIES!
Yrs ago I night fished the Madison river below Quake lake. We did perfectly fine with size 12 Black Caddis dries.
I also landed my biggest Brown from a river, which was 20 inches.
A funny thing happened that night that I found surprising.
The trout were rising all over the place and I notice a rise 1 foot from the bank, so I tells myself, "DOUG DROP YOUR FLY ON THAT RISE!" That may have been a mistake because that trout grabbed my fly and took off for the middle of the river, into the darkness. That really was a kick in the tail end!
Hatches do occur at night and if you can figure out what the bug is, then it is sorta like fishing in a fish hatchery.
A Guide did give me some advice about hiking and fishing in the dark. He said MOOSE sometimes charge in the dark. So their motto is charge now and ask questions later.
Doug :D

I'm not sure all fish are the same in all rivers but for big Michigan browns we use mice and rats. Just stacks of deer hair roughly trimmed into a rats shape.
It's the noise and the displaced water that rings the dinner bell for those carnivorous browns (though we do catch our fair share on dries during the hex hatch)
Some loose rules we use:
- Know where you're wading. Fish the area long and hard during the day to learn the prime lies and where the snags are as well as the drop-offs.
- When mousin', they ain't leader shy. Leave those 12', 7X leaders in the truck.
- Get a red filter for any light you use to save your night vision. Use the light sparingly.
- Any noise you hear in the brush is ALWAYS something that'll eat you! (it seems that way anyhow!) Beaver tail slaps might be cause for a change of clothers!
- The darker out, the better. I don't know if this is a hard rule but it seems our luck was always better on cloudy, moonless nights.
- Bring a big net.

Check the Fly of the Week Archives for Gary LaFontaine's Creature created especially for your situation :roll:

Here in Argentina, specially in big rivers with monster browns, and big lakes also, nothing better than a black Wolly Bugger on the first light of the day or close to night. Weighted or not(floating or sinking line), but worked close to the bottom.

Waterfox

waterfox, are you familiar with San Martin? I'll be there in January and have no idea what to expect.

Jackster, of course I know the area and I can give you diverse info. More than 35 years of fishing San Mart?n, Bariloche, Esquel, etc. areas.
I am outfitter and guide in Patagonia.
Check our website:
http://flyfishingexpeditions.com
You can also send me an email to: flyfisherfox@yahoo.com

Good luck
Waterfox

Tips:

Beavers live in river banks. Stepping in a beaver hole in the dark is a great way to break a leg. Stabbing yourself in the leg with a stob is almost as bad.

Willows grow rapidly in the dark, and shrink in daylight. They eat backcasts much more readily after dark.

The Gallatin is not known for big browns, at least not BIG big browns. I used to live in Bozeman, and did the night thing a few times, and caught a few fish, but frankly, I caught a whole lot more, and a whole lot bigger, browns in broad daylight.

DG

I have caught numerous species of fish and Brown Trout are very strange sometimes. They are nocturnal, so it is like they work the graveyard shift.
Doug

Squatch,

You might try and get your hands on the book, Night Fishing for Trout, by Jim Bashline.

Allan

"Willows grow rapidly in the dark, and shrink in daylight. They eat backcasts much more readily after dark."

Do they move around then too?.. :wink:

Beautiful website and pictures, Waterfox!
Perhaps we'll bump into each other! It would be a pleasure to meet you I'm sure!

Be sure to take bear spray!!!!!

http://www.flytyingforum.com/index.php?showtopic=14928

Hope it's not to late to reply, but a good headlamp is indispencable

SquatchHunter


Let me be the first to say night time fishing for big browns is the only way to go!!!!

some of this was true and some I just dont agree with..

I must first say Brown do feed at night... but not just by sound... they feed by sight, movement, and will eat anything that looks natural to then..

for instance... if you using a size 8 (dumb-bell eyed) sculpin and dragging it slow across the the bottom... what sound do that fly make???

drifting a size 10 unweighted woolly though the current (just drifting "NO" stripping)... its not making any sound..

Ive evening drifted scuds (12&14) , midges (#14) SJ worms (#12) under floats and caught fish 2 o'clock in the morning..


but Now for the most important part...

MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THE AREA YOUR FISHING!!!
Any deep holes (find landmake to pinpoint them)

Nesting critter.. beavers, otters, snakes, bears.. make sure you now whats in you area..

I have a little red fox that comes out at night to see me sometime every now and then.. I guess he thinks Im going to give him a little fish.. (which I have)

As for as flies.. find out what they use the most of during the day.. and make then a couple sizes bigger..
most people here usessize 22-16 scuds... at night I use 8-14... midges.. 24-16.. I use a 14 or 12...

sculpins I use a size 12-6.. woolies 12-4

leeches.12-2

You just have to find out whats in your waters to make it work...

Leonard..


Also what JC said ... BIG BIG browns will eat... small swimming animals.. bats, birds, ducks, chipmonks, and small dogs..

Thanks to everyone for the advice. i do know the area pretty well, and the water's just a trickle right now anyhow. My dog will let me know of any animals in the area and I will have my headlamp on. I will let you all know if i get into any bruisers.