Brown/Brook Trout: Spawning Notes

[David Knapp]

Winter should be great this year!!!

[cockeye valdez]

I plan to fish the Clinch more this winter than past, or at least give it more effort. I have concentrated on spring, summer and now fall on the Clinch and it has been a learning experience. Thanks to you and some other guys on the forum, my opinion of the river is changing. My experience has been (for years) on the So.Ho. and winter there is b.w.o.s, midge pupa and emergers.

Talk more about winter fishing please. I've heard that slinging streamers and small midges work.

Thanks for changing the direction of the discussion David.

c.v.

[David Knapp]

Originally Posted by cockeye valdez

I plan to fish the Clinch more this winter than past, or at least give it more effort. I have concentrated on spring, summer and now fall on the Clinch and it has been a learning experience. Thanks to you and some other guys on the forum, my opinion of the river is changing. My experience has been (for years) on the So.Ho. and winter there is b.w.o.s, midge pupa and emergers.

Talk more about winter fishing please. I've heard that slinging streamers and small midges work.

Thanks for changing the direction of the discussion David.

c.v.

Big streamers fished out of a boat on high water = perhaps the most fun on any Tennessee trout tailwater...in my humble opinion. Love winter when the crowds are gone but the fish are still hungry!!! The browns will be hungry when they come off the spawn and December through February is prime time to chase them with streamers...

[cockeye valdez]

wading ? I fished from a drift boat last Saturday and it reminded me of why I love wading so much. Any advice for wading ? Still sling streamers ?
c.v.

[David Knapp]

Streamers can be effective while wading, especially right now, but in the winter you should be fishing nymphs and midges just like you are used to on the SoHo. Add some eggs and copper johns to attract the recently spawning fish and you should be good to go...

Give the boat thing a chance though. It is really awesome and worth the learning curve. There's nothing like throwing streamers out of a boat and seeing a huge shadow appear behind your fly with mouth open...

[MadisonBoats]

In winter; I like to throw larger dry and emergent midges. Especially on the light wind days. Like David posted; it is a opportunistic time to catch brown trout. I am still trying to work on fishing more streamers. However; it is tough to pass up a chance to fish dries. They like the unique dry flies and stimulator flies as well!

I got this guy on an orange palmer (dry).

[Corbo]

Show Off! LOL

[cockeye valdez]

Shawn, ever tie an emergent midge under the larger dry ?
c.v.

[David Knapp]

Shawn, that is a beautiful brown there! Talk about inspiration to go fishing...

[Breck]

Shawn, excellent!!!!! I'll be in touch soon!!

Breck