Caney 9-19-12

[jad2t]

The weather was just too nice yesterday to pass this opportunity up, it was one of those days that God just made for fishing. They didn't generate all day because there was some project being done with a depth gauge below the dam or something along those lines so no generation was requested. I went to Betty's Island this time to avoid inevitable swarms of canoe crowds I'd find anywhere from Happy upstream to the Dam. I think I like this spot a lot better and I think I'm getting the hang of the trout magnet. The flyrod wouldn't work and neither would small spinners so I started using the TM and caught probably 15 total. Several browns again but did manage to get some brookies and rainbows to take home pictured below. That little rainbow was going to get released but he swallowed the TM pretty deep, I think he would have died soon so I went ahead and kept it.

I saw two very big stripers swim past me into an area with lots of small trout jumping around. I thought any minute the water was going to start boiling but saw nothing. Also spotted a 5+ pound rainbow pretty close to me. I threw the TM at it several times but it wasn't interested. I'm pretty sure it was aware of my presence and wasn't falling for it haha. Great day at the Caney overall.

[Travis C.]

Sounds like a blast man. Looks like the water will get me before I can get up there again. :(

[MNfisher]

Nice work! The trout magnet is awesome for those little stockers!

[jad2t]

Nice work! The trout magnet is awesome for those little stockers!

I've seen really large trout caught with them too. Mainly rainbows because they still eat little bugs and stuff when they get big. The browns switch over to eating fish once they grow over about 12 inches. I've seen home very large browns caught on the TM as well though. I'd love to hook into a 20" rainbow on that 4lb line one day. I'm not sure yet how to target them with the TM but I'll do my research!

[StriperFan]

I can vouch for the rainbows liking to eat bigger prey when they get bigger as well. One day while fishing on the waterfall below the dam I spotted a large trout darting in and out under the water fall. I caught a 4" green sunfish and put him back out on a bigger hook right under the water fall, instant hook up on a 5+ rainbow. On another instance, me and a buddy were fishing the same area and every few minutes something was busting the surface but we didn't know what it was, he threw a magnum topwater minnow we had seined earlier that day and bam, another big rainbow.

[Travis C.]

Both Browns and Rainbows turn predatory once they hit that 20"-25" range. Rivers with huge hatches and/or a big shrimp/scud population they may eat bugs a little longer but ultimately the trophies your after are meat eaters.

Hard to imagine but the majority of the fish you catch on the Caney (8"-18") are really food more less for the big ones. A brown trout for example can and will eat up to half its body length given the chance. Say a 24" could consume a 12" stocker on a night of feeding. He may not eat for a day or two after though.

In the Caney, you'll see the big bows/browns busting schooled up gizzard shad just like the striper in there do.

[browntrout]

Both Browns and Rainbows turn predatory once they hit that 20"-25" range. Rivers with huge hatches and a big shrimp/scud population they may eat bugs a little longer but ultimately the trophies your after are meat eaters.

Hard to imagine but the majority of the fish you catch on the Caney (8"-18") are really food more less for the big ones but its true. A brown can and will eat up to half its body length given the chance. Say a 24" could consume a 12" stocker on a night of feeding. He may not eat for a day or two after though.

In the Caney, you'll see the big bows/browns busting schooled up gizzard shad just like the striper in there do.

I know that in some places you can buy stocker size Rainbow trout and people will use them for bait for browns. I believe it is against the law here but I am not for sure. Some people will also keep a little stocker that they catch and use them as bait. I know that is against the law.

Roy

[Travis C.]

I know that in some places you can buy stocker size Rainbow trout and people will use them for bait for browns. I believe it is against the law here but I am not for sure. Some people will also keep a little stocker that they catch and use them as bait. I know that is against the law.

Roy

They have wanted to make it illegal but as long as its over a certain inch measurement then it has to fall within creel/size limits. If it is under that, then you have to have a reciept of purchase.

Its 8" and under without limit as long as there is an invoice.

[tcintn]

I fish with Trout Magnets almost 100% of the time while using 2lb test.I know lately the number of trout caught on the Caney have been very high and most are stockers,but I have still caught large fish.Most of the bigger fish have been Browns.Lately the Brooks have started getting bigger.One of the Brooks caught last week measured almost 14".Do they put up a fight.One of the Browns I caught around 10 days back,measured just over 21".
Love my TM's and especially giving them away.

[jad2t]

I fish with Trout Magnets almost 100% of the time while using 2lb test.I know lately the number of trout caught on the Caney have been very high and most are stockers,but I have still caught large fish.Most of the bigger fish have been Browns.Lately the Brooks have started getting bigger.One of the Brooks caught last week measured almost 14".Do they put up a fight.One of the Browns I caught around 10 days back,measured just over 21".
Love my TM's and especially giving them away.

So is there a way to specifically target larger trout with the TM or does it just happen by chance?

[Travis C.]

I fish with Trout Magnets almost 100% of the time while using 2lb test.I know lately the number of trout caught on the Caney have been very high and most are stockers,but I have still caught large fish.Most of the bigger fish have been Browns.Lately the Brooks have started getting bigger.One of the Brooks caught last week measured almost 14".Do they put up a fight.One of the Browns I caught around 10 days back,measured just over 21".
Love my TM's and especially giving them away.

How'd you do out west on your trip?

[Alphahawk]

Ed always catches tons of trout.....really doesn't matter where he fishes. He is the one to ask on technique to fish the Magnet under the float.....he is the master at it.



Regards

[tcintn]

Trip West.
We spent 8 weeks going to Arkansas,Texas,New Mexico,Colorado,Utah,Idaho,Montana,wyoming,Yellows tone,back to colorado,and then back to New Mexico buying a license in all of those states and NP.Caught the most fishing the Little Red two days.The biggest fish was on the San Juan in New Mexico.I was consistently catching Browns over 20".I was told about a quality lake in Utah that was suppose to have all big rainbows.We drove around 50 miles over dirt roads and camped on the lake.Not that big and only a few folks there fishing.Once I figured out how to fish quiet water with a TM,every Rainbow I caught was over 20".I only caught 6 or 7,and will say I lost another 6 or 7.Those barbless hooks are killing me sometimes.
We did more sight seeing on this trip and my wife only fished in Arkansas since we were in a boat being guided on the Red.
For the total trip I caught 442.
If you ever get the chance,fish the Taylor River below Taylor dam near Gunnison,Co.Catch and release and big fish.Same for San Juan.Also caught some nice Cut Throats at Yellow Stone.Looking forward to doing again some day.

[Alphahawk]

So is there a way to specifically target larger trout with the TM or does it just happen by chance?

I have caught a lot of really good Browns on the Trout Magnet. My son caught one in the 10 pound range or better. I am not that well versed on trout feeding habits...but I do know that Browns prefer a hefty meal. But that does not mean they will not readily hit a Trout Magnet. A couple of summers back tcintn took a two week trip out west with an angler from the Mount Juliet area. Here is a link to the article on that trip. http://troutmagnet.com/article.php?id=68 I saw most of the pics from that trip and those two are just a small sampling of what they caught. I put that link there so you can see that the Trout Magnet catches huge Browns. Now having said that...and make no mistake I am a Trout Magnet man....I spent all day Friday wearing my arm out throwing cranks on the Caney. I....like browntrout....was looking for just one fish. Neither of us got it. The Trout Magnet is just hard to fish in heavy water. But during heavy water you can find the slack areas. Also if you are fishing the Trout Magnet in lots of current it is best to fish it under the float...with size B split shots to get it down to where the trout are...and you also will need a float rod....something in the 9 foot range. If you are ever on the Caney and see tcintn there watch him for a while. He is the best I have seen fishing the Trout Magnet under a float. Hope this helps.


Regards

[Travis C.]

I am not that well versed on trout feeding habits...but I do know that Browns prefer a hefty meal. But that does not mean they will not readily hit a Trout Magnet.

Regards

The big predatory trout say 20-25"+ are not doubt looking for a high protein meal but more than likely see the trout magnet as an easy snack if its near them so they won't have to expend much energy.

It's kinda like that bowl of candy next to the recliner while watching football. As long as you're sitting there at arms reach you'll probably grab some as the mood hits you but when supper time comes your more interested in that steak on the table.

Just my guess on them and trout magnets. The predatory trout will feed at night most the time unless its high water to where they are comfortable. Usually during the daytime hours you want to invade their space with something to piss them off because they tend to rest then.

[Alphahawk]

The big predatory trout say 20-25"+ are not doubt looking for a high protein meal but more than likely see the trout magnet as an easy snack if its near them so they won't have to expend much energy.

It's kinda like that bowl of candy next to the recliner while watching football. As long as you're sitting there at arms reach you'll probably grab some as the mood hits you but when supper time comes your more interested in that steak on the table.

Just my guess on them and trout magnets. The predatory trout will feed at night most the time unless its high water to where they are comfortable. Usually during the daytime hours you want to invade their space with something to piss them off because they tend to rest then.

Well said.

[jad2t]

Thanks guys. I don't think the river will be suitable for TM fishing for a while with constant generation plus sluice. I plan on going tomorrow afternoon possibly to fish for stripers below the dam. Once we have wading windows I'll give the TM's another shot