Trying to learn Caney/tactics a bit better

[troutspin]

For you guys who have your "finger on the pulse" of the Caney, a riddle:
Memorial Day weekend, I fished the Caney two days about 15 miles downstream of the dam. 1 day, hooked a total of 15 rainbows 10-12" range. Next day, 5 bows and a nearly two foot sauger. Both days used 1/8 spinners in various colors, 4# fluorocarbon line. Both days fished during no generation and stopped when the generators came on, reached my area, and the water started rising.
Been back to same spot twice since then. Weather has been about the same, same techniques. Only difference I could discern is that the water was noticeably higher when I started out, and was falling during the time I fished, until it started rising with the generators again. Both subsequent trips, managed to land a grand total of 1 bow each time.
I'm trying to figure out what the difference was. Was it water level?, moon location? Or, just the old sometimes you're the windshield and sometimes you're the bug? Any thoughts?

Second question: I see enough posts to know that trout magnets are very popular with folks on the board. I'm a bit of a "die hard" spin fisherman. Many years ago, fly fished, and actually got fairly adept with it. But, I'm one of the wierdos who took up spinning after the fly, rather than vice versa. I just find something extremely enjoyable about it and will throw spinners even when I know that they are probably not the most effective technique, at that time under the circumstances. But, all of that to say, I have tried the TMs, both on the Caney and the Little Red in AR. I have yet to catch a trout on a TM (however, I tear crappie up with the crappie magnets). Am I missing something?

[SalmonDaze]

Are you targeting only rainbows and brook trout or are you also going after bigger brownies?

High water or low, the artificials that have harvested for me have been Rapala rainbow colored small jointed and Rapala in orange and gold. Both floating. These simply KILL 'bows and brookies.

For browns . . . Rapala white countdown.

15 miles below the damn . . . pretty good setup. At least you're mostly away from the canoe/kayak maelstrom.

[troutspin]

Originally Posted by SalmonDaze

Are you targeting only rainbows and brook trout or are you also going after bigger brownies?

High water or low, the artificials that have harvested for me have been Rapala rainbow colored small jointed and Rapala in orange and gold. Both floating. These simply KILL 'bows and brookies.

For browns . . . Rapala white countdown.

15 miles below the damn . . . pretty good setup. At least you're mostly away from the canoe/kayak maelstrom.

Mainly targeting bows. Yes, knew the rapalas are used a lot for going after the bigger fish. Thanks for the advice, I'll check out those lures you mentioned. But, I'm really just having a hard time figuring out why I had such a good weekend memorial day and then last two trips have been flat.
Yes, good area for avoiding the kayak hatch. Not really any good wading accessibility, but pretty good to drift.

[MNfisher]

Originally Posted by troutspin

But, I'm really just having a hard time figuring out why I had such a good weekend memorial day and then last two trips have been flat.

Welcome to the Caney. It's just how it is. Some days are amazing, others you might not even see a fish. Same conditions.

Another thing, 15 miles below the dam in the heat of the summer holds less trout, and the trout there aren't as active due to the warmer water. I have had much better luck dam to happy in summer.


Mike

[troutspin]

Originally Posted by MNfisher

Welcome to the Caney. It's just how it is. Some days are amazing, others you might not even see a fish. Same conditions.

Another thing, 15 miles below the dam in the heat of the summer holds less trout, and the trout there aren't as active due to the warmer water. I have had much better luck dam to happy in summer.


Mike

Yeah, what I thought, "sometimes you're just the bug". Thanks for the comment

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by troutspin

Mainly targeting bows. Yes, knew the rapalas are used a lot for going after the bigger fish. Thanks for the advice, I'll check out those lures you mentioned. But, I'm really just having a hard time figuring out why I had such a good weekend memorial day and then last two trips have been flat.
Yes, good area for avoiding the kayak hatch. Not really any good wading accessibility, but pretty good to drift.

They probably had just stocked since it was a holiday weekend. The water is still cool down there in that mile stretch right now but won't be this time next month.

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by troutspin

Second question: I see enough posts to know that trout magnets are very popular with folks on the board. I'm a bit of a "die hard" spin fisherman. Many years ago, fly fished, and actually got fairly adept with it. But, I'm one of the wierdos who took up spinning after the fly, rather than vice versa. I just find something extremely enjoyable about it and will throw spinners even when I know that they are probably not the most effective technique, at that time under the circumstances. But, all of that to say, I have tried the TMs, both on the Caney and the Little Red in AR. I have yet to catch a trout on a TM (however, I tear crappie up with the crappie magnets). Am I missing something?

Trout Magnets do work really well up there and are my fail safe to not get skunked. Fish them on spin gear 2lb test with 2lb fluorocarbon leader. With current under a float set to just above the bottom then let it drift without a lot of current or no current take the float off and reel slowly twitching along the bottom.

IF you want to get really "weird" but successful. Take your light line spinning reel and tie on a couple size 18 zebra midges in black then add a float with a small split shot to aid in casting. Drift that fly setup like you would on a fly rod. Benefits to this way is drag free drift = more strikes. I have caught tons this way when I didn't want to bring my fly rod.

[jad2t]

You're definitely missing something if you can't catch trout on a TM. They're incredibly effective but when I first got some, I didn't catch any for a while because I was using them wrong. Between everyone on this forum, I think we've caught every species that swims in fresh water on these lures except a sturgeon.

The 2lb flourocarbon is essential. I was hardheaded about this and was fishing them with 6lb mono. That was one mistake. Especially in clear water like the Caney, get the flouro. Use it for a 3-4 foot leader and splitshot it about 18" above the lure. If you really want to gain some confidence in the lure, which is very important, head to the waterfalls below the dam on the spillway side. Have the lure a few feet under a float and toss it into the waterfall current. The float will bounce and move enough to give it plenty of action. I promise you'll catch fish this way. I absolutely guarantee it. Just let it drift along that waterfall current and watch the float disappear.

[troutspin]

Originally Posted by Travis C.

Trout Magnets do work really well up there and are my fail safe to not get skunked. Fish them on spin gear 2lb test with 2lb fluorocarbon leader. With current under a float set to just above the bottom then let it drift without a lot of current or no current take the float off and reel slowly twitching along the bottom.

IF you want to get really "weird" but successful. Take your light line spinning reel and tie on a couple size 18 zebra midges in black then add a float with a small split shot to aid in casting. Drift that fly setup like you would on a fly rod. Benefits to this way is drag free drift = more strikes. I have caught tons this way when I didn't want to bring my fly rod.

Thanks

[troutspin]

Originally Posted by jad2t

You're definitely missing something if you can't catch trout on a TM. They're incredibly effective but when I first got some, I didn't catch any for a while because I was using them wrong. Between everyone on this forum, I think we've caught every species that swims in fresh water on these lures except a sturgeon.

The 2lb flourocarbon is essential. I was hardheaded about this and was fishing them with 6lb mono. That was one mistake. Especially in clear water like the Caney, get the flouro. Use it for a 3-4 foot leader and splitshot it about 18" above the lure. If you really want to gain some confidence in the lure, which is very important, head to the waterfalls below the dam on the spillway side. Have the lure a few feet under a float and toss it into the waterfall current. The float will bounce and move enough to give it plenty of action. I promise you'll catch fish this way. I absolutely guarantee it. Just let it drift along that waterfall current and watch the float disappear.

Thanks for the tips, will keep working with them.

[tcintn]

Something I plan on doing when I returned home that I started doing while fishing the T M on the San Juan,NM, and Taylor River,Co. At first I was not having any hits so I decided to put a 6' piece of 2 lb floro made by T M and then I tied on a 3' piece of floro made by Seaguar. That is when I started catching the trout. I tried just Seaguar and nothing. But with both,results were awesome.
It could have just been the time of day but I plan to try when I return.
Also I was using the chartreuse jig heads with white T M's.

[troutspin]

Originally Posted by tcintn

Something I plan on doing when I returned home that I started doing while fishing the T M on the San Juan,NM, and Taylor River,Co. At first I was not having any hits so I decided to put a 6' piece of 2 lb floro made by T M and then I tied on a 3' piece of floro made by Seaguar. That is when I started catching the trout. I tried just Seaguar and nothing. But with both,results were awesome.
It could have just been the time of day but I plan to try when I return.
Also I was using the chartreuse jig heads with white T M's.

Thanks. I use 4# floro line, so have been a bit lazy and not using the 2# leader. Maybe that's my problem. I imagine they say the 2# leader is important for a reason.