Flies for Browns

[Stryker2]

I'm just bored and thinking about the open water season ahead. I've never caught a Brown trout before and I've decided this year I will try. So being a fly tier I've been tying flies that catch Browns. I've come up with a minnow pattern that I hope will entice a Brown! Of course I've made a variety of wolly buggers and zonkers as well. So I'm showing you my new minnow pattern, in hopes that those of you who tie flies can show me what you've created that works well for browns and I suppose any predatory trout ... Just trying to get ideas.

[tallieho]

I have used a Thunder Creek [Rowley y-tube]sz12 scud blk&white green&white,Bow R. Bugger Green body,blk.tail,Bulldog,Mouse patterns.I use them for brown's & tigers

[Stryker2]

Originally Posted by tallieho

I have used a Thunder Creek [Rowley y-tube]sz12 scud blk&white green&white,Bow R. Bugger Green body,blk.tail,Bulldog,Mouse patterns.I use them for brown's & tigers

Thanks that's really helpfull.

[Don Andersen]

Stryker...

Brown trout eat whatever is available be that mayflies, caddis, stones, hoppers and on and on. They are not specific to any food source.
They are however more prone to low light feeding which lends to patterns like mice.
I've caught Browns on most everything even caterpillars last year.

Regards,

Don

[Stryker2]

Originally Posted by Don Andersen

Stryker...

Brown trout eat whatever is available be that mayflies, caddis, stones, hoppers and on and on. They are not specific to any food source.
They are however more prone to low light feeding which lends to patterns like mice.
I've caught Browns on most everything even caterpillars last year.

Regards,

Don

Hi Don...Thanks for the input, yes I realize they eat all that other trout eat, but you know how someone will say " I've had the most luck with a Black Ghost for browns" that's what I'm after...One's favorite fly pattern for browns. But clearly people are as guarded about their favorite patterns as they are about their "honey holes" Tight Lines!

[jeprli]

Caddis and mayflies. 2 sizes of each in 2 colours (light and dark). Fish em on top, in the film or swing them like wets. Beside wooly buggers these 2 are my go to patterns.

[Don Andersen]

Originally Posted by Stryker2

Hi Don...Thanks for the input, yes I realize they eat all that other trout eat, but you know how someone will say " I've had the most luck with a Black Ghost for browns" that's what I'm after...One's favorite fly pattern for browns. But clearly people are as guarded about their favorite patterns as they are about their "honey holes" Tight Lines!

I see, here are the secret flies.

Pheasant tail nymph both weighted and not.
A grey body mayfly pattern in sized #12>18.

Don

[scel]

Originally Posted by Don Andersen

Brown trout eat whatever is available be that mayflies, caddis, stones, hoppers and on and on. They are not specific to any food source.
They are however more prone to low light feeding which lends to patterns like mice.

I am not as experienced as Don, but I generally tend to agree---they are trout and eat trout food. 85% of the browns I caught were on typical trout flies---copper johns, caddis dries, leeches.

Last year, however, I went on a streamer junkie bender on the Bow River---fishing big-ass streamers at dusk and into the evening. Big browns eat big ticket items. I caught more fish over 24" last year than the previous 5 years combined. Like Don says, for catching the trophies, browns (especially big ones) tend to be crepuscular and nocturnal.

I would say big-ass articulated flies like sex dungeons and muted intruder patterns like the moorish medusa definitely caught my biggest browns last year. (caught my biggest rainbows too). I would say the VIP pattern of last year is the moorish medusa, catching me my biggest browns, rainbows, and cutthroat. It definitely caught the most bull trout, but the biggest was on a size 4 (3XL) blue-n-white clouser minnow.

[chinchaga07]

I find the size of the water you are fishing has an effect as well. I am a flowing water guy primarily so the giant streamers I use on the Bow are the exact pattern I use on my favorite frenchmen creeks in Central Alberta. Clousers, Buggers and leeches tied smaller for smaller water but not necessarily smaller fish.

One streamer I have used and love is the masked bandit. It is tied on a size 4 or 6 Octopus hook. Phenomenal fly for Browns on both big and small water. Have yet to try it on still water.

[trouthype]

Big ugly circus peanut if I had to pick a favourite! Black or white or yellow or olive or brown.

You will definitely miss a lot of fish/fun by sticking to only one fly though!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Stryker2]

Originally Posted by trouthype

Big ugly circus peanut if I had to pick a favourite! Black or white or yellow or olive or brown.

You will definitely miss a lot of fish/fun by sticking to only one fly though!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

First of all I don't plan on sticking to one fly! Thus the inquiry...I want to have lots of ideas/choices! With that being said what on earth is a "circus peanut"? Keep in mind I've only been fly fishing/tying for 4 years... Still learning. Well I think in fly fishing you'd be learning until you're very old!
Thanks for your input.

[damaltor]

Originally Posted by Stryker2

First of all I don't plan on sticking to one fly! Thus the inquiry...I want to have lots of ideas/choices! With that being said what on earth is a "circus peanut"? Keep in mind I've only been fly fishing/tying for 4 years... Still learning. Well I think in fly fishing you'd be learning until you're very old!
Thanks for your input.

We'll all be learning until we die.

[newflyfisherman]

I like Galloup's big articulated streamers. Any of them are good. Peanut envy, sex dungeons. My favorite by far is the barely legal. Olive maribou over white maribou. Big browns like big meals. This is a sex dungeon I tied a while back. My deer hair work is trash but it still fishes lol

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[Stryker2]

Originally Posted by newflyfisherman

I like Galloup's big articulated streamers. Any of them are good. Peanut envy, sex dungeons. My favorite by far is the barely legal. Olive maribou over white maribou. Big browns like big meals. This is a sex dungeon I tied a while back. My deer hair work is trash but it still fishes lol

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

Don't sell yourself short, that's a fishy looking streamer! That was kind of my train of thought that big browns would like a big meal!! Good to know about the K Galloup articualted streamers! I will check his videos out as well. Thanks for some good suggestions! Tight Lines

[Soab]

Don't disagree w don 2 out of 3 of my pb browns were on a 18 pmd and a 16 midge 26 and 27 inches. But I've caught a lot of good browns on an olive clouser. Pretty much only streamer I use. Ps Browns are the BEST !

[Stryker2]

Originally Posted by Soab

Don't disagree w don 2 out of 3 of my pb browns were on a 18 pmd and a 16 midge 26 and 27 inches. But I've caught a lot of good browns on an olive clouser. Pretty much only streamer I use. Ps Browns are the BEST !

Yes I agree, all species of fish are apt to bite on smaller sized patterns at times when finesse presentation is required. Predatory trout are no exception. And I've caught a very large (24"inch) Bull on an orange clouser. Thanks for your suggestions.

[Jetboatjimi]

Fishing the Bow River for big Brown Trout is a long living passion for me.
Early in the season, I drift Bow River Buggers slowly through the fishes over wintering spots.
Size 2 and 4.
I also use Clouser Minnows and other large Streamers.
Early on in the season, I use a slow retrieve.
I have caught many Browns over 28" every year for almost 40 years.
From Dry Fly Caddis fishing to pounding the banks.
My comment on your fly is that it will get pretty skinny once in the water..
Build up a bit more body.
BTW..There is no wrong way to fish, some are better and as you learn you will increase your a catch rate..

[ghostguy6]

Originally Posted by newflyfisherman

I like Galloup's big articulated streamers. Any of them are good. Peanut envy, sex dungeons. My favorite by far is the barely legal. Olive maribou over white maribou. Big browns like big meals. This is a sex dungeon I tied a while back. My deer hair work is trash but it still fishes lol

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

Who names these flies? Im still trying to learn what flies are what but there are some names that should not be searched on google

[newflyfisherman]

Also as a side note. Galloup has been putting out a bunch of videos on you tube this year detailing how he builds all his flies. They are long videos but worth the watch

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[bitterrootfly]

Brown Trout have never been super picky whenever I get to spend time in their presence, that being said my three best (22, 24, 27inches) have all come on either stoneflies during an early (4am early) hatch or off of nymphs (San Juan, wire and blood worms: sizes 6-12) during runoff throughout June. But I really don’t know much, haven’t fly fished for long or even experienced that much (just finishing high school) so I don’t know how these would work on still water fisheries.

[Stryker2]

Originally Posted by bitterrootfly

Brown Trout have never been super picky whenever I get to spend time in their presence, that being said my three best (22, 24, 27inches) have all come on either stoneflies during an early (4am early) hatch or off of nymphs (San Juan, wire and blood worms: sizes 6-12) during runoff throughout June. But I really don’t know much, haven’t fly fished for long or even experienced that much (just finishing high school) so I don’t know how these would work on still water fisheries.

For a guy that doesn't know much, you sure have caught some nice sized browns!! Well I'll certainly be trying those patterns as well. Your input is much appreciated!

[Jayhad]

97% of my fishing is for browns on the small creeks and for the last few seasons i only carry one fly..... MFC Coffey's Sparkle Minnow

[Stryker2]

Originally Posted by Jayhad

97% of my fishing is for browns on the small creeks and for the last few seasons i only carry one fly..... MFC Coffey's Sparkle Minnow

One would have to have a lot of confidence in a fly to only carry one!

[FlyTheory]

Originally Posted by Stryker2

One would have to have a lot of confidence in a fly to only carry one!

Yeah it’s a good setup. Sparkleminnows are great. Follow Kelly galloups instructions if you want to fish it as Jayhad does. Pretty effective!

[frederickwreid]

Originally Posted by Stryker2

One would have to have a lot of confidence in a fly to only carry one!

I'd have to have a lot more confidence in my abilities to just carry one fly!!!