I got out there with my parents, brother and one of our old neighbors. We got there early(around 7 a.m.). For the first hour it wasn't all that fast, but after that it really turned on. I didn't do nearly as well today. I only got 12 with no gee golly whoppers. But that had to do with my brother and Carmen. They both needed new hooks, more bait, and I even had to cast Carmen's pole out so the danged minnow wouldn't fly off. For the day she caught 18, including a 22" beauty that went about 5 pounds. My dad got 16, and a 21" foot ball rainbow that was a little heavier than Carmen's, so about 5.25 pounds. My mom got 12, and my brother only 6. He likes to screw around more than anything.
All the other's fish bit on a whole dead shinner with no weight at all. There is a certain way we're rigging them, but I'm not saying. Even the game wardent that checked us we pretty amazed. I got half mine a really cool way. I'd rip off as much fly line off of my fly pole as I could, then I'd flick out a little rainbow sinking rapala. I'd strip it back in irradically, and the fish would nail it. I know. Fly fishing purists would call that blasphomy, but I just call it the only way I can work rapalas.
All in all it was a really good day out on the water. And the best part? I GOT PICTURES OF THE BIG FISH! Now all I've got to do is get them developed(hopefully tomorrow) and bring them into school. My web design teacher's nice enough to let me post them from here. So just hold your horses if you don't believe.
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[#505000] Sounds like you had an excellent day on Scofield. I can't wait to see your pics. [/#505000]
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[#505000]One thing that has been bothering me since I read your post earlier this morning is your minnow hook up. I don't want this to seem like a flame I don't intend it to be, I can fully understand keeping some secrets. We all have our favorite "honey hole" which I suspect some of us will take to our graves. But as far as tackle tips go, who cares? Any tackle, or bait trick I know I'd be happy to share with anyone who wants to know. If it will improve someone's fishing experience they're welcome to it. I doubt sharing this type of knowledge is going to wipe out the entire trout population of Scofield or any other body of water and ruin your fishing experience for life. [/#505000]
[#505000]If it's really that big of a deal to keep this particular piece of knowledge secret why even bring it up in the post??? [/#505000]
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[#505000]I apologize if this comes across as a flame. I hope it's not because I really don't intend it to be. I guess I'll find out if Tubedude gets after me!! [crazy] [/#505000]
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Police, quick, arrest that man!! [cool][
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The Champ and I went to Scofield last Friday morning, and we fished on the southwest side, by the pole fence, between the shore and the island. We went out in our float tubes, and she used shiner minnows on monofilament, and I used a purple-blood colored mohair leech on sinking fly line. Sad to say, the fishing was slow. I later switched to an olive-brown wooly bugger, but that didn't help. In several hours of fishing, the Champ got a couple of strikes, but all she reeled in was half a minnow. The fishing from the shoreline was slow also. Shore fisherman, boat fisherman, and other float tubers all told the same story--fish were few and far between. Today I talked to someone who went on Saturday and had much better luck in the narrow neck by the dam. He used basically the same sinking line, purple leech set up that I did, but he caught three nice fish in a couple of hours. Apparently, the fish have moved to deeper water.
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It's no problem. I can tell you the exact hook up. Take a size 4 strait hook and put it through the minnow's eyes, then back through its back. This little bend in the minnow creates a wobble that the fish find irresistable later in the year when their more active, and also when your slow trolling minnows. Put a swivel on the main line and tie off a 12-18" leader to be conected to the hook.
Now I quite honestly believe its the leader material thats getting us all these fish. We fished without this magic line, and nill. But with it they loved it. I'm not gonna say the exact line, because I know ordinary fisher folks don't use it(yet). That's why I'm a little hesitant to put it out online. You see, I've seen my once fish-filled hole on the Jordan get fished out. So no more.
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Sounds like a modification of the JP Rig (which I am going to start using with minnows).
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[url "http://www.powellstripers.com/default.cfm"]Click here to watch Benedict Arnold tell all about the John Pauly Rig (Click on Benedict Arnold):[/url]
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Heaven forbid leave a post without a little, "I'm not telling" in it. That is a new hook technique I may just have to try. Lately we have just been using a treble hook and putting one hook through the upper lip and one through the lower. Our hook rate has gone way up and we are still catching the same number of fish out of Scofield. Unless the leader you are using is illegal I don't know what difference it would make in letting everyone know.
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Hey rigging your minnow like that is nothing new i have been doing that .But if you are just still fishing its best just to freeline theminnow and hook the minnow through the eyes that allows the fish to swallow it whole and you wont pull the minnow out of its mouth.That works for me .
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I couldn't agree more ocean.
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