Big Browns at the Nelle?

[Miguel_Bait]

I'm not asking anyone to divulge any secrets, but any feedback is greatly appreciated. Is there anything different you do to find the Big Browns than what you do if you're fishing for the bows? Different bait, depth, or jigging tactics? We're headed to the Nelle this Saturday (Rockcliffs arm to be precise) and would love nothing more than to pull out a lunker Brown. Thanks in advance.
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[sewfish]

I have caught three browns through the ice at the Nelle and each time I was targeting perch. This last week I had a nice one on and he spit the hook the third time I got him to the hole. I had a ratfinky with a wax worm. they seem to just come through ever so often and I think a lot of it is luck. Good luck and post how it is. we were in the rock cliff arm over by the steep sides on the south, in 40 feet.
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[bassrods]

Do you plan on catch and keep or catch and release????
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[Miguel_Bait]

We catch and keep. If we're already limited out, then of course it would be released.
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[bassrods]

Thanks for the truth...
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Depending upon the area and the depth you are fishing, you can catch perch, bows, browns and chubs all from the same hole...at the same depth...right on the bottom. The reason for this is that all of the predators key in on young-of-the-year perch...about 2 inches long. If you find an area where the feeding is good, all of the predators will be there and every fish you catch will be barfing perchlets.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]After that, there are some differences. The rainbows usually cruise nearer the top than browns. You will do better fishing for rainbows within about 15 to 20 feet from the top...even over 50 feet of water. The browns sometimes cruise at mid depth too, but you will generally do better by fishing for them just off the bottom...in water from 25 to 35 feet deep...or even deeper. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As has been mentioned, many of the browns hooked on Jordanelle are hooked by folks fishing for perch. The small hooks and light gear used by perch jerkers is really overmatched by a large brown. Those bad boys roll and twist and run around in circles under the ice. If they do not wear your light line through against the ice, they often tear off the small hooks or straighten them out...or pop you off at the hole when you freak out at their size and try to haul them through the hole before they are ready.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The good news is that it really doesn't take a lot of special attention to get a brown. Send down a good sturdy jig with a chunk of perch meat or crawler on it. Alternate wiggling it and dead sticking it just off the bottom. If the stupid perch leave you alone a brown might just pick it up.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Oh yeah, for anybody with small minnows, those carnivorous spotted beasts love minnows. Put a whole small minnow on a jig head or simply rig a split shot and hook rig and send it to the bottom. Heck, even a half a minnow on a Finky is often good enough, but the hooks are not very tough.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you are fishing the Rock Cliff area, there are probably more browns caught on the shady south side of the channel than the sunny north side. Also, they like low light conditions. Very early morning and just before dark are the best times to find active browns. But, they will bite all day if you drop in the right spot with the right stuff.[/#0000ff]
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[Coldfooter]

[quote TubeDude][#0000ff] for anybody with small minnows, those carnivorous spotted beasts love minnows. Put a whole small minnow on a jig head or simply rig a split shot and hook rig and send it to the bottom. [/#0000ff][/quote]

Agree'd Pat. I refer 2-3 inch chubs minnows rather than shiner minnow when targetting Browns through the ice at Nellie. I will add that those interested in catching Browns pay close attention to what the Perch are doing.
For instance, if your catching or seeing lots of Perch on your FF then studdenly they seem to be hinding be ready for a Brown to Smack your offerings. I tend to fish the tops of the old tree's and brush for Perch in the Rock Cliff arm. I've caught most of my Browns just after the Perch take a nose drive for the brush. I commonly raise my offering a foot or two above the brush when I supect a brown is on the hunt in the area. (I've caught some real decent Bows at Nellie using the same tactics but they usually come when I suspend my offering over old sage brush in water of 30 feet or less).
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[loanfish]

Good chance I will be there as well. I too am on the prowl for a big brown. If I dont get him on Jordanelle then I may end up venturing to the Provo river.
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