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by Roy Hawk (Trout Magnet Pro Staff)
"just a guy who likes to fish..."
Summertime trout fishing is a great way to beat the summer’s heat. Trout need a plentiful supply of cold clean water to live and thrive. These cool waters make a great destination for trout fishermen wanting to beat the heat of summer. If you live near mountains you know what I am talking about. In the days before air conditioning folks would leave the cities and escape to the mountains where they would find cool air and mountain streams filled with trout. Not all trout fishermen live near the mountains nor can they easily drive to them for their fishing. Another great alternative to mountain trout fishing are our nation’s tailwater rivers.
A tailwater river is simply a river located below a dam. Most dams release water from the bottom of the lakes they form. These waters are the coldest in the lake and provide miles and miles of coldwater habitat for trout and other cold water fish species. These rivers offer many of the same advantages of cool mountain trout streams for the summertime trout angler. These rivers are filled with cold water that provides cool breezes for the anglers who wade and float these rivers. A great way to beat the summer’s heat! I cannot count the times when I have had to wear long sleeve shirts and pants in the dog days of summer just to stay comfortable on these rivers. The regular supplies of cold water keep the trout healthy and provides great habitat for the trout’s food source to grow. Consequently, the trout found in these rivers are some of the largest you will find. In the southern states we are blessed with many famous tailwater rivers. Taneycomo in Missouri, the White River, Norfolk Tailwater and Little Red River in Arkansas, the Cumberland River in Kentucky, and here in Tennessee we have the Caney Fork, Clinch, Watauga and Holston Rivers just to name a few.
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Trout Magnets are a great way to catch these trout. Whether you wade or float Trout Magnets provide a great way to make your day on the river a successful one. The single most important thing when fishing Trout Magnets is the use of light line. When I speak of light line I am talking about 2 – 4 lb test. 2lb test works especially well in the clear water conditions found on most trout rivers. 4lb test line can be used where conditions warrant or if the water has a bit more color in it. I always attach a 2 foot section of fluorocarbon to serve as an “invisible” leader to my main line. I attach my Trout Magnets to the end of the fluorocarbon using either an improved clinch knot or a Palomar knot. Approximately 12-18 inches above my Trout Magnet I pinch on a BB size split-shot. The split-shot and the Trout Magnet are fished below a small float which is adjusted to the depth of water I am fishing.
The pictures in this article were taken on a recent summer tailwater trip. We started with the traditional gold jig head and pink Trout Magnet combo [always a good combination to start with] then went to black jig head and red Trout Magnet, then tried a couple other combinations, then back to black/red because it produced the best for us that day. Sometimes in the heat of summer I find the trout prefer the black heads. I don’t know why I just know they work! I rotate thru the Trout Magnet colors only when the catching slows or to adjust to changing water conditions.
In addition to head/body colors, water release flow is critical to a successful tailwater trip. You can check with local fly and tackle shops to see what they prefer on the tailwater you want to fish. Some tailwaters fish best with only one unit releasing water others with more. This varies depending upon the size of the tailwater. Something less than full generation is probably going to be best. Try fishing the banks and any troughs (i.e., deeper areas between ledges) out toward mid-channel that form in the river. Also, be sure to check the depth of the water you are fishing and adjust your float so that the Trout Magnet is just a few inches off the bottom. Tailwaters depths can vary greatly, especially if you are floating them.
I hope these tips will help you catch more and better trout the next time you go trout fishing. The next time you want to catch trout in the summertime be sure to search out one of our nation’s tailwater rivers. You might just land the largest trout of your life..!
Note: Always check the generation schedules for the dams you fish below. The waters in these rivers can rise rapidly without warning and you don’t want to get caught in a dangerous situation.
Trout Magnets
“If you are not fishing the system, then you are just casting”
