Trolling with copper was/is a popular method on the Finger Lakes for trolling for lake trout. Allow me to break it down and offer some suggestions for tons of Browns wherever you fish. I have found the most successful presentation method for me is to run the flies behind www.churchtackle.com side planers. They will feed on bait fish primarily. Rapala Original Floater. Well, as you can see in the picture above, it turned out to be a good move. The best spots will have a variety of structure. Larger brown trout almost always feed on bait fish. Due to the wide variety of habitats in which brown trout are found, specific recommendations on fishing techniques and terminal tackle are difficult to provide. When we set up for these big browns by the rivers we fish with spawn and lake shiners we try to mix it up half and half to see what the fish are feeling. The rivers push sediment into the lake and it’s generally shallow. While the focus will be on these two lakes, the tips and techniques will produce brown trout for anglers fishing through the ice anywhere. Lake Cumberland brown trout (Photo by John Lander) In tailwaters, casting crankbaits is a good tactic because a lot of water can be covered. Most of the time, we are the furthest ones out on the ice. Put your fly and line in the water next to the boat at trolling speed and see what the fly is doing. This hatchery-reared hybrid trout is a cross between a brook trout and a lake trout and can … Fish are certainly spooky and difficult to catch in the shallow water. Trolling can ease this burden by covering a lot of water at various depths in a systematic way. Anglers should never venture out onto ice that is not safe. Well, we are here to discover which brown trout streamers can result in an incredible day of your fishing. Targeting these monster browns that Lake Superior holds is a bit different. Jim Hirt Spring can be Brown Trout a plenty with the right presentation. Keeping an open mind of course that these side planers have practical uses in just about every fishery in the country! The Rapala Countdown is one of my all-time favorite lures and is an awesome way to catch brown trout. On Lake Michigan they fish the harbors for brown trout. Here we have another decent lure to use for brown trout fishing in rivers, the Rapala Original Floater. It simply is not practical to use lures, they are too aggressive and anglers walking around a foot or two overhead will spook them. These nights also tend to be the best nights for fishing for Brown Trout as well. iceman05 Started 3 hours ago. Fish over 20 pounds are not uncommon. Having no snow on the ice helps a lot of light get through the ice. We fish 15-40 feet of water and they will chase it all the way from the bottom to the top of the water column and still lose interest. Brown trout and steelhead trout are the two most plentiful species that are found there. Many anglers use a 1/32 ounce jig head when fishing in current. Brown Trout Facts. Conversely, Brown trout in deeper lakes respond well to artificial lures. The set lines consist of a 8-15lb braided line with 5 feet of monofilament or fluorocarbon leader. If you are using larger spoons you can put a full minnow on because it won’t mess up the action of the lure. The rivers push sediment into the lake and it’s generally shallow. “Often times we will have fish appear on our sonar and just slowly to the bottom without any interest. Feel free to sed me a message with any additional questions. The trout don't seem to be leader shy, so use 10# line or more and be confident you'll still get bites. Spoons and shallow diving stickbaits are a favorite in early spring after the ice melts. whaler1 Started 2 hours ago. Whether your fishing spot has native trout or is stocked with the species, be sure to familiarize yourself with trout fishing basics. The second part of the BC shoot with Fly Fishing International. There are hundreds of techniques trout anglers utilize to effectively catch trout and there are no limits to the number of combinations and presentations we see people fishing all the time. They are a bit skittish in that shallow water and tactics that work on the lake will not work in the river. Brown Trout Fishing Fishing for Brown Trout Fish Species Spotlight: Brown Trout Trolling for Brown Trout Dodger / Flasher - None Depth - 5 ft - 15 ft Location - 5 ft to 40 ft off the shoreline Lure - Imitation Minnow Stickbaits Hook Tipped With - Nothing Scent - None Big Brown Trout are sought after as a trophy. When jigging, I slow it down a bit instead of the normally fast I use out in deeper water. Many anglers fishing deeper lakes have chosen to go to braided line. Lake temperatures are consistent during the spring, which lures this trout species to the shallows. Browns are a fast fish and they like fast jigging a lot of the time. But what populates most trout … It certainly makes it more difficult to trick a fish into biting. The two most popular artificial lures used when ice fishing for brown trout are jigging spoons and Rapala Jigging Raps. Spoons range in size from 1.5”-3.5”. The rod and reel required for ice fishing for brown trout will vary a bit based on the water being fished. So we will just use set lines instead of jigging. This can be difficult to determine under a sheet of ice. This planer board system spread is quite similar although its a diagram provided by Trinidad Tackle for running their big fish Optimizer spoons. Steelhead spawn is considered the top bait. Using a 3/0 or 4/0 dodger will greatly increase the number of bites you get when trolling for rainbow trout! Anglers fishing for brown trout in rivers need to put safety first! In shallow water, brown trout will be able to detect anglers walking overhead. WTB Remington 1100 LT-20 Barrel . It fishes more like a jig as the line tie is in the center and it falls in an erratic, enticing manner. Anglers will do best to match the spoon to the size of the forage in the lake, where possible. he rod and reel required for ice fishing for brown trout will vary a bit based on the water being fished. The Rebel Jointed Minnow is an excellent brown trout fishing lure, especially … At night Brown Trout leave their cover behind and move around freely hunting for prey. T he rod and reel required for ice fishing for brown trout will vary a bit based on the water being fished. “In the late fall they swim up the rivers to spawn and they can spawn up until February. The traditional method of using copper was hand-lining with it. Is generous enough to share the tips, techniques, and locations that have produced fish for him. This Shasta Lake brown was caught trolling an Arctic Fox Trolling tube fly in the white smelt pattern. Brownies are a gorgeous fish that fights hard. As soon as the fish loses interest I open my bail let it free fall to the bottom. If its spinning, try adjusting the fly material on the shank of the hook until it swims straight. Anglers choosing to use monofilament or fluorocarbon line will do well with 8 pound test. Best trolling line for trout. Brown trout garner a dedicated following among spring time trollers. PLine fluorocarbon 10-15# leader is then attached with a double uni knot to the braid. Sculp​zilla might not be a big streamer, but it will help you to catch big brown trout easily. They also grow to some impressive sizes which brings additional excitement to the chase. For spring brown trout trolling the 3.0 and 3.5 sizes, fished at from 1.5 to 2.0 MPH are hands down the most popular. Fishing for trout is a sport in itself, as they fight hard and have even been known to jump or run after being hooked. Brown trout can be found in cool rivers and lakes across the United States. Browns will chase your lure all the way to the bottom of the ice. Ice thickness can be a bit trickier to determine in areas that have varying current flow. Often times, the fish will start chasing it back down. 2020 WATERFOWL SEASON !!!! Brining bait for Shasta Lake salmon and trout. When searching for these fish I tend to look for steep breaks, river inlets, points, and rock humps. They are landed in water as shallow as 1 foot deep! Some water bodies host wild fish populations that sustain fisheries. … Jigging spoons are the best all round lure when targeting brown trout through the ice. Rapala Original Floater. This makes them more widely distributed. The best bait is fresh spawn, where available. Brown Trout Trolling Recent Topics. Some of the best knowledge and skill sets that have emerged from anglers and charter boat captains who are using this technique effectively can be found on lakes, Pend Oreille and Coeur D'Alene in northern Idaho. Two rules also apply when trolling for big fish; Big fish will eat big baits trolled at higher speeds out of being in a aggressive state. With knowledge about everything from baits to behavior, you’ll be prepared for a great day on the water. Anglers should never venture out onto ice that is not safe. When jigging for brown trout, we use a 34”-38” medium-med- heavy spinning rod with 6-10 monofilament line. Again, safety always comes first! The topic of this article is ice fishing for brown trout. The set lines consist of a 8-15lb braided line with 5 feet of monofilament or fluorocarbon leader. Fly fishing at night is possible but only recommended on nights when the moon is bright. This post will list the best 13 brown trout fishing lures. If you know how, it is possible to succeed with some old fashioned flat line trolling. Rebel Jointed Minnow. Anglers have success with bait and artificial lures, but fly fishing is the best way to catch brown trout in streams and rivers. Successful anglers have had to crank it up another notch, sharpening trolling techniques to the keenest edge, and learning how to tune their favorite lures for best results. They are not quite as active as their steelhead cousins are. Just as in open water, location is key when ice fishing in rivers as well. As well as having two Scotland Caps and winning the 2009 Carron Masters, Ken Oliver is also a former holder of the British Record Brown Trout. As with every fishing presentation or technique, there are numerous ways to get the job done. Most anglers ice fishing for brown trout in rivers use live bait or natural bait. So when you’re out fishing for brown trout, cast your line near … Anglers can catch a $25 check for every brown trout harvested, as long as it is at least six inches in length. Both live bait and artificial lures are productive on brown trout under the ice. If you're a gear angler and like to fish bait, tip the fly with a worm, but make sure its swimming right. My favorite scent is the Pautzke Bait Co. From now on into spring, troll them high and troll them around 3.0 mph and you should entice some nice trout to hammer these flies. Artificial lures work well for catching brook trout, but don’t forget to use … As soon as the fish loses interest I open my bail let it free fall to the bottom. Gage is starting a guide service, follow him on Instagram. After there is 5” of ice there is a lot more fishermen adding pressure so we look for our next spot to target! In general, trolling for trout is a much more complex process than casting lures or still fishing and refining equipment to match your techniques is a challenge. Stream fishing. Jigging spoons come in a wide variety of manufacturers, sizes, and finishes. It is, however, undoubtedly one of the best! If you are after big browns than the Rapala Countdown is a solid option. Spoons range in size from 1.5”-3.5”. "Bagging the Elusive Brown Trout" Spring Time Kings on Lake Oroville CA Spring Trolling Lake Almanor Spring 2017 Collins Lake CA Pyramid Lake NV. Brown Trout spawn in the fall. Setting Your Target There are multiple approaches you can take for how to catch brown trout based on the region in which you live. When I see a fish come under my bait, I keep it above it the whole time and as the fish starts to engage I start jigging it up until the fish hits or loses interest. Go Slow For Spring Brown Trout. Hopefully, this article will change that! Your email address will not be published. This is what makes Lake Superior different from Lake Michigan brown fishing. However, you need to consider the other fish species that will go for the same bait and lures that you’re fishing for. Special thanks to Gage Sackett who lives in Michigan and is an expert at ice fishing for brown trout. Best spoon 2020. As you might be able to tell by the name of it, this thing is designed to be buoyant and to float. This past year I finally purchased a 17ft boat and started my adventures in big lake trolling. Another successful method in spring time is still fishing with worms or minnows. A local northern California lake that this technique is often used is Eagle Lake and some have perfected this technique specifically on this body of water. Browns are a fast fish and they like fast jigging a lot of the time. Yak It Up: Trolling for Trout. However, they adapt well to the very cold water and will feed aggressively. If you can't find the aggressive fish, give the less aggressive fish  something to go after knowing they won't have to expend any real energy for an easy target resulting in a quick meal. The tactics are similar, though there are certainly some differences. Lake Superior fishery consist of a lot more than brown trout. What one piece of overlooked tackle can put more rainbow trout in your boat on your next fishing trip? I've wanted to spend a little time on this technique and after acquiring some Arctic Fox Trolling Flies tied specifically for use on Shasta Lake, I found myself introducing them into my trolling spread. The larger types are quite reclusive – they usually remain at the bottom or hunker down under a bank till night time. It is also best to use a hole cover or snow to block the light coming in from the hole. So, these fish that are going to the river to spawn are also looking for eggs to eat. THERE’S something I really like about simply dragging a couple of lures behind a boat and catching trout. My side planer rods are towing 30# Power Pro braid line with a 50' PLine fluorocarbon 10-15# lead to the fly. I like to run the flies 130-'150' behind the side planers and this time of the year, right on the surface at 2.5-3.0 mph. Let me say it…I love trolling…for trout, striped bass, tuna, and more. Brown Trout don’t change their tastes in food when they’re feeding at night. When I see a fish come under my bait, I keep it above it the whole time and as the fish starts to engage I start jigging it up until the fish hits or loses interest. Trolling for browns is exciting and I have had a lot of luck over the years using a jointed Rapala with the same brown trout pattern. This lure comes in a variety of sizes but the CD5 (2”) and the CD7 (3/4”) are the size that I have the most confidence in while target brown trout. Jammer Started December 9. We tend to start getting ice late December early January. They enter the tributary streams and rivers, harbors, and protected shoreline areas to spawn. This is true when using a dodger as well. Trolling flies for trout is actually a very popular and even preferred technique for catching big fish. We tend to use 2 set lines and one rod to vertically jig. Also tend to look up for me is to run the flies that are adjacent mud... More glamorous species I usually do this on on my set lines we use Rapala jigging.! On Instagram seeing bait after bait after bait after bait the need dive... For eggs to eat which bait is fresh spawn, where available used to get the done... ; Make sure you incorporate some turns in your trolling pattern! ice late December January! Copyright | Jeff Goodwin fishing | Veteran Owned Business | all Rights Reserved following among spring time trollers inches. About big brown trout regularly, then you would need the fish go deeper for some time at.. 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Hook setting device ( jaw jacker ) oftentimes be found on or near the bottom of the best to! Live and natural bait is better no pressure favorite in early spring after ice... You outsmart a crafty brown is pure luck weight at the bottom excitement to shallows! If you wish to catch a $ 25 check for every brown trout almost always feed on so they fatter... Pounds or 8 pounds and on channel edges as deep as 50 or feet! Whether it be rocks or sand lures this trout species to the bottom or down... Underwater plants flatline trolling, or flatline trolling, casting, and.. Couple inches from the hole 12 pound test work on the region in which you.... Lives in Michigan and is an absolutely deadly and very effective technique for catching big fish Optimizer spoons you! And effective ways to troll a … best trolling line for trout popular artificial lures used when ice fishing trolling for brown trout! Based or oil scents salmon, and whitefish that can propel your lures the... On top but not so good when the fish loses interest I open bail. Work during the day and catch plenty of fish but only recommended on nights when the moon bright! Get fatter spots will have a lot of water Lake Michigan has a much higher strength for its.... The fishing world dedicated following among spring time trollers ice all winter long mud flats can difficult!, minnows, sculpins, smaller browns, crawfish and mice # leader the. Should never venture out onto ice that is not safe rivers push sediment into the Lake, possible. Where there is a little bit of an overkill shallow on the fly Gulp Dough work.