Early Season trout Tactics

[AJ Agnor]

Hey guys, what are the best ways to go after trout in ponds/lakes right after the ice melts? Will they go after the rooster tails? Any specific colors? Worms/powerbaits/mealies?

[fishgalore]

Hey guys, what are the best ways to go after trout in ponds/lakes right after the ice melts? Will they go after the rooster tails? Any specific colors? Worms/powerbaits/mealies?

I can't really speak from experience but I would think that it's similar to other times of the year. Try different things until you find what works. It seems though that at the present everything and everywhere is hot fishing. 

[fishgalore]

Hey guys, what are the best ways to go after trout in ponds/lakes right after the ice melts? Will they go after the rooster tails? Any specific colors? Worms/powerbaits/mealies?

A couple were had on rapala's (16" & 18 1/2") while no flies worked in the stream. Caddis, spinner (mayfly), prince, stonefly, etc.. However also heard that the week before the San Juan worm had a banner day when nothing else would work. 6 trout over 20" each on the San Juan in flood waters.

http://www.west-fly-fishing.com/fly-pattern-recipe/wet/sanjuanworm.shtml

[Simplecarppieguy]

Salted minnows or live.

[fishgalore]

Salted minnows or live.

??  It's a conservation stretch of the river so no live bait, worms, powerbait, etc... is allowed to even be in possession. Artificial only!!

AJ really asked about ponds or lakes and my recent response was a river or stream. But the rapalas will work in ponds or lakes too!

[thedude42]

White roster tails!    they seem to work

[ratso]

Phoebe's, small and next size up. Gold, silver, bronze/copper, painted and the ones with the blue and green  stripes. Spinners and tiny Rap's / minnow plugs. Troll until the batteries go flat. Of course this is for lakes only, don't know how to stream fish.