Rainbow Trout in Lakes

[jjf]

Where & how should I fish rainbows in lakes during early spring. DOW, bait, lures, techniques Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[Kodiakman]

In the lake I fish, I prefer a small minnow under a slip bobber fished about 18" of bottom.  I like to look for some kind of protected structure such as a point, pocket or cove that could funnel or hold fish.  I'll start out ancored in 6-10 FOW and gradually move out to deeper water (30FOW at the most in the lake I fish, might be different depending on your lake) if not marking or catching anything.  If you have a Flasher or Fishfinder keep an eye on it and if you see a school come in suspended about half way just raise your bait up to their level.  I could be a school of rainbows cruising the shoreline or it could be crappie or something else (Bonus Fish!).

BTW, check your states regulations, some places don't allow live bait or baitfish on certain waters, if at all.

[Hookset]

I usually fish along the most significant drop-offs that slope to the main basin of the lake.  I rely on spoons more than live bait, particulary the Cleo in silver or gold, rainbow pattern or brown trout pattern.  Many folks use Kastmaster Krokodiles, but I have had little luck with them, personally.  This fish was 22 inches long and was taken on a Cleo in rainbow(1/4 oz, I think it was a size 4).  I believe this was the 2nd week in April of 2005, up in the Minerva area.

[adkRoy]

Beautiful fish Hookset. I like to hike the Minerva area. Some great backwoods lakes and ponds in that area.

[bigredfishing]

For casting, I am a big spinner fan.  I've found that rainbows and other trout species absolutely love spinners.  In lakes, they particularly seem to like rooster tails in 1/8 and 1/4 oz.  White and the rainbow trout color seem to produce the best, but yellow and the chrome body/red tail color are also great at other times.  I like to cover as much water as possible, staying moving, and making a cast every few steps.  I don't usually sit on one area unless I am convinced there is active trout moving through the area.  I work them by casting out as far as possible, and reeling in just fast enough to keep the blade turning.  Throughout the day I am constantly experimenting with counting the lure down to different depths before starting the retrieve, and also I like to throw a few random jigs and jerks in there.  

Another good casting technique is throwing flies.  I have had some fun days for smaller bows casting #10 woolly buggers in small ponds and lakes.  At times they will take hopper flies right off the surface.

For trolling up bows, I use two different presentations.  The first is called a "Christmas Tree" and is also known as "cowbells".  It is basically a long wire with many spinner blades on it.   At the end of the rig, I put a 12"-20" mono leader with a #6 SHARP baitholder hook, and use a small piece of worm on there.    The problem with Christmas trees is that they pull so hard, there isn't much of a fight with the fish.  I prefer to use lake clear wobblers.  They are basically a small flasher.  I fish the wobbler with the same leader as the Christmas tree.

I experiment with speed and depths throughout the day, as the fish's preference shows definite changes as the day progresses (unless its a cold rain, then fish fast and right under the surface )

[reelbigfish]

We have one local lake that is stocked with rainbow trout and you can fish it yearround.  The fish aren't as big as the ones in Ca and bigger presentations don't
work real well.  In around 30' of water the catchable fish are around 5' to 10' down
following schools of shad swimming just under the surface.  A plain leadhead ball jig
with a minnow works.  Sometimes we use corn for chum and kernels on a treble hook.
For casting I like a medium size Mepps spinner with some red on it and like Big Red
says reel just fast enough to spin the blades.  I've trolled with downriggers on this lake and found that the fish didn't put up much of a fight.  I'd rather vertical jig over the side of the boat.  We also do well on bows at night.

[jjf]

When do the bows spawn? I thought it was during the spring but I'm not quite sure

[big big rdg]

I always use powereggs fish a foot or 2 off the bottom and do fairly well with that. I never get anything on hardware so I stick strictly to powereggs.

[WANNAKETCHUM]

OK, so I know this may get moved to the trolling board, but...I'm considering buying some of the "mini" Dipsy divers and/or "Jet" divers to try on some of the stocked Trout lakes here at home. I would like to know if they would work well enough at the speeds you could expect from a 34 lb. thrust trolling motor pushing a 12 ft. aluminum boat. I'm talking about stuff that will dive to about 30-40 ft. using medium light tackle. any comments/suggestions? Rod lengths, reel, line, lures, etc. etc.....WK

[bigfish1556]

rainbows are indeed spring spawners.....I've seen oh, just a few in some unnamed finger lakes (ny) tributaries in the last couple of weeks   Still catching "green" fish in the lakes themselves that aren't quite ripe and ready to spawn yet..... We fish from shore and catch them mostly on flats near drops, with bait (usually worms or powerbait) suspended about 18-36" off bottom.

[WANNAKETCHUM]

bigfish1556...I understand that's a pretty common method especially at Skaneateles lake....Do you fish your baits under a slipfloat? You mentioned suspending your baits about 18-36"......WK