High Water, a Litte Wind, and Hungry Trout

Yesterday afternoon I decided to head out to the Swan River to fish below the dam in the Pacific Park area.  There is some whitewater kayaking that goes on in the stretch of the river so the water levels are often running to high to fish effectively until later in the fall, but I figured I'd give it a shot anyway. When I got to where I could see the river I could tell that it was still quite high, but I held out hope as I walked down to the water, then downstream to a very large "hole" where the water is usually flowing slower than the rest of the river.

When I got downstream I could clearly see that the river wasn't raging too bad in this section, so I tied on an 1/8 oz jig head to do a little drift fishing.  I tipped the jig head with a Berkley Power Nymph and began to drift fish. The first couple of casts felt normal, although I was thinking that I might need a bit more weight to get down to the target area or "bite zone" in these high water levels? 

Within two more casts I felt a small tap and set the hook.  The fish almost immediately began talking drag and I wondered what species of fish I may have hooked.  During this time of year I sometimes catch quite large squaw fish, which can be fun to catch, but are nothing other than very large minnows.  It was fighting quite hard and after about 3 minutes I saw the familiar flash of a rainbow trout. 

Yep, I had hooked a nice Swan River Rainbow, my first of the season, and just hoped I could get her in to take a closer look.  After making a few more nice runs, I was able to cradle the nice 18 or so inch trout in my left hand as I removed the jig from her mouth with my right and softly let her swim off unharmed.  I then made another cast and with 4 drifts hooked another fish.  This one just as heavy as the first, but not fighting nearly as hard.  I quickly realized that it was an 18 inch lake trout and I performed the same maneuver to release this fish as well.  After walking upstream a few feet I hooked another fish, although this one was much smaller than the previous two.  A 10 inch cutthroat was released and my catching of fish was over for the day. 

Although I did get a bite or two more, I didn't hook another fish for the rest of the day, which was strange, but what the hey, that's why they call it fishing, right?  3 different species of trout in a couple of hours fishing.  Not too bad.  Even though all of the fish were caught in the first half an hour of fishing for some strange reason?  I've certainly had better days and without question worse, but all in all a good afternoon on the water, I'd say. 

As The Weather Cools Off The Trout Fishing Is Heating Up. Who Doesnt Love Fall Trout Fishing?

So I headed down to the same are of the Swan River that I fished last week, but this time rather than walking along the bank down to the really big "hole" I decided to wade straight across the river. You see, I know that there is a nice hole on that side of the river as well, which I figured needed a little attention too. And being on my little "mini jig kick" (which I referred to in my last post) you can imagine what my bait of choice was going to be on this particular day.  In case you were wondering, the grainy picture to the right shows you the exact rig.

Once I got across the river and worked my way into casting distance of the hole itself I began to drift fish.After two casts I realized that I needed more weight, so I pinched a single split shot sinker onto my line twelve or so inches above the mini jig.  This did the trick, because I began catching rainbows from 8 to 12 inches every other cast or so.  I even changed my trout worm color to natural and the hungry rainbow didn't mind a bit!  After working my way through the hole I waded down river to the BIG hole.

While the action wasn't as "hot and heavy" as it was upstream I did catch a small trout or two and missed what felt like a very nice one.  I then did exactly what I did the prior week.  I switched from a Powerbait trout worm body to a Powerbait Power Nymph body.  I know, it was just like the prior trip and can you guess what happened? 

Once again within a cast or two I felt the familiar "bump, bump", but then a very heavy pull.  I set the hook and immediately felt the weight of a large fish.  "Oh Jesus", I thought to myself.  I figured that this trout didn't realize that he was hooked because judging by the weight, if he made a run, I was in trouble!  So I kept reeling in slowly and could feel the monster shaking its head back and forth the whole time.  It just wasn't making sense, because a rainbow trout of this weight NEVER behaves like this one was.

I then got the fish close enough to see him and much to my chagrin, it was a lake trout!  A five or six pound lake trout, which on my four foot ultralight rod felt like a monstrosity.  I reeled the big fella in, unhooked him, then sent him on his way.  I then couldn't help but think about was terrible fighters lake trout are!  In hindsight, every one that I have ever caught has been just like this they initially bite, then get hooked, and all but roll over, just waiting to be winched in.  Oh well, it makes for a decent little story and the rainbows made for a nice little day.  All in all a good day on the water without a doubt.

Being Prepared For A Little Fall Trout Fishing

It has been a long, hot, and particularly dry summer here in Northwest Montana and my motivation to get out there chase the trout around has suffered because of it.  My motivation for trout fishing often wanes in the summer time, but this year has seemed particular bad.  That's okay though, because I'm even more excited for the fall, when I know I will be out there on the Swan River catching some nice trout.

As everyone is more than likely aware, the fall of the year is my favorite and most productive time of the year for trout fishing.  There is simply nothing better than standing in the flowing waters of a river when the air is crisp and clean and drift fishing for a rainbow trout or two.  To me personally this is a little bit of heaven.

But, if you want to be successful when fishing for fall trout it's important that you are prepared, and what exactly do I mean by this?   Well, it's pretty  simple really.  First of all it means that you go through your fishing vest and remove any unwanted/unneeded items, as well as stocking up on the items that you know you will be using during your fall trout fishing excursions.

Next and maybe most importantly is the condition of your fishing line.  As you know as trout fishermen we tend to use fishing line that is quite light (often 2 or 4 pound test) and light fishing line becomes worn quite easily and thus needs to be changed.  For this reason I make it a habit to always discard my fishing line and add a fresh spool of line to all of my reels before the fall trout fishing season begins.  Doing this not only makes for easier casts, it also gives you confidence that your line won't fail when you're fighting one of those heavy fall trout!

Keep these simple tips in mind and you will have a much more productive and enjoyable time of the water this fall fishing season.  Remember the more prepared you are the more efficient you will be on the water, which means that you get more time fishing and thus more time catching fall trout.  

Attempting To Catch Rainbow Trout With Mini Jigs In High Water & Wind

The other day my daughter and I headed out to my favorite trout river (The Swan River) in search of some rainbow trout. I knew that the weather had been cold and ugly for a day or two, but figured that since on this particular day we had partly cloudy skies that we would be fine. Before I made my first cast I noticed how high the water was.  Then, as my mini jig sailed through the air I noticed how windy it was.  "This might make for a challenging couple of hours", I thought to myself. 

We were fishing at the base of a small dam, so there was some water that was more than "fish-able", even though the rest of the river was very high and muddy.  And although cloudy, the water and current didn't seem too bad in the area that we chose to fish.  After getting snagged a few times using a 1/16 ounce jig head tipped with a Powerbait floating trout worm, I changed my jig head to a smaller 1/32 ounce which eliminated my getting snagged problem.  The problem with doing this was that it became even more difficult for me to cast my offering into the water with any distance, considering the wind.  Not to mention the fact that the only rod I brought fishing on that day was my 5 foot ultralight rod, which doesn't help either when it comes to casting distance. 

In the meantime my daughter was casting and retrieving a small Panther Martin spinner, which was brightly colored due to the murky water conditions.  Within 15 minutes she had landed a small lake trout.  I realize this might sound strange, a lake trout being in a small river like the Swan River, but be were fishing a couple of hundred yards from Flathead Lake.  And Flathead Lake is renowned for it's lake trout population.  You see, at this time of the year when the river is as high as it is, small lake trout will often run up the river in search of an easy meal.

I kept fishing my mini jig and although I wasn't getting hardly any bites from the area's I could reach with my short fishing rod, I did manage to hook and land a lake trout also.  And mine was quite nice, not by lake trout standards mind you, but by the size of the gear I was using.  The one I caught measured almost 24 inches and was quite heavy.  I would guess 5 or so pounds.

Although the rainbow trout weren't cooperating, at least the lake trout did and all in all it was a decent little day on the water.  And since this particular spot was new to me, I got some good reconisence in for the next time, when I guarantee you I will have my seven foot rod, so that I can cast to the really good looking trout water that I couldn't quite reach on this particular day. 

Beating The Run Off - Catching Early Season Rainbow Trout

At this time of the year, when the trout fishing season is just starting in most areas, if you like to fish for rainbow trout in the flowing water of a river or stream like I do you need to get out on the water sooner, rather than later. What I mean by this is that if you can fish your favorite trout river early in the season, you can beat the run off and normally enjoy some pretty productive trout fishing.

Over the years I have learned that after a long winter of very little fishing pressure and very cold water temperatures, as spring temperatures rise, thus raising the water temperature of the rivers and streams, the rainbow trout that reside in said river will become very active. What this means for ultralight spin fishermen is that there are a couple of weeks of really good trout fishing early in the season, as long as you beat the run off. Once the run off from the mountains turns rivers and streams into "chocolate milk",  catching rainbow trout becomes much more difficult.

So the goal for river and stream fishermen, early in the season needs to be to beat the run off. There is normally a one to three week window where this is possible. In Northwest Montana we are in the throws of this sweet spot right now.The rivers are becoming more and more stained by the day, but the trout are still feeding quite heavily.  In two weeks it will be over, but for now catching early season rainbow trout is as productive as is gets. 

Drift fishing is my technique of choice, whether the bait is a live worm or a Rooster Tail spinner, anytime that I am trout fishing a river and in the early spring.  This technique is a great way of beating the run off and an excellent way to catch some early season rainbow trout.  At this time of the year, don't expect to be fishing in clear water, and remember that stained water isn't a problem.  You should still catch trout, right up until the point that the water starts to look like chocolate milk.  At that point the run off has taken the river and catching trout will become very difficult.

Still Fishing For Rainbow Trout

Although my favorite manner in which to catch a rainbow trout (or any fish for that matter) is while I am standing in the flowing waters of a river, I am by no means a "trout fishing snob" and realize that many a rainbow is caught while fishing in a lake or pond. Make no mistake, in the spring of the year when the rivers and streams in my area become to high and muddy to effectively drift fish you will often find me still fishing for rainbow trout.

Therefore, I figured it was a good idea to outline the personal method that I use to still fish for rainbow

trout. Although the method isn't a state secret or anything, it is nonetheless very effective and should be known by any trout fisherman who enjoys the act of still fishing. So, for those of you who may not know, still fishing refers to the fact that the bait is "sitting still" while you are fishing. In other words a hook is baited and cast into a lake, then the bait is allowed to "sit still" until a inquisitive rainbow trout bites the offering.

The rudimentary picture that you see to the right is the rig that I personally use anytime that I am still fishing for rainbow trout.  It's very simple, but at the same time, very effective.

As far as the best bait to use when you are still fishing for trout, it's hard to go wrong with Berkley Powerbait or Berkley Power Eggs.   Rainbow trout (especially trout that have been stocked) love these baits!  The only difference that I've noticed between the two is that the eggs are easier to deal with and bait a hook with that traditional Powerbait.  Although, if you are using a small treble hook (I suggest #12 or #18) traditional Powerbait is much easier to use, because you can just mold it around your hook creating a small ball of trout bait.

Once you have a rig such as the one pictured above baited up and ready it is cast out and allowed to sink to the bottom.  Once on bottom, the slack line is slowly reeled in and your fishing rod is propped against a stationary object or rested on a forked stick or other rod holder.  At this point, the still fishing begins.

Still fishing for rainbow trout means waiting for a hungry trout to bite your offering.  My general "rule of thumb" is to wait 20-30 minutes and if there haven't been any bites, I reel and and re cast.  If this happens more than 2 times, I change spots.  And just in case you didn't know, when a hungry trout is biting your offering the tip of your rod will begin to bounce, at which time your gently pick up your rod and as soon as you feel weight, set the hook by lifting your rod straight back.

What was just outlined is the way in which I have caught hundreds of rainbow trout over the course of a couple of decades.  Although very simple, the technique is very effective and because it has worked for me, I know it will be very effective for you as well anytime that you feel the need to head out fishing for trout.

Even A Blind Squirrel Finds A Trout Every Now And Then

Since the weather has been warming quite dramatically in recent weeks, even though the past few days have been in the fifties during the daytime, I figured that the run off would make the Swan River all but un-fishable.  But with an afternoon of unproductiveness staring me in the face, I thought to myself, "why not head out and take a look?  Maybe Pacific Park will have area's that can be fished?"  And with that thought, I began to gather my equipment.

Waders and boots, fishing vest with back up gang hooks, Polarized Sunglasses , a bite to eat and I was off.  Within 30 minutes I was at the river and by the grace of God, no one was there (I prefer to fish alone whenever possible).  Withing 45 minutes of thinking the above thought I was standing in the water, basking in the glory that brings me as much peace as any single activity that I can engage in. I'm glad I had the thought and more importantly took the time to act on it!

Within minutes of starting to fish I had a bite and missed the son of a gun.  "It's okay I thought, I'm rusty this early in the season".  Two more casts and a hooked a fish (presumably a rainbow trout?) and as it shook it's head, threw the gang hooks from it's mouth.  I couldn't believe it, because that rarely happens, but oh well, right?  Over the next 15 or so minutes I hooked and lost four more fish, so I moved downstream a bit.

I was fishing the edge of a very large pool, where the water was raging in the center.  The edge was the only place that I could get a good drift and the fish obviously preferred the slower current as well.  Finally, I hooked what felt like a decent little rainbow and this time I could tell I got a good hook set.  I knew the fish wasn't huge, but it's sometimes hard to gauge this early in the year, so I took my time.  Within a minute or so I was admiring a nice, fat, little 12 or so inch rainbow trout before returning her to the water from which she came.  This was a well fed rainbow, that reminded me of one of those little Nerf footballs that I used to have when I was growing up.  Yep, she was a fattie!

The bottom line is that even a blind squirrel like me can find a trout every once in a while. 

Fishing For Rainbow Trout When They Are Spawning

The other day my buddy and I headed out for a little spring trout fishing and quickly discovered that

the rainbow trout that we were fishing for were actively into their spawning routine on the particular lake that we were fishing.  How did we figure this fact out?  It was pretty darn easy seeing as how we could see some nice rainbows not more than 10 feet from shore circling in and around each other.  In fact one of them was actually protecting her bed from any would be evil doers. 

I had no interest in fishing for the trout that I could see, as I assumed they had more pressing business on their minds than eating, but I know from experience that rainbows that have recently spawned are are going to be spawning in the future are usually susceptible to being caught, so I rigged up a drop shot rig and got to work.  After forty minutes or so with nary a nibble, I decided to try a simple technique that had enabled me to catch spawning rainbows in the past, still fishing with eggs.

Eggs are often a good trout bait choice for spawning rainbows, so I figured this would do the trick? Since the bottom of the lake was quite weedy, I rigged up a single # 10 hook with a small egg sinker and a two foot or so leader.  I then baited the hook with a couple of pink Berkley Power Eggs and casted the rig out for a little still fishing.

Although the trout weren't biting like crazy, with a couple of hours I had caught and released a nice seventeen or so inch rainbow trout, fought and lost another that felt the same size, and missed multiple trout that were nibbling at my eggs.  This made me remember the fact that the best bait to use for rainbow trout in and around spawning time are eggs, and although I was using artificial power eggs, I'm sure salmon eggs would have been effective as well.      

Using A "Drop Shot" Rig When Fishing For Rainbow Trout

When fishermen think of the term "drop shotting" their attention almost always turns to bass fishing,

and with good reason.  The drop shot rig is one of the most effective bass fishing rigs of all time.  So if a rig is effective for bass, why couldn't it be used when fishing for other species of fish?  Well, it obviously can, and experienced anglers have been doing so for quite a long time.  I have to admit, although I am an experienced angler, I tend to get "stuck it ruts" when it comes to my fishing, especially when it comes to my favorite species of fish the rainbow trout.

I've always unintentionally followed the premise, "if something works, why try something new?", and as arcane and hard headed as that it, for much of my fishing life (especially in the early days) it's how things were. Then a few years ago a colleague of mine started introducing me to new idea's and the rest was history.  One of these idea's was using a drop shot rig when fishing for rainbow trout.  When I saw him limit out one early afternoon a few years ago, I made sure that I took a mental notes on what it was that he was doing, and soon thereafter drop shot fishing became a part of my trout fishing arsenal.

 I like to a seven or so foot long ultralight fishing rod when I am using drop shot rig for trout.  By using a fishing rod with a little bit of length I am not only able to make longer cast, but it also makes it easier to add action to my worm by simply lightly shaking the tip of the rod.  

Using a drop shot rig when fishing for trout is primarily a "finesse" technique that seems to work best when other trout fishing tactics simply aren't producing. The rig itself is set up like this.  First you will need a 2X or so light wire fishing hook with a turned down eye.  The hook is threaded onto your line at least two feet and then the hook is tied to your line using a Palomar knot.  When you are done with the knot you want to take your tag end of your line and thread the line back through the bottom end of the hook.  The reason for this is to make the hook stick straight out from the line.  Now a simple overhand knot is tied at the bottom of the tag end of your line at the depth you would like your worm to be above the bottom.This knot will act is a "stopper" for the split shot sinker that will now be pinched to the tag end of the tag end as your weight.  This way when you cast your rig out your split shot wont go sailing off into the abyss. Now a floating trout worm is threaded onto your hook about 1/4 of an inch so that it sticks straight out from the hook (not like the worm in the picture above). 

The baited rig is now cast out and allowed to sink to the bottom.  Now reel in the slack line and slowly raise your rod tip, then shake the end of your rod as you reel, and repeat.  Then recast and repeat so that you thoroughly cover the water that you are fishing. You will feel a tap, tap when a trout bites.  You want to work the bait in a straight line back to you as you retrieve and try to keep the slack out of the line as much as possible.  And remember, this is a finesse technique so don't work the rig too fast.  Slower is better when it comes to using a drop shot rig for rainbow trout.

 As you can imagine, drop shotting for trout is most effective in lakes are large pools in a river where there is little to know current flow.  This "finesse" technique is very effective when trout fishing so make sure you add it to your trout fishing repertoire as soon as possible. 

How To Catch Hatchery Trout

In the spring of the year many people's attention turn to the act of fishing and a popular type of fish to target are trout.  In many instances, such as in central Pennsylvania where I grew up, spring trout fishing meant that you were likely going to be targeting a specific type of trout called hatchery trout.  Hatchery trout are just like any other trout, except that rather than being born in the wild they were born and raised in a fish hatchery and then released into the wild to be caught by anglers. 

The bottom line is that hatchery trout usually aren't that difficulty to catch, especially when compared to a trout that was born and survived multiple seasons in a body of water,  but that doesn't mean that you will can catch them no matter what you throw into the water.  Below I will outline what I do to catch hatchery trout so that you can do the same thing.  Believe me this little "how to" lesson certainly couldn't be compared to consistently catching Steelhead or anything else that is known to be difficult, but it is nonetheless effective and will enable you to catch a limit of hatchery trout the next time you head out in search of these fish. 

Let's start with your rod, reel, and line.  For the particular hatchery trout technique that I will outline, "still fishing" is the name of the game, so a fishing rod that is six to seven feet long is in order.  Using a longer rod when fishing form the shore means that you will get a better and more effective hook set.  The rod should also be ultralight power (often indicated by an UL) and I prefer fast action (which means the tip of the rod is pretty "stiff").  A matching reel should then be added to the mix and your reel should be spooled with line that's no heavier than six pound test mono filament.
  
Next there are three pieces of terminal tackle that you are going to need;  a small barrel swivel, an egg sinker, and your choice of trout fishing hook.  You can use a treble hook, a single bait holder fishing hook, salmon egg style hook, or a set of gang hooks.  In the case of your fishing hook choice the only caveat is that your keep your choice small.  In the case of salmon egg, bait holder or gang hooks don't go any larger than size 8 and in the case of treble hooks don't go any larger than size 12.  When it comes to hatchery trout (or most any species of freshwater trout for that matter) remember, the smaller the better when it comes to your fishing hooks.

Now we have  the rigs itself.  Start by taking the end of your line and clipping off a 12-18 inch length of line for a leader and set it aside (the leader will be needed unless you are using gang hooks where this won't be necessary as they are made with the leader attached).  Now slip one egg sinker onto your line and tie a small barrel swivel to the end of your line.  This accomplished two things, it acts as a stopper for the sinker and it helps to prevent line twist by hooked trout.  Finally the leader (or set of gang hooks) is tied to the opposite end of the barrel swivel and your fishing hook of choice is tied to the end of the leader. 

That's your rig, now all you need to do is bait the hook and there is no more productive bait for hatchery trout in my experience than the trout bait known as Powerbait.  Enough Powerbait is molded onto the hook so that the hook is completely covered and you are ready to go.  If you prefer not to mold your bait onto your hook I have found that Powerbait Magnum Eggs are often just as effective (if not not more so) without all of the mess.   This rig is now cast into the water and allowed to sink to the bottom.  The slack line is then slowly reeled in until your line is completely taught.  Now the "still fishing" begins.  When the rod tip starts to bounce a hungry trout is biting your offering. 

Spring Trout Fishing - Drift Fishing With Meal Worms

As winter comes to an end and the spring begins to take over, for me it means one thing (other than
nicer, warmer weather of course) and that one thing is trout fishing.  After the winter where most of my "trout fishing" is done while standing on a frozen lake, I can't wait to get out on the river and do a little drift fishing.  Early in the spring, before the run off kicks into high gear, traditional drift fishing with live worms can be very productive. 

However, once the river levels begin to rise, I have found that another bait is more productive when it comes to catching spring trout, meal worms.  I would imagine that you are familiar with meal worms, but if not, they are the larval form of the meal worm beetle, which is a black beetle that you have no doubt seen before but wasn't aware of what it was.  Well these little alien looking worms are quite effective when it comes to spring trout fishing. 

Meal worms easily fit on a #10 or smaller fishing hook, are quite hearty, and are something that hungry spring trout like to gobble up when they are flowing with the current of the water in which they reside.  Most convenience stores or bait shops will have live meal worms available, but if you can't find them or are squeamish about using them, the  PowerBait Power Honey Worm is a more than viable substitute. As a matter of fact, I have a colleague who prefers the honey worm to a real meal worm anytime that he fishes for trout.

I like to utilize a basic drift fishing rig using # 10 gang hooks a barrel swivel and split shot sinkers when I am drift fishing meal worms, but a single hook can obviously be used if you prefer instead.  I rig a meal worm onto each of the hooks, cast the rig into the river, and proceed to drift fish.  I find that meal worms are most effective when the river is swollen and off color a little bit.  Once the rivers become totally muddy, it becomes harder to get trout to bite, but before and after the heavy spring flow, I'm sure you will find meal worms to be an effective spring trout bait choice.

When drift fishing with meal worms in the springtime, I like to try to use my opposite hand to feel my line as the meal worm drifts downstream.  The bite can often be hard to detect if you don't have a finger (or fingers) in contact with the line.  When a finger is touching the line however, it is much easier to feel subtle bites from hungry trout.  

You've Tried Berkly Power Eggs, Right?

For many years I have been using Berkley Powerbait to catch stocked trout.  There are plenty of posts using Powerbait to catch trout throughout this blog for because this particular trout bait is so darned effective when you are fishing for rainbow trout that have been planted into a body of water.  But the other day I was introduced to another form of Powerbait that for some strange reason had not been on my radar for all of these years?  Actually it's probably due to the fact that because the dough style of Powerbait has always resulted in success, so I had never tried to investigate the situation any further.  You know,  the "path of least resistance" rule?

In any case, due to one of my colleagues (whom I hadn't seen in quite a long time until the other day when we got a chance to wet a line) I am now abundantly aware of Power Eggs and I couldn't be happier. These little buggers are great!  All of the trout attracting power of the Powerbait dough bait that we are all so familiar with, but power eggs have a couple of unique distinctions.  The most important in my estimation is that Power eggs are much more durable and easy to use than the dough style Powerbait. 

Power eggs come in the same variety of colors as the dough style trout bait that we are all so familiar with, but stay on the hook much longer than you are probably used to.  As you are no doubt aware, traditional Powerbait becomes slimy and disintegrates in the water after a period of time (30 or so minutes in my experience) and comes off of the hook fairly easily for a variety of other reasons as well.  Well this is not the case when it comes to the much more durable Power eggs.  These unique fishing eggs stay on the hook, even after multiple bites.  My colleague actually caught 3 trout from 10-13 inches the day we were out fishing, without having to put on a new Power Egg!  I can promise you that nothing like this ever happens when traditional Powerbait is being used as bait.  I mean sure you'll catch trout, but you'll be re baiting after every caught trout.

The bottom line is that if you use dough style Powerbait when fishing for trout, do yourself a favor and give Power eggs a try the next time you head out trout fishing.  You may never buy the dough bait again?  Power eggs are just as effective, without all the hassle of the traditional version of Powerbait. 

Do You Know How To Split Shot A Berkley Trout Worm?

If you are fishing in a lake that contains stocked rainbow trout, a great way to land a grip of  trout is to "split shot" a trout worm.  For many trout fishermen (including myself) the term "trout worm" makes the mind turn to small live worms such as red worms, but in this case live fishing worms are not what I am referring to.  Rather, I am referring to the trout worms that Berkley makes which are impregnated with Powerbait, which as you should be aware is one of the most effective trout baits on the market.  Well, these little four or so inch long floating worms are a great bait to use for rainbow trout that live in a lake.


One of the most effective techniques that I've come across for using Berkley trout worm is called split shotting, and it's as simple a technique as you will find.  The technique is best utilized in a lake that has been stocked with rainbow trout.  You can be fishing from a boat or from shore and because of the way the trout worm is rigged you want to use a fishing rod that may be a bit longer than you are used to?  In many trout fishing scenarios, I prefer a five or so foot long ultralight fishing rod.  Well, when I am split shooting a trout worm, I prefer to use a an ultralight trout rod that's at least six and a half feet long. Why do I do this?  Mainly because using a longer fishing rod, enables me to cast my lightweight trout worm rig much easier. 

Next we have the line that your reel is spooled with.  Make sure that the line that you are using is no heavier than four pound test.  You want to use either two or four pound test line any time that you split shotting a Berkley trout worm.  This means that your line will not only be invisible to the trout, but the lighter line will also aide in your ability to cast the tiny trout worm.

The rig itself starts with a #8 or #10 light wire (or Aberdeen) hook, which is tied to the end of your line.  A single split shot sinker is now pinched to the line two to six feet up the line.  The size of the split shot will vary depending on the depth of the water that you are fishing.  I find the BB size is usually a good starting point.  A Berkley trout worm is now threaded onto your fishing hook.  Make sure that the worm is rigged onto the hook is a completely straight manner with no "kinks" in the worm itself.  This will make sure that the worm achieves the proper "action" in the water. 

 Now cast your split shot rig into the water and allow it to sink to the bottom.  Now slowly reel the worm in, occasionally lightly twitching the tip of your rod as you reel.  Working the trout worm too fast will result in very few bites, so remember the slower you work the work the trout worm the better.  Work the water column, by varying the depth at which you let the worm sink, as you will often find that hungry rainbow trout will be a different depths within the water column. Varying the color of the worm can help as well.  I have found that pink, white, and red are effective colors.

Well, now you know how to split shot a trout worm.  As you begin implementing this simple trout fishing technique I think you will find that is as effective a technique as you will find for catching stocked rainbow trout. 

How To Set Up For Trout Fishing With Powerbait

One of the easiest and most popular ways to catch a rainbow trout or two is by fishing with Powerbait. Powerbait and below I will outline how to set up for trout fishing with this unique type of trout bait. It is a set up that I have used successfully for more than twenty years.

Powerbait is an extruded dough bait that has been specifically designed to attract hungry trout and in my experience is quite effective. Every fishing season rainbow trout that have been raised in hatcheries are then released into waterways throughout the country for the express purpose of being caught by anglers. I have found that these trout are especially susceptible to being caught with the trout bait known as

Although stocked trout (rainbow trout that have been raised in a hatchery environment) definitely aren't the most cunning creatures on the planet, they do share DNA with native rainbow trout and therefore should be treated with some level of respect, even though they often aren't. Let's begin with the fishing line that your fishing reel is spooled with. The biggest mistake that most people make when trout fishing, no matter what type of trout bait they are employing, is to use line that's too heavy. I don't want you to make that mistake, so make sure that the fishing line that your reel is spooled with is no heavier than six pound test, with four or even two pound test being the ideal type of line to use when you are trout fishing with Powerbait.

Next we have the type of trout fishing hooks that are being used. Most people who trout fish with Powerbait opt to use a single treble hook. Others opt to use a single shank fishing hook or a set or gang hooks (which is simply a pair of single shank fishing hooks which have been tied back to back). The key when it comes to the fishing hooks that are used when fishing with Powerbait is that said fishing hooks are small. Single shank hooks should be #10 or smaller and treble hooks should be #12 or smaller.

Next we have the actual set up that will be used when you are fishing for trout. Start by grabbing the end of your line and cutting off a twelve to twenty four inch length of line. This will be your leader (which can be whatever length you prefer) and you can simply set this aside for now. Now slip a small egg sinker onto your line and tie a small barrel swivel to the end of the line. This will act as a 'stopper' for the sinker a well as giving you a place to tie your leader to. Now tie the leader that you just made to the other end of the barrel swivel and your fishing hook to the end of the leader.

You will notice that your set up now has your hook with a sinker that “floats” freely on the line. This is great because when an inquisitive trout bites your Powerbait they will feel no resistance from the sinker, it will be a “direct shot” to your rod tip. The hook is now covered completely with Powerbait and your rig is complete. This is an extremely effective way to set up for trout fishing with Powerbait. The rig is now cast into a lake, allowed to sink to the bottom, and “still” fished until a hungry rainbow trout detects and begins to bite your offering.

Cleveland Ice Fishing Report

And you thought your lake was crowded when you head out ice fishing.  They don't play games in Minnesota when it comes to catching a fish or two through the ice, as you can see in the picture from Cleveland.com.  There are some rainbow trout being caught in and around that city as well, if you're in the area?

New Twist To Use When Ice Fishing For Trout

I have been ice fishing for rainbow trout for many years, using a variety of baits, ice fishing lures, and strategies, but recently I was introduced to a new twist that has enabled be to experience success on virtually

every ice fishing outing that I have used it on.  Admittedly, this may not be a new concept to you, but for some reason it was to me and is an ice fishing strategy that I will use for the rest of my ice fishing "career".

For years, I have been ice fishing by either using a tip ups, jigging with a single ice fishing lure, or a combination of the two approaches.   Well, a couple of weeks ago I was introduced to the concept of ice fishing with multiple lures on a single line and my catch rates have never been the same.  When the guy who I was fishing next to a couple of weeks ago showed me what he was doing I was intrigued to say the least.  Well, the first thing I thought to myself was, "Of course!  Why in God's name haven't you used this strategy before?", but I digress.

 As my new friend told me, "All you have to do is learn to tie a dropper loop and you're good to go."  Now the number of hooks that you can have on each line will vary depending on where you are fishing, but where I ice fish in Montana the regulations say that you are allowed 2 hooks per line.  In some area's you can have up to 4, so make sure that you check your local regulations.

In any case, by tying a dropper loop onto my line about three to four feet above The heavier of the two ice fishing lures that are being used, I'm able to "cover" more of the water column and the results have been strong to moderately strong.  My "go to" lure that I place on my dropper loop has been a bead head nymph (yes the fly) with a maggot or two baited on the hook.  Below the fly I have been using a small marabou jig, that is also tipped with a maggot or meal worm. 

In any case, the rainbow trout have been falling prey to this "new twist" quite a bit this year and I only wish Montana was a state that allowed another hook or two per line.  A dropper loop is so easy to tie that adding another lure or two would be a cinch, but oh well.  I'm just Happy that I discovered (or was introduced to this strategy) and that I have been able to pass it on.  Enjoy!

Ice Fishing For Rainbow Trout? Catch More Trout With This Simple Tip!

In many area's rainbow trout are often stocked (or planted) in waterways suck as lakes and ponds for the

express purpose of being caught by anglers.  Although often overlooked, during winter months when these waterways are covered my four or more inches of ice, ice fishing is a great way to catch these rainbow trout.  The winter months can often become monotonous and doing a little ice fishing is never a bad idea if you want to break up that monotony a little bit.

I have recently come a cross a simple ice fishing tip that has enabled me to experience quite a bit of success this winter ice fishing for rainbow trout.  As a matter of fact a couple of weeks ago I was fortunate enough to catch 5 rainbows, ranging in size from 10 to 17 inches.  If you fish for rainbow trout beneath the ice, this tip is going to be very valuable to you.

The tip involves the use of a new product that I was introduced to at the beginning of this ice fishing season, called the Jawjacker.  Actually it's proper name is the Jawjacker Hook Setter Tip-Up and it's the best piece of ice fishing gear that I've come across in years!  This ingenious little "tip up" is adjustable for rod length, sensitivity, and hook setting power.  What makes it so cool to me is that it is also adjustable to set the hook when even the most sensitive bite occurs (which as we all know often happens when we are ice fishing).  As a matter of fact after using my Jawjacker Hook Setter Tip-Ups about 5 times now, I'm convinced that I have been missing a LOT of bites from inquisitive rainbow trout while ice fishing over the prior 25 or so years. 

Depending on the number of Jawjackers you end up using, another quick tip is to buy a few small bells that can be attached to the tip of you're ice fishing rod.  You know, the rod that you place in the unit itself?  This way when a trout takes your offering, and the rod tip is released, you hear "ring, ring, ring" as the trout pulls against the resistance of your fishing rod.  It ends up being like a traditional tip up, but when you get to the hole you grab your fishing rod, rather than having to just had line the trout in, like I used to.  No more hand lining for me thanks to this simple ice fishing tip!

28 Pound Rainbow Trout? No Joke!

I've landed some nice rainbow trout in my day and I've been to area's where really large rainbows (I'm talking over 10 pounds) are considered "common", but this story from Idaho shows a 28 pound rainbow trout!  I would hope that this trout would have been a state record, if the trout had been kept?  Wow!

Which Trout Bait Is Most Effective When Ice Fishing For Rainbow Trout?

There is no doubt that in many areas during the winter season, ice fishing becomes many anglers only outlet ice fishing for rainbow trout, so in this post I will outline my "top 3" as far as "fishing" is concerned.   I know for sure that this is the case here in Northwest Montana, where I have learned that fishing through the ice is my best bet for landing a few hungry rainbows during the months of January and February.  For me the main question becomes what bait to use while

 The bottom line is that if you want to head out onto your local lake or pond, drill a few holes in the ice, and catch a few rainbows, you should have one (or all) of the following trout baits available to you. For the most parts these 3 baits have almost never let me down when it comes to ice fishing for rainbow trout.

1. Live Meal worms and/or Maggots - Everyone knows that small jigs, both twister tail and marabou style, are an excellent way to land a few rainbow trout when fishing through a hole in the ice. Well, "tipping" said jig with a live meal worm or maggot or two makes the offering that much more enticing to the trout you are attempting to catch. When using an ice fishing jig you want to remember to not "jig" too much. "Less is more" when it comes to moving your jig when fishing for rainbow trout through the ice.  As a matter of fact I will often only "jig" my maggot tipped jig every few minutes or so. 
2. Powerbait Is Effective Under The Ice - Most trout fishermen are aware of the trout bait known as Powerbait, yet many people forget to use this unique bait when ice fishing. Powerbait is quite effective when fished under the ice, whether it is fished by itself on a treble hook, on a set of gang hooks,or even "tipping a jig". The bottom line is that the trout bait known as Powerbait is very effective when used under the ice.
3. Puppet Minnows - North land tackle Puppet Minnows which are jigs with "wings" protruding off of each side are an effective trout bait that can be used when ice fishing.  This unique ice fishing jig will move in a circular motion underneath the hole in the ice as it is "jigged".  The circle that the jig travels through in the water is often much larger than the hole itself.  These jigs can be tipped with a maggots to make them that much more attractive to trout beneath the ice, although the maggots have a tendency to fall off of the hook sometimes. These jigs mimic a bait fish quite well and are many ice fishing rainbow trout anglers "go to" ice fishing lure.

It's impossible to say what the best bait for ice fishing for rainbow trout is, but there is little doubt that the winner could easily be among the aforementioned trout bait choices. As I said before, if you are going to be ice fishing for trout one (or all) of the trout bait choices mentioned above should be in your ice fishing box, bag, or bucket.   

Effective Strategies for Rainbow Trout Fishing Through a Hole in The Ice

During the winter months of December all the way through March in many area's, the most effective way to catch a trout is to head out onto a frozen lake or pond and do a little ice fishing. Although rainbow trout can be caught in rivers during these months, getting them to bite your offering is much more difficult than it is during the warmer months of the year. So, for trout fishermen who want to fish during the winter months, the best chance of landing a trout or three is to do go ice fishing. In this post I will discuss a couple of effective strategies to implement the next time that you head out onto the ice with the intent of catching a few rainbow trout.

The first thing to keep in mind no matter what strategy you are going to employ is that under the ice, is that trout are much more active during the changing light conditions that occur during the early mornings and late evenings than they are at other times of the day. This means that you need to be on the ice early in the morning and/or late into the evening if possible.   During these low light periods rainbow trout are almost always active, and thus the most apt to be feeding (which is what you want anytime that you are fishing).

Many anglers who ice fish for trout fish in water that is much deeper than it needs to be. This was a mistake that I used to be notorious for making when I was fishing for rainbows while ice fishing. The truth is that many times trout, and often large rainbows are caught in very shallow water when ice fishing. This means fishing the shorelines and drilling holes in water that is from two to four feet deep. This shallow water ice fishing strategy is very effective when ice fishing for trout in my experience.  Ice fishing in shallow water means that you are very close to the trout you are fishing for and those trout can (and often do) "spook" easily. So being as quiet as possible on the ice is paramount when employing this strategy.

Another effective thing to do when ice fishing for trout is not to neglect fishing with Powerbait. If you fish for rainbow trout during other seasons you undoubtedly know how productive fishing with Powerbait can be. Well, believe it or not Powerbait is also a great bait to use when ice fishing for trout. Powerbait can be used by itself and rigged on a small treble hook with a split shot or two pinched onto the line to keep it from floating to the surface or can be used to "tip" a small jig, but the bottom line is that  Powerbait is effective even when you are standing on top of the water that you are fishing in.

Finally, there is one of the most popular strategies that there is for fishing for rainbow trout beneath the ice, which is to use a small marabou jig, tipped with a meal worm or maggot for added attraction  Hungry rainbow trout will readily goggle up these little morsels as they cruise around in the freezing water of a winter lake.  I have caught many trout on tiny maggot tipped marabou jigs.  I have found that a key to using this strategy is to not be afraid to let your offering just sit there.  With many ice fishing jigs, the goal is to constantly "jig" the lure up and down, but with marabou tipped jigs, I have found that less is more, so to speak.  I will often just jig my rod once every 5 or even 10 minutes and let the rod sit there motionless in the mean time.  I have found that hungry rainbows will often take the bait when the jig is sitting there doing nothing. 

These simple strategies will help you to experience more success the next time that you head out onto the ice in search of rainbow trout, I guarantee it.  Now bundle up, get out there, and have some fun.