ice fishing for big rainbow trout

Selecting the best ice fishing lures for trout isn't hard. Small bait fish are usually found hiding in the weeds or relating to deep structure such as a drop off. Rainbows have an excellent sense of smell; so adding scent onto the lures and bait such as the Pro-Cure Trophy Trout Ice Gel encourages the trout to hold onto the bait for a longer period allowing for a greater hook set. Minnows are the best bait if you’re fishing big rainbows in larger lakes. Tiny jigs can be tipped with waxies or mealworms as well as the head or tail of a minnow. Most modern ice fishing jigs are made of tungsten. The Trout will cruise just off the bottom of these shallow areas searching for the most nutrient rich fertile ranges such as weedy bays and shoals. A good approach for anglers ice fishing for rainbow trout is to start fishing shallow water early and then work deeper as the sun gets higher in the sky. - YouTube As winter progresses, though, usually in February, a midseason lull begins. When fishing for salmon, use live shiners or smelts and set your trap just under the ice (1-2 feet under the ice). On cloudy days, the fish may stay shallow all day. Each year, the Rifle Falls Fish Hatchery dumps between 330,000 and 360,000 rainbow trout into the Dillon Reservoir, many of which are dumped in the fall and make for profitable ice fishing. Here are the nutritional details about this Colorado native fish. The beginning of the season offers some of the best Rainbow Trout fishing as the oxygen levels are still high in the water and the fish are aggressively feeding. BoatsHateMe. It is one of the few times I can look down and see numbers of trout moving through my ice fishing hole making it a … However, sonar machines can be very useful in locating submerged weed beds as well as the structure breaks. Powerbait – Powerbait is an excellent bait for trout, especially if those trout have been planted, which is the case many times with trout in lakes. Ice fishing season is in full swing, ... Anglers at Horsethief can expect good catch rates on small to medium-sized rainbow trout and Kokanee salmon. A 30 inch to 36 inch long rod with light to medium light action (depending on the size of the fish in the lake or river) is all that is required. Most anglers spool the reels up with 4 pound test fluorocarbon line. 6) Be prepared with the right gear for ice fishing. If the fly itself is not heavy enough to reach the bottom, anglers can simply add on a tiny split shot or two. Running around from hole to hole is generally not productive. They put up a great battle on light tackle, often leaping high out of the water. Anglers can read this article on ice fishing tackle and gear to get more information. The water clarity in the winter months is very clear due to the lack of algae blooms in the lake so the trout will notice a well-presented spoon from far distances away. Your email address will not be published. Today, however, let’s talk about my favourite tactic to actually catch the fish: trolling for trout on the ice. Rainbows will relate to shallow water in the winter months, sometimes as shallow as 3 feet under the ice. Trout fishing continues to produce for those willing to bundle up and wear waders. These are all readily available at tackle shops that cater to ice fishermen. In most cases, you should choose bait and lures that are light and small. Rainbows will relate to shallow water in the winter months, sometimes as shallow as 3 feet under the ice. While mobility is the key when chasing down yellow perch, walleye, and other schooling fish, this tactic often proves unsuccessful when pursuing rainbow trout. They are spooky and the activity will often get them off there bite. On cloudy days, the fish may stay shallow all day. Trout love the cold water. On a good day it is not uncommon to land between 10 and 30 browns/rainbows. Areas between 5 feet deep and 10 feet deep are generally best, but every lake is different. Once the winter arrives and the ice begins to form trout will start to move into the shallower waters. Jigging Spoons: Metal vertical jigging spoons are another type of … Sometimes they will come out of nowhere and hammer an aggressive jigged spoon or sometimes they will desire smaller bait with no movement. BROKE MY PB!!! There aren’t many lures on the market that fool trout as well as Leland … The fact that they will often be found very shallow requires a change in tactics. Rainbows like to cruise the ledges adjacent to weeded areas seeking forage. Rainbow trout are fantastic game fish that takes artificial lures, flies, and live bait. Ideally, the transition from the flat to deep water will be steep. Drilling holes approximately 30 to 50 feet away from the drop off ledge. Generally speaking, the best spots to find rainbow trout under the ice are large shallow flats and shoals. This is mostly due to the fact that rainbow trout do not school up and cruise much more than most other game fish in the winter. If ice fishing the great lakes isn’t your thing I run trips inland all winter for pike, walleye and pan fish. Active rainbows, browns, cutthroats, and brookies under the ice classically use the biggest flats available in the 4- to 8-foot range, especially where those flats are adjacent to sharp drops into deep water. When the snow and temperatures start to fall some angler’s fishing season comes to an end, but for many others the hard water fishing seasons is just starting! Tackle used when ice fishing for rainbow trout is pretty basic. The topic of this article is ice fishing for rainbow trout. They also thrive in many reservoirs, where ice-fishing often provides an overlooked opportunity. If you are jigging a small spoon with no luck try switching up your lure to a small baited hook such as a Mack’s Lure Glo Hook size 6 tipped with bait. A 30 inch to 36 inch long rod with light to medium light action (depending on the size of the fish in the lake or river) is all that is required. When it comes to effective ice-fishing presentations, most anglers overlook the fact that rainbows—and brook trout—are the top predators in these smaller backcountry lakes. This material is very dense and results in a very small jig being heavy for its size. Rainbow trout are one of the most popular and recognizable fish in the world! It is not uncommon to catch rainbow trout in shallow water just a couple feet below the ice. I prefer 4 pound test when I know the fish have been hit hard and the biggest fish I will catch is in the 16 inch class. They come in to forage on minnows, small crayfish, aquatic worms, mayfly nymphs that burrow in the sand, and other invertebrates. 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