02/01/2000
- Article
Tackling
Trout
By
Scott King
The pastime is affectionately called
"Trootin'" (rhymes with shooting and said in any type of
snobbish manner) and the first day of Trootin' is awaited like deer,
duck, and walleye openers to some diehards.
These diehards may be yuppie fly anglers who relish trout for
their visual appeal, or redneck limit-takers who are simply out for
a meal. You may fall in
the middle, as stream trout are a magnificent fish that can be
appreciated for their fighting ability, table fare, and their
cosmetic attributes. In
many circles the winter ice opener for our lake's stream trout is an
event to behold. Crowds
of trout anglers emerge upon the frozen surfaces of lakes known to
produce trout, especially lakes managed specifically for these fish.
The Department of Natural Resources is very kind to the
trout-fishing public. Not
only does the DNR release fish to be harvested in the Great Lakes
and streams throughout the state, but they also place some in
colder, smaller, and cleaner lakes, which are able to sustain trout.
On some of these waters, trout are released just a week or so
before the opener (usually the second Saturday in January), and
these hatchery fish are incredibly easy to catch.
However, weather conditions and fishing pressure can put a
twist on your trout catching ability.
By understanding a few of the tendencies of stream trout in
lakes you can up your odds and stay on top of these marvelous fish.
On Fire or Out Like a Light
Typically, we see the behavior of the
trout in our lakes as either very positive or very negative.
Rainbow trout, brookies, and browns all display these
tendencies. If active, the angler will see fish, catch fish, and stay on
top of hungry biting trout until conditions change. If inactive, trout anglers take to swearing.
The fish are obviously somewhere doing something, but they're
eluding you. The
reason--trout are always on the move.
So, even if the trout are "shut down", they may be
active somewhere else in the lake.
It's just like any other type of freshwater fishing, but the
swing from catchable to un-catchable is more pronounced.
Usually, the deep water that allows trout to survive summer
heat becomes the retreat. Big
open basins are intimidating for many anglers, and the movement away
from the edge is often left for another day.
Active trout cruise the edges or
primary drop-offs of a lake, and they do so at a velocity much
greater than walleyes, pike, or crappies. Before the sun reaches the
treetops in the morning, pods of trout are found on the shelves
above breaks in water as shallow as a few feet deep.
This is where you concentrate your efforts early and late in
the day--low light periods. The fish are less spooky, and they will
be actively searching for anything that is suspended in front of
them.
Depending on the water clarity of the
particular system you intend to fish, sight fishing for the active
trout may be an option. In clear water, you can see approaching fish lock-in on your
bait. By teasing the
fish with a little jigging you may interest the trout or turn it
off. Fishing visually allows you to judge the effect your
presentations have on trout. More
or less aggression from the angler's motions can determine if a
trout will commit to eating. As
the day progresses, move further out to the drops, and begin
refining your tactics.
Trootin' Necessities
Rods and reels for taking trout
through the ice are similar to the combos you may use for perch
jerkin'. Because perch
sized jigging lures are the order of the day to hold bait in a
trout's face, we leave the sunfish tackle at home.
Also, you must be confident that one- to three pound trout
are the target, so appropriate tackle to ice a fish of this size is
essential. Line
strength is an interesting point to consider when winter trout
fishing. Many anglers
rig rods with a two or four pound line, correctly assuming that
trout are visually acute. Clear
line is certainly a must, but if you feel you need heavier line than
four pound test, I would suggest spooling up with one of the quality
fluorocarbon lines on the market.
These lines are nearly invisible in the water and should
prove to be a winter trout-fishing staple. Lures are the
experimental factor that must be toyed with after the morning sun
rises. Small (not
micro) jigs such as the System Tackle Fat Boy, larger Marmooska, and
mid-sized Ron's Jigs are perfect for holding larvae, Berkley Trout
Nuggets, corn, or a minnow if legal.
Trout Nuggets in a brown color can be particularly effective
for trout recently released from the hatchery.
This bait closely represents the food source that the trout
have been raised on, and they should have no reservations about
eating it once encountered. Another
must-have is a quality electronic flasher for finding roaming fish
in deeper or dirtier water. You'll
save yourself many hours once the sight fishing has ended for the
day.
Trout Reminders
Always remember that trout are
constantly on the move and you should be moving as well if the fish
are not coming up through the hole.
Lakes throughout Minnesota are managed for these fish.
Some lakes hold different species, as well as different year
and size classes. Some of the more popular lakes in the Twin Cities Metro area
are Square Lake, Cenaiko Pond, Chaska’s Courthouse Pond, and Lac
Lavon. These fisheries
can sustain winter fishing pressure and still put out fish because
of stocking. Be sure to purchase a trout stamp, and pay attention to
special trout regulations that may or may not exist on each of the
lakes you fish. |
