Required fields are marked *, ©2018 Sarasota Fishing Charters | Captain Jim Klopfer | 941-371-1390 | Websites By: 22nd Century Web Services | Web Hosting By: Web Planet Hosting, Most anglers don’t really have a choice as to when they get to fish. Plan the fishing trip according to DNR stocking and weather. However, some anglers prefer brightly painted lures as well. One of my fishing buddies, Kraig Coulter, is the best winter brook trout angler I’ve ever met—he once iced an Incredible Hulk weighing just four ounces shy of nine pounds. The best bait and tactics in the world will not produce if there are no fish around. Not only does the low-pressure tend to make them bite, these are normally the more cloudy and overcast days. As many successful anglers know, if you find the food, you’ll find the fish you’re after. The best brook trout fishing will occur in one to eight feet of water where the bottom of the lake or pond consists largely of rocks and gravel. Then, the angler can move on to put out more tip ups or actively fish a hole with the spinning rod. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. So observes eastern Ontario trout guru Paul Shibata. Anglers often tip the jig with a wax worm or piece of nightcrawler. Most anglers tip the spoon with a small minnow or piece of minnow or even a nightcrawler. However, if it all possible it is best to go ice fishing for brook trout a day or so prior to a front moving through. In locations where ponds freeze over, brook trout may be easiest to catch just after the ice melts, since they will be hungry. We … Working the east side of a lake can extend the early-morning bite as trees will provide shade an hour or two later into the morning. “Fishing Lido Key is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Anglers can read more about ice fishing tackle and gear in this article. If there is one mistake that the novice brook trout angler makes, it is fishing too deep, as he or she would for other species. Most brook trout are caught by anglers ice fishing with live or natural bait. Ideally, these holes will be over weedy flats, shallows with rocky bottom, and the edges of drop-offs in 8 to 10 feet of water. Anglers need to go very light on the line, as the water is quite clear. Lets say you don’t have the best trout lures and you want to use bait instead. Smaller minnows are generally the best choice for anglers ice fishing for brook trout. One nice thing about fishing shallow is that there is less of the water column to probe. There are three types of trout-brown, brook, and rainbow. Now that you know how hook sizing works let’s look at the best hook size for trout. Best bet Turnip, Thrush, and Boys lakes north of Grand Marais are managed with special regulations for trophy brook trout. Brookies spawn just before freeze up and into first ice so his is the time of year we can go out and catch a bunch. There are four factors to take into consideration when fishing for trout. However, anglers should not get carried away with the motions. Now that you have a better idea of when and where to chase tiger trout, let’s take a look at the how. Lots of times I will use a tip up in one hole, and jig in another hole, as around here you are allowed to have two lines while fishing for Brook trout. The tackle required when ice fishing for brook trout is pretty basic. It is best to start out fishing the bait a foot or so above the bottom. The vast majority of anglers ice fishing for brook trout do so using live or natural bait. Take a look at our 7 best ice fishing lures for trout to see what works best for winter fishing. Brook trout seem to be especially active during times that insects are hatching, such as when midges hatch in the spring. Any type of water flowing into the lake, especially with these other features, should equal a great brook trout fishing spot! I usually drill holes in waist-deep water, largely avoiding depths that are over my head. Just before freeze up I hit a little lake and found the brookies doing exactly what they are compelled to do at this time of year. By James Smedley • December 14, 2015 C-3-30DRp. First ice … Top spoons for anglers ice fishing for brook trout include, but are not limited to, the Acme Kastmaster, Sweedish Pimple, and Little Cleo. Ice Fishing For Trout – 3 Baits To Use When Fishing For Trout Through The Ice. While many game fish species tend to move deep in the cold weather, with brook trout it is the opposite. Born in the Black Hills of … Then, the angler can lower down a live minnow and set the tip up so that the minnow hovers just above the tops of the submerged vegetation. These baits are readily available at bait and tackle stores that cater to anglers ice fishing. Your email address will not be published. Since early-morning is generally best, anglers get out there early and drill a dozen to 15 holes in water ranging from a foot deep to 10 feet deep. So if catching trout is your goal and you don’t have time for highfalutin … Anglers ice fishing for brook trout should keep one thing in mind; fish shallow! Brook trout are comfortable in the cold water, therefore forage becomes a primary consideration. As with all fishing, anglers need to check local fishing regulations to make sure they are in compliance. Powerbait. Spoons provide several of these key elements. As is my custom, I would jig one rod for five or 10 minutes, then lay it down, walk over to the second rod and jig it for a similar length of time. If the fish does not come back and bite, the hook should be checked to see if there is still bait. Anglers can then move up in the water column if needed. All trout bait is designed around natural food sources in a trouts environment, or food they were raised on in trout farms. Whenever possible use the type of bait fish that is naturally found in the lake, pond or stream that you are ice-fishing in. Makiplastic Craigi Makiplastic Many ice anglers may be unfamiliar with this lure, but the Craigi has been catching monster lake trout for years. Another factor to take into consideration is water clarity. However, they will generally move a bit deeper and it can be harder to get them to bite. Excellent options for bait when targeting Rainbows are Pink Maggots, Meal Worms, Dew Worms and Corn. When using minnows, keep your tip-ups light so trout feel less resistance and will not be as apt to release the minnow. If the trout were born in a hatchery, there is a very good chance they will attack Powerbait Trout Bait as long as you rig it properly. Using even smaller jigs is fine too, particularly when fishing for brook trout. While jigs are the most popular ice fishing lure, spoons are generally the preferred lure when pursuing brook trout under the ice. Where possible, anglers can team up by trying different baits or lures to see what the fish want that day. Nightcrawlers (worms): These are all readily available at tackle shops that cater to ice fishermen. These baits are readily available at bait and tackle stores that cater to anglers ice fishing. Brook trout are a beautiful fish that feed aggressively under the ice. Therefore, a selection of hooks is required. Anglers looking for action over trophies will do well with the smaller baits. Newell can see high winds in every season so be prepared and dress appropriately. As in all fishing, locating where fish are holding and feeding is of prime importance. your Maine Recreation Land Specialists, Find out what your loan payment will be with our Seller Financing Package, The Best Bait To Use When Ice Fishing For Brook Trout In Maine, East Grace Pond Road, Upper Enchanted, ME. While purists may scoff at it, there can be no doubt that Powerbait Trout Bait is one of the most effective baits ever created for trout. Ramon on May 04, 2019: I have a lot of luck with either mice tails the pink ones and/or dough bait. Also, anglers will sometimes see where the flag pops but the line is not running off the spool. These are not ideal conditions for brook trout or really most other species. The brook trout will already have an appetite for the native … As table fare Conversely, anglers seeking more action would be wise to choose a lake that is more heavily stocked or is known for producing action as opposed to trophies. This way you get to cove the entire water column beneath you. Ice fishing for salmon in the winter can also be quite productive using smelts and other live minnows for … Finding productive water is one of the most vexing aspects of brook trout fishing. We search by truck, snowmobile and snowshoe, chasing the dream of icing a brace of robust speckled trout from the snowy quiet … Bait should be suspended six inches to three feet under the ice and jigs should be given just enough movement to attract the attention of fish. The best live baits for anglers ice fishing for rainbow trout are mealworms, wax worms, spikes, and small live minnows. Once a particular area or depth seems to be producing, it is best to then concentrate on that area or that depth range. A lifeless bait fish may not entice a trout whereas a fluttering lure may do the trick. Since the angler is not actively jigging or fishing the hole, the bait fish will produce all the action. “I caught that fish in a 200-acre lake, in seven feet of water near a beaver lodge along the shore,” says Coulter, who lives in Sault Ste. Many of the power baits work quite well also. Rod, reels and line. Four pound test fluorocarbon line is a good choice. They put out both flash and vibration. DIFFERENT ICE FISHING TROUT BAIT & LURES Selecting the best ice fishing lures for trout isn't hard. Fishing Freaky Frank's freaky worm in combination with these tactics will put more trout on the ice. However anglers targeting a trophy brook trout can use a larger shiner or chub. Top baits include live minnows, nightcrawlers, wax worms, and salmon eggs. The water is very shallow where we are Ice fishing so you can watch the fish take your lure. Dress warm, wear gloves, take a heater, and put time in on the ice. Light wire live bait hooks in sizes from #4 down to #10 will cover most situations. Thanks to Tanya for all the great pics. They can be set up and rigged with a live bait. Ice Fishing for Stocked Brook Trout. Some anglers even increase their odds by adding a sent such as procure to sweeten the bait even further. The key to success when ice fishing for brook trout is understanding their habits. 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. Top baits include live minnows, nightcrawlers, wax worms, and salmon eggs. Case in point: I was ice fishing for lake trout one time in Thunder Bay in Lake Superior, and had augured two holes in the ice about 40 to 50 feet apart. Use a 2-inch, silver-colored “Swedish Pimple” or a small airplane jig to probe the entire water column from bottom to top. When salmon are deep, the best method to catch them is trolling with lead core line or with a downrigger, using copper, gold, or silver lures. There are many different trout baits out there. Brook trout can be caught in the middle of a bright sunny day. “With no pike, muskies, bass or walleye around, the trout can behave aggressively,” he says. Sarasota Fishing Charters | 941-371-1390, Click to shop Amazon for an ice fishing fish finder, Fishing for Striped Bass – Tips, Tackle, and Techniques, Best 6 Topwater Plugs for Saltwater Fishing. They can be especially effective on heavily pressured waters. Doug Rutherford from Canadian Tire in Brooks tells us, “northern pike, walleye, lake whitefish, and rainbow trout fishing are all good at Newell. That is where they do the bulk of their feeding. It is very important to have a lively and frisky bait fish on the hook. At times, anglers will be fishing water so shallow that they will have to raise the height of their tip up. In conclusion, this article on ice fishing for brook trout will help anglers catch more of these beautiful and hard fighting fish! Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources stocks hundreds of lakes in Northern Ontario with brook trout, splake and rainbows. Ice fishing this day we caught over 100 Brook trout. #8 short shank thin wire live bait hooks are a good place to start. Tip ups have the advantage of allowing anglers to fish multiple holes at one time. Another consideration when ice fishing for brook trout is sunlight penetration. Anglers should go light, using a 24 inch to 36 inch light rod with a matching reel. Silver and gold are the most popular finishes. Points that drop off into deeper water, particularly with structure such as submerged weeds, timber, or rock and gravel are other likely fish holding spots. The rod, reel and line you choose obviously depends on your methods of fishing. The vast majority of anglers ice fishing for brook trout do so using live or natural bait. Jigs: Jigs in the 1/64 to 1/8-ounce range (use the appropriate weight for the water depth and conditions) can be tipped with minnows or wax worms when targeting rainbow trout. Live bait is the preferred choice when going ice fishing for brook trout in Maine. Most jig heads are brightly colored and this can help attract a brook trout to the bait. A split shot or two may be required when fishing slightly deeper water. There are many ways to hook a minnow for bait, but for ice fishing, placing the hook through the back, right after the dorsal fin works best… Brook trout are comfortable roaming the shallows around boulders and other cover. Fishing methods. Brook trout, particularly in the shallow clear water, bite best in low light conditions. This works particularly well with wax worms but can be used with nightcrawlers and salmon eggs, too. Here are a few of the best trout bait for ponds. However, some anglers even drop it down to two pound test. Since the window for catching brook trout can be small, anglers need to be flexible and constantly keep moving until fish are located. Your email address will not be published. Spoons are also fairly dense. These shallow areas hold aquatic insects, bait fish, and eggs from fish that have spawned in the fall. This approach works very well when fishing around large boulders and other rocky structure. Make sure to check weather reports because, with warmer temperatures, ice can be thin and dangerous.” Be sure to check ice thickness often. Dead or dying baits do not trigger strikes like active ones do. We’ll cover a well rounded approach to gearing up so … Some anglers even increase their odds by adding a sent such as procure to sweeten the bait even further. Otherwise, the rig will bottom out on the floor of the lake. Most fish will be caught in water less than 10 feet deep. Therefore, anglers should check their baits every 45 minutes or so. However, if it all possible it is best to go ice fishing for brook, Since the majority of brook trout fishing is done in shallow water, the best approach when, Smaller minnows are generally the best choice for anglers, Ice Fishing for Brown Trout, Strategies and Tips, Ice Fishing for Rainbow Trout, Tips and Techniques. The idea of an artificial lure such as a spoon is to excite or aggravate a fish into biting when they are otherwise not in a feeding mood. Some of the better options to attract trout are minnows, live nymph and maggots. In most instances, an 8 inch to 10 inch upward twitch of the rod tip is all that is required. “Mother Nature has also programmed them to be opportunistic.” Shibata, who has iced rainbows and brookies weighing up to seven pounds, uses a 1/16-ounce jig tipped with a three-inch Gulp! Also, adding a little bit of lake water to the bait bucket when arriving on scene will help the minnows not being shocked by a drastic change of water temperature. The best ice-fishing for brook trout and splake is just after winter fishing season opens in January. Since the majority of brook trout fishing is done in shallow water, the best approach when fishing with live bait is generally to use a hook with no weight. The hook is then baited with a salmon egg or two, nightcrawler, or minnow and lowered down through the hole. The type of live bait you should use should be determined by the location of the stream, lake or pond that you are fishing in. There are many effective ice fishing spoons on the market. It is best to hook the minnow in the back, between the tail and dorsal fin. We research, explore and even eaves drop to become enlightened. Trophy brook trout are not easy to catch! A small split shot can be used to get the bait down to the desired depth. The brook trout will feel resistance a drop the bait. Best Brook Trout Ice Fishing in British Columbia Canada. A brook or stream that enters a sandy flat with some gravel or rock bottom would be a prime location. Like most trout, brookies thrive in cold water. SalmonEGGS andShinErS. Fish in depths of less than 10 feet for brook trout, splake may go deeper. As in all other aspects of ice fishing, there is strategy that comes into play when drilling the holes. They will be found cruising the shallows all winter long. Also a combination of jigs, spoons tipped with minnows. Live baits can be presented on a small hook. BEST BAIT FOR TROUT. They were shallow, aggressive and preparing for the spawn. Make sure to always add a piece of bait fish to the jig hook in order to add aroma and scent to the … ”. Jig heads with a small grub body do have their place when ice fishing for brook trout. Wood blocks can be used to accomplish this. Cloudy or unpleasant weather can also be a surprisingly good time to fish for brook trout. Here’s a list of the best. They live in an environment with a lot of food and they don’t grow large by being easy to catch. Tiny ice-fishing jigs tipped with bait are effective. This makes them an excellent choice towards the middle of the day brook trout tend to move to the edge of the flat, point, or weed line. Early and late in the day along with cloudy days are almost always best. Gearing up for tiger trout . Live bait is best when fishing for trout. Anglers can use a small tungsten jig head to present a live bait or salmon egg as well. At times an actively vibrating and flashing spoon will catch fish when live bait is ignored. In fact, there are too many to list. If you've always wanted … In most cases, you should choose bait and lures that are light and small. Small minnows will catch both large and small fish, while large minnows will only catch bigger fish. One of the most popular species of fish to spend time on a frozen lake fishing for are trout and in this article I will outline 3 of the best baits to use when fishing for trout through the ice and some tips for putting said trout bait into action. Brook trout are found in shallow water for one reason; that’s where the food is. Now when fishing for Brook trout I usually use either minnows, jigs, or spoons. Anglers should reset the tip up and then wait a few moments. Not all brook trout lakes or waters are the same. Anglers who understand their habits will have success ice fishing for these terrific game fish! Incoming streams are prime spots to locate brook trout under the ice. A tiny 1/64 ounce brightly colored tungsten jig head with a 1 inch soft plastic grub body may produce when nothing else will. When you fish with Freaky Frank's, fish with confidence, the trout will bite just got to find the school. Most anglers don’t really have a choice as to when they get to fish. 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