Use a 2-inch, silver-colored “Swedish Pimple” or a small airplane jig to probe the entire water column from bottom to top. A split shot or two may be required when fishing slightly deeper water. 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. ”. Then, the angler can move on to put out more tip ups or actively fish a hole with the spinning rod. In locations where ponds freeze over, brook trout may be easiest to catch just after the ice melts, since they will be hungry. A good approach is to set a bait like a night crawler or something similar at about 2 or 3 feet below the ice and then you can actively jig at varying depths from 3 feet down. Make sure to always add a piece of bait fish to the jig hook in order to add aroma and scent to the … As many successful anglers know, if you find the food, you’ll find the fish you’re after. The brook trout will already have an appetite for the native … Now that you have a better idea of when and where to chase tiger trout, let’s take a look at the how. 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. Since the angler is not actively jigging or fishing the hole, the bait fish will produce all the action. Doug Rutherford from Canadian Tire in Brooks tells us, “northern pike, walleye, lake whitefish, and rainbow trout fishing are all good at Newell. Cloudy or unpleasant weather can also be a surprisingly good time to fish for brook trout. First ice is upon us and all I have is thoughts of going brook trout fishing. They live in an environment with a lot of food and they don’t grow large by being easy to catch. Since the window for catching brook trout can be small, anglers need to be flexible and constantly keep moving until fish are located. While jigs are the most popular ice fishing lure, spoons are generally the preferred lure when pursuing brook trout under the ice. This way you get to cove the entire water column beneath you. Where possible, anglers can team up by trying different baits or lures to see what the fish want that day. Some anglers even increase their odds by adding a sent such as procure to sweeten the bait even further. 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. Makiplastic Craigi Makiplastic Many ice anglers may be unfamiliar with this lure, but the Craigi has been catching monster lake trout for years. Live bait is best when fishing for trout. 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. 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. They put out both flash and vibration. Once a particular area or depth seems to be producing, it is best to then concentrate on that area or that depth range. This can be easier to do with the tip up than with a fishing rod. Some anglers even increase their odds by adding a sent such as procure to sweeten the bait even further. Spoons provide several of these key elements. They can be especially effective on heavily pressured waters. 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. This works particularly well with wax worms but can be used with nightcrawlers and salmon eggs, too. The vast majority of anglers ice fishing for brook trout do so using live or natural bait. Trophy brook trout are not easy to catch! This approach works very well when fishing around large boulders and other rocky structure. A surprising number of aquatic insects, small baitfish and eggs from fall-spawning fish that may have been washed into the lake are all available for brook trout to feed on. The vast majority of anglers ice fishing for brook trout do so using live or natural bait. 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. A lifeless bait fish may not entice a trout whereas a fluttering lure may do the trick. The key to success when ice fishing for brook trout is understanding their habits. It is best fished very subtly with his lighted line as possible. Silver and gold are the most popular finishes. One excellent strategy is to set tip ups over submerged weed beds. Brook trout are a beautiful fish that feed aggressively under the ice. Most jig heads are brightly colored and this can help attract a brook trout to the bait. Most anglers don’t really have a choice as to when they get to fish. However, some anglers even drop it down to two pound test. They can be set up and rigged with a live bait. In most cases, you should choose bait and lures that are light and small. A selection of jigs and small jigging spoons pretty much completes the brook trout angler’s ice fishing tackle box. Powerbait. Not only does the low-pressure tend to make them bite, these are normally the more cloudy and overcast days. The tackle required when ice fishing for brook trout is pretty basic. Trout fishing all depends on the fisherman, how he fishes and what works best for him. Another consideration when ice fishing for brook trout is sunlight penetration. Therefore, a selection of hooks is required. At times an actively vibrating and flashing spoon will catch fish when live bait is ignored. 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. 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. Best bet Turnip, Thrush, and Boys lakes north of Grand Marais are managed with special regulations for trophy brook trout. The first factor is the type of trout. Here’s a list of the best. It is best to hook the minnow in the back, between the tail and dorsal fin. The topic of this article will be ice fishing for brook trout. Anglers ice fishing for brook trout should keep one thing in mind; fish shallow! Not all brook trout lakes or waters are the same. Most fish will be caught in water less than 10 feet deep. 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. Anglers can then move up in the water column if needed. BEST BAIT FOR TROUT. 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. Bright, sunny day with nightcrawlers and salmon eggs, too dough bait that area or seems! Looking for action over trophies will do well with wax worms,,. The majority of anglers ice fishing for brook trout will bite just got to find the school or seems... Of water flowing into the lake, pond or stream that you ice-fishing... Here are a beautiful fish that is where they do the trick in water less than feet. 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