Trolling for Rainbow Trout

[New2Elk]

Hello. I have a few questions about trolling for rainbow trout. I've done a fair bit of trolling for other species and caught a fair amount of rainbows from the shore, but have never trolled for them. I'm thinking of heading up to Carson Pegasus with my kids in August and giving it a shot. From what I've been able to read, I have a few questions. What setups typically work the best for trolling for rainbows? Do the cowbell trolls work well? If you find an area where they are biting, do you stop and cast there or continue to troll? What sort of areas should I look for to even start trolling - I know water temp is often more important than structure in this case so should I even be looking for specific structure? Any other tips and tricks you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Usually the kids are pretty happy just being on the water but if we can actually catch some fish in the process they'll be even more excited.

[aulrich]

I don’t spend a lot of time trolling for trout, for me small plugs work the best, but that is mostly because I find spinners and spoon invariably twist your line. The stock lake were I mostly fish for trout can grow real bruisers so a 3-4” plug is not an issue.

I have one set of cow bells but they are probably too big they are a major pain to toll. And I think you need some sort of depth control (down rigger or dipsy) to fish them effectively.

No luck with walleye bottom bouncers either.

I have used a spoon with a fly dropper(leach or minnow imitation) but that was casting

Probably the biggest thing is depth control, I typically hit that stock lake May Long or October long so the fish are shallow other than that they will be down in the water column somewhere.

[Deep]

Ah trolling for trout.... Works for me. Fish finder is a very useful tool with this procedure. When in areas of fish concentrations change lures often- as you will know very quickly if you have the right one. Key to preventing twisted line is the use of "ball bearing" swivels. My 10# braided line has a small bb clasp swivel with no issues. Many people use "willow leaf" of similar hardware before their lure/fly. My choice is a single blade flasher( about 2") behind which a green leech fly is placed-18-24 inches. Keep changing either lure or fly and soon you shall have fish. tight lines.

[huntsfurfish]

Smaller Flatfish F5-F7 In Natural colors(silver, gold, RBT, frog) etc

Split shot to help get them down if needed. You can usually tell when you have weeds on the line cuz the pulsing stops.

Panther martins with split shot too.

I usually just troll the above.

However.

Instead of cowbells try:

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Macks-Lure-Flash-Lite-Trolls-Blade-Series/704941.uts?searchPath=%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FcategoryId%3 D734095080%26CQ_search%3Dmacks%26CQ_page%3D0

Also come in a short 2 blade model which I also like.

Walleye fishermen will know of them because of the smile blades from the same company..

[aulrich]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Macks-Lure-Flash-Lite-Trolls-Blade-Series/704941.uts?searchPath=%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FcategoryId%3 D734095080%26CQ_search%3Dmacks%26CQ_page%3D0


OK that is what I thought is commonly called as a cowbell, or is it a cowbell if it has colorado blades and something else if it has willow leaf blades.

Small salmon flashers look interesting too.

I have been thinking about slip float and flies and sitting of points and other sorts of bottle necks counting on trout to be moving around lots. Drop shoting is on the to try list as well.

[Talking moose]

Willow leaf. Amazing.

[Talking moose]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170717/e8e3479409ba17feef7cc26daf596826.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Talking moose]

Ford fender work well too.

[huntsfurfish]

OK that is what I thought is commonly called as a cowbell, or is it a cowbell if it has colorado blades and something else if it has willow leaf blades.

Small salmon flashers look interesting too.

I have been thinking about slip float and flies and sitting of points and other sorts of bottle necks counting on trout to be moving around lots. Drop shoting is on the to try list as well.

The advantage of the Macks is lite weight and less water resistance though.
There are flashers and dodgers, both cowbells and the Mack I posted are members of the flasher category.
Flashers fully rotate, while dodgers swing side to side.

Ford Fender:
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/31446/luhr-jensen-ford-fender-lake-troll
Willow Leaf:
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/8596/lucky-strike-willow-leaf-lake-trolls
Cow Bells:
http://www.wholesalesports.com/store/wsoo/en/Brands/Fishing-Brands/Luhr-Jensen/%22Cow-Bell%22-Flex-I-Troll/p/36955B
All these are just name brand flashers with different shaped blades.

[New2Elk]

Thanks for all the feedback. I'll have to try a few of those out when I go. One more question, what speed should I be trolling these at? I read that trolling for trout usually works better a little faster than for other local fish species. Is that what you have found?

[mikebossy]

Pick up some flies, green montanas, idaho nymph, hares ear nymph, and some leech and chironimid imitations(midges), last two you can put below a slip bobber, try around the narrows trolling slowly, maybe a couple split shot for weight, should do fine

[huntsfurfish]

Thanks for all the feedback. I'll have to try a few of those out when I go. One more question, what speed should I be trolling these at? I read that trolling for trout usually works better a little faster than for other local fish species. Is that what you have found?

Vary your speed the fish will tell you what speed they want. And dont always troll in straight lines unless you are following a weed line. Use S shapes or a variation of an s shape.

[whitetail Junkie]

Was out 3 days ago with the wife in a row boat to a new to me lake....no power allowed trout lake....we toured every foot of water on that lake...threw everything at them I had.....Nothing...wife's says let's try trolling around with a small spoon and a rapala on her rod...I laughed...until BANG....We just started hammering them...brook and rainbows hammered both kinds.

[Drewski Canuck]

Long ago when I could fit in 34" waist jeans (a Very Long Ago!!) Curries' in Jasper used to sell just the Williams Wobbler with NO HOOK!! The idea was to put 3 feet of 6# test behind and pull a fly, Flatfish, Rooster Tail spinner, behind.

Still use it today, especially with 6 # fluorocarbon, and an F5 Black and silver Flatfish, or Frog or Crocodile finish Flatfish.

Very effective on Carson, Maligne, etc.

Start stripping out line by hand and count the pulls on a steady troll until you hit weeds. Reel in, clean the weeds off, and this time strip out 5 pulls less line at the same speed. Much less drag than a Ford Fender. Much less line twist, and a much better fight when you hook a trout.

The Wobbler does not "spin", it just goes side to side. However, still use a ball bearing swivel snap behind so the lure does not twist the line up badly.

Drewski

[Red Snapper]

Yes, don't use gang troll!
Fishing is about the fight, feeling the fish hit, letting them run, feeling the head bobs. Put a heavy ford fender on the line and you'll just drag in fish like a log.

Put a swivel and lure or fly on and troll, thats all you need, you'll still catch fish and you'll have way more fun playing it and reeling it in!

[Gillfisher]

I always use a gang troll with a wedding band with a worm or power bait. We usually catch lots of fish and the rainbows usually put up a great fight and still jump out of the water. It is all I use when trolling for trout and rarely get skunked.

[Deep]

Drewski- the less you have pulling on your line the better. I too have used the "gang troll" willow leaf and other heavier equipment. A single Williams warbler "flasher" works very well and only gives a minimal resistance when using a 2ft fluorocarbon leader and a small clip to attach various flies and lures.

[Chewbacca]

The biggest rainbow I ever caught was by trolling. I was on Quesnel Lake and I must have had at least 200 feet out with a flasher of some kind. It was just shy of 11 pounds. I released it. Took a lot of ribbing from my buds on that move. 😃

[fishunter77]

Got a personal best at carson this year. Just above 5lbs. Picture and released for another fisherman to catch. Trolled with an electric motor small sinkers and a green nymph. Change your speed and zig zag your boat.

Lots of good info here. I used to troll with heavy gang trolls, but when bringing it in, all I could feel is the weight of the gang troll. I will never use another gang troll. Love to see them jump out of the water.

Try trolling some flies with some weights, also caught a 4lb rainbow at VEG res. using small floating rapala.

Keep trying. Once you have the right lure and method, it is a ton of fun.

[New2Elk]

Thanks for all the great info. Sounds like I'll just throw the whole tackle box at them and see what sticks so to speak. I'm even more excited now just to try the different approaches and see what works.

[ddddd05]

Lots of good tips posted. I learned a few new things myself.

One question is where will you be fishing? and at what time of year?

Summer time in lakes that are 100 ft deep or more you will need to go deep, small downrigger deep for example.

In the spring/fall you could be trolling near the surface.

It can be as simple as or 3/8 ounce Gibbs Croc spoon (or any spoon) with no weight or a downrigger with a flasher or dodger and a hockey stick or small hoochie.

A 7 weight fly rod with a full sink line is also a fun way to troll for trout

[EZM]

There's also, worth mentioning, that there is a huge difference between trolling Gerhard Rainbows on Kootenay, Shuswap, Arrow (or another big deep lake in BC) versus trolling pothole prairie rainbows.

Sizing your presentation to the fish (and what they are likely eating) is the ticket.

My go to are ussually ....

Big BC lakes for big deep rainbows = flasher, apex, lymans, hoochies, larger spoons, etc.. off a downrigger often 40'-70' down at 2.5-3.5 mph. Pulling a fly on surface, sometimes you are 4 mph.

Prairie rainbows = a small willow leaf and little spoon/spinner like a panther or tiny flatfish/kwikfish lure. Most of the time you are only down 20' or so and a 2-3 oz mooching sinker in front of the willow leaf will get you down there, and you are 2 mph (slow compared to BC).

[mapleleafman3]

I like to use a spoon of any kind, take the treble hook off and replace with a wedding ring (band, what every you call it). I think I'm currently using a luhr jensen crocodile spoon a couple inches long (maybe ounce or ounce and a half). You will probably want to add a barrel swivel in the front if the spoon doesn't already have one.

[58thecat]

Yes, don't use gang troll!
Fishing is about the fight, feeling the fish hit, letting them run, feeling the head bobs. Put a heavy ford fender on the line and you'll just drag in fish like a log.

Put a swivel and lure or fly on and troll, thats all you need, you'll still catch fish and you'll have way more fun playing it and reeling it in!

So eliminate a possible way of catching fish:snapoutofit:

I say attempt to keep all options open on this thread, stay at it until something sparks thier fancy and then your catching not fishing!:sHa_shakeshout:

[Okotokian]

Strangely, my most productive method on a trout lake has been to troll with my fly rod. Sinking tip line and a streamer.

[andy1]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170717/e8e3479409ba17feef7cc26daf596826.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Awesome!

[Dark Wing]

I like trolling with flies with the barbs pinched. You can slay them with a willowleaf and worm or just a straight worm but they like to swallow the bait deep , so I'm guessing mortality rates are petty high when releasing this years stock.

[Deo101]

Ford fender work well too.Lol. We trolled one night...two guy with truck bumpers aka willow leafs and me with a doc spratley. I didn't get the most fish but I got by and far the biggest.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[Talking moose]

Lol. We trolled one night...two guy with truck bumpers aka willow leafs and me with a doc spratley. I didn't get the most fish but I got by and far the biggest.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

That's awsome!!

[morinj]

Pick up some flies, green montanas, idaho nymph, hares ear nymph, and some leech and chironimid imitations(midges), last two you can put below a slip bobber, try around the narrows trolling slowly, maybe a couple split shot for weight, should do fine

X2 if you fish these patterns, guaranteed, you will catch fish!

[Red Bullets]

My tip is if you are trolling and not catching many fish with your choice of lure speed up. I had a day where I didn't catch squat and when talking to another guy that night he suggested I was trolling to slow. I sped up the next day and couldn't keep the fish off.
Also had the experience of very few fish biting until I put on a 1.5 inch countdown rapala with a brookie pattern. Then it was great fishing.

Good luck.

[58thecat]

Lol. We trolled one night...two guy with truck bumpers aka willow leafs and me with a doc spratley. I didn't get the most fish but I got by and far the biggest.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

So you landed one:sHa_sarcasticlol:

[Deo101]

So you landed one:sHa_sarcasticlol:Haha just 1 yep. Might have still beat them by weight though. And way cooler fighting a big rainbow on 5wt than a 30lbs pike rig with a bumper attached.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[SNAPFisher]

Strangely, my most productive method on a trout lake has been to troll with my fly rod. Sinking tip line and a streamer.

I'm with Okotokian on this one. I've found nothing better. I use a full sink, type 7 line. You can drag them up off bottom on a slow troll or speed up for a fast feeding bow to hammer. You feel these fights :)

If you don't have a fly rod for you or the kids and are not interesting in investing, you can still look into sink types or something called led core line. Both will get your spinning rod line down nicely and keep it down and in the zone you want.

For flies, just go with a crystal flash wholly bugger fly. Common and available everywhere and works like a damn.

Good luck!

[New2Elk]

Thanks everyone. So many new things to try. I've been making a list reading these tips and will have to pick up a few new items to try out. I'm looking forward with experimenting and seeing what works best. Like some of you have said, I guess the fish will tell me what they prefer, so just bring out different things to try.

[58thecat]

Haha just 1 yep. Might have still beat them by weight though. And way cooler fighting a big rainbow on 5wt than a 30lbs pike rig with a bumper attached.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

I hear ya, when I was younger the old man would be dragging a willow leaf and hunk of worm, things were not working out so I would put on a fly, three feet in front a split shot lead weight, and let her out, way out well I tell ya the fight is on...he was stubborn and stuck to his ways but I like catching and not fishing...

Ya gotta have a load of options in the ol' tickle trunk I call a tackle box if not well your just fishing:)

[58thecat]

Thanks everyone. So many new things to try. I've been making a list reading these tips and will have to pick up a few new items to try out. I'm looking forward with experimenting and seeing what works best. Like some of you have said, I guess the fish will tell me what they prefer, so just bring out different things to try.

You got it, options, never limit yourself, good luck out there.:)

[waterman73]

Fished this lake for many years and by far the best results have always been fly rod with sinking line. Usually use a black gnat or mosquito but if you are using power bait the hook doesn't make much difference. Have also caught a lot with a willow leaf but not near as fun.