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...%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]

Originally Posted by huntsfurfish

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Macks...%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.

[huntsfurfish]

Originally Posted by aulrich

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/...der-lake-troll
Willow Leaf:
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/8596/l...af-lake-trolls
Cow Bells:
http://www.wholesalesports.com/store...Troll/p/36955B
All these are just name brand flashers with different shaped blades.

[Talking moose]

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[Talking moose]

Ford fender work well too.

[Deo101]

Originally Posted by Talking moose

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.

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[Talking moose]

Originally Posted by Deo101

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.

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That's awsome!!

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Deo101

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.

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So you landed one

[Deo101]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

So you landed one

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.

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[andy1]

Originally Posted by Talking moose

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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.