Shuswap tactics? Mid August trip planned.

PhatBoy07 · #1 06-06-2018, 08:37 AM

So around mid August I will be heading to the Shuswap for some house boating. I will also be bringing my own boat (21 ft Jet boat). What are some tactics and pointers anyone can lend me to catch some decent fish? I have no problem picking up new tackle/equipment to get the job done as I am starting to build up my fishing arsenal lol. I have fished there once before but caught nothing but squawfish.

Red Bullets · #2 06-06-2018, 03:46 PM

If you are catching squawfish you are trolling too slow. Speed up a mile an hour or two and you'll catch trout.

I have caught some nice fish there using a ford fender or willow leaf gang troll with a silver flatfish 2 or 3 feet behind it. Lots of folks like using the apex behind a gang troll too. Sometimes I have added a 2 or 3 ounce gibbs inline weight to get deeper too.

Dweb · #3 06-06-2018, 04:06 PM

Depending how hot it is your going to want to get your presentation deep or to where the thermocline of the lake is , trolling will produce , flashers or Dodgers with a small dick nite or wedding band.

EZM · #4 06-06-2018, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Bullets

If you are catching squawfish you are trolling too slow. Speed up a mile an hour or two and you'll catch trout.

I have caught some nice fish there using a ford fender or willow leaf gang troll with a silver flatfish 2 or 3 feet behind it. Lots of folks like using the apex behind a gang troll too. Sometimes I have added a 2 or 3 ounce gibbs inline weight to get deeper too.

The above advice is excellent - I 100% agree.

Was out there last summer in August - caught a fair amount of trout - doing exactly what's listed above, and using exactly what equipment and lures are listed above. Trolling speed seemed to be 3.0-3.8 mph on those particular days - which seems fast - but it works.

If you are using the flatfish or quick fish put a bead chain swivel in between and you have to slow it down so you don't wind it up - these lures begin to spin if you pull too quick. A bead chain helps.

PhatBoy07 · #5 06-07-2018, 08:40 AM

Appreciate the responses guys!
What size of lures and flasher set ups should be the main focus?
Also when I mentioned I was only catching squaw fish that was not when I was trolling, however I didn't have a personal boat at that time and was trying to troll from the houseboat.

Dweb · #6 06-07-2018, 04:57 PM

Luhr Jensen make nice 50/50 dodgers that are 4" long and throw a dick nite behind about 24" use any size dick nite get UV colours

EZM · #7 06-07-2018, 09:54 PM

I also prefer the action of dodgers versus flashers for lakers. I run the lure back 36"-48" to a spoon.

I run apexes behind cow bells as I find them not as effective behind a flasher/dodger on some days.

The trick is to try a few different lure/flasher/dodger/gang troll options and see what's cooking that day.

rem338win · #8 06-08-2018, 11:25 AM

Funny responses from guys. I've got some things to try, but I've been very successful otherwise.

First, August is not the best month for the Shuswap. It's quite hot, the fish are deeper, move through multiple strata's during the day, and their food sources are multiple and spread out.

If you want to target rainbows, you'll need to be able to get down 50-60' and I've never used a gang troll or dodger or flasher. I know quite a few guides and successful fishermen on that lake and the only time I've heard or seen them talk about flashers is deep trolling Lakers. So down riggers or lead lines. You need to be consistent so once you find and area they are feeding you can keep hitting it.

In July, August, September I like crocodiles, apex, wood plugs and flashy Dick Nites.

I have an assortment of each, but tend to favor 3" lengths with watermelon, white (pearl), and greens being my favorite go to. Except the Nites; I like silver with the orange tip or pink.

My opinion, gang trolls are for kokanee. You want kokanee to chase your rig use a gang troll. Kokanee are great and there is nothing wrong with that. Nice flashy gang troll and a pink or orange Dick Nite and your gold.

Good fish finders are a must or You'll stay on useless water too long.

That said our new sponsor Westside Sports has great guys that are very knowledgeable on the Shuswap. I learn from them regularly and buy from them regularly. Hit them up, buy some plugs and nites and have fun.

EZM · #9 06-08-2018, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rem338win

Funny responses from guys. I've got some things to try, but I've been very successful otherwise.

First, August is not the best month for the Shuswap. It's quite hot, the fish are deeper, move through multiple strata's during the day, and their food sources are multiple and spread out.

If you want to target rainbows, you'll need to be able to get down 50-60' and I've never used a gang troll or dodger or flasher. I know quite a few guides and successful fishermen on that lake and the only time I've heard or seen them talk about flashers is deep trolling Lakers. So down riggers or lead lines. You need to be consistent so once you find and area they are feeding you can keep hitting it.

In July, August, September I like crocodiles, apex, wood plugs and flashy Dick Nites.

I have an assortment of each, but tend to favor 3" lengths with watermelon, white (pearl), and greens being my favorite go to. Except the Nites; I like silver with the orange tip or pink.

My opinion, gang trolls are for kokanee. You want kokanee to chase your rig use a gang troll. Kokanee are great and there is nothing wrong with that. Nice flashy gang troll and a pink or orange Dick Nite and your gold.

Good fish finders are a must or You'll stay on useless water too long.

That said our new sponsor Westside Sports has great guys that are very knowledgeable on the Shuswap. I learn from them regularly and buy from them regularly. Hit them up, buy some plugs and nites and have fun.

Gangtrolls, dodgers or running bare lures just provide a different presentation - to say, with any authority that this is right and that is wrong is something I wouldn't agree with. You have to try speeds, presentations, colors and lures to find out what's working.

Many fishermen in the NW US use flashers/Dodgers for Kokanee and hardly every run gang trolls - are they doing it wrong? I had never imaged doing something like that until I saw the effectiveness of it.

Gang Trolls mimic minnows and forage commonly in the lake in August when the bait fish move out into open water in large schools.

It's my experience that Gang Trolls are excellent in August ..... run a line with and one without and if you are fishing through (trolling) schools of minnows they will out-fish your other lures on most days 5 to 1.

I do agree that good electronics allow you see the thermoclines, bait fish and definitely help a ton.

We found Rainbows very easy to catch and quite willing to bite in last August fishing between Celista and Anglemont along that shoreline.

Riggers were down anywhere from 20'-40' and the planer boards out in low light with some success.

PhatBoy07 · #10 08-30-2018, 10:02 AM

So my trip went ok haha. My father caught a 5 pound or so bull trout off the back of the houseboat one morning while we were shored up, a few small rainbows, and a giant sqwafish...in the 5-8 pound range...didn't know they got that big haha, was def a WTF moment.
Oh and I also caught this rainbow on a big Blue fox yellow five of diamonds spoon using a pink lady to get down for depth....not sure if a 12 pound rainbow is a gooder out of that size of lake but I was pumped none the less!
Thanks to all for the help! (hopefully the picture posts)

Red Bullets · #11 08-31-2018, 08:28 PM

A 12 lb rainbow out of any lake is great. Good to hear you got some tugs.

tool · #12 09-04-2018, 10:29 AM

What on earth is a squaw fish?

Red Bullets · #13 09-04-2018, 10:54 AM

A squawfish is also called a pikeminnow.