This abrupt change in direction and speed by your bait will make the laker think the fish is trying to flee.Resist the urge to move your line.

Feel for unusual bumps and tightening of the line, then set the hook.

When fishing deep pools, you can use up to a 1/4 ounce Panther Martin.

Knowing this, fly-fishers mend their line or use a strike indicator to keep from snagging on the bottom. These lures catch big, smart old trout. I use Seaguar AbrazX fluorocarbon for all my euro nymphing leaders.

Deep-water refuge and a range of cover are also essential to maintaining populations of big trout.Another way to locate where big trout live is to consult state fish and wildlife websites. Several factors need to be evaluated before reaching a conclusion about what fly, lure or bait will give you the … Now I can fish a river/stream and catch 30-40 fish in a few hours. If you need, a downrigger is very useful.Stickleback is the final baitfish I chose for this article. These white-fleshed schooling baitfish can found at great depths during summer months in search of blooms of zooplankton in the cool, oxygen-rich depths.Lake trout key in on the movements of smelt as they rise and fall in the water column. This prickly little forage fish is widely consumed by pike, walleye, and lake trout.Many northern fishermen are familiar with stickleback in creeks and rivers, but stickleback can also be found in large natural lakes and reservoirs.Hook a live stickleback through the lip for great natural swimming action. Don’t be afraid to let it sink before retrieving to reach trout holding on the bottom.These little spinners send out plenty of vibration and flash to grab the interest of any trout. You may even get big fish to come up to hit mice and other big dries skated at night. Abundant insect hatches combined with the presence of crustaceans and minnows means big trout can feast on high calorie prey.Recognizing the available forage takes a “boots on the ground” approach or you can ask local anglers what they know.

Size down when fishing shallower stretches where subtle presentations are more important than depth.Panther Martins are a great option for slow moving water.

You’ll want to troll them using downriggers at great depths.Keep your eyes glued to your fishfinder electronics.

Monofilament is one of the most universally used fishing with plenty of direct bass fishing applications. You never know how big a trout may be when you pull it from a deep hole. However, there are some consistent features among top producing streams and we’ll discuss each one.The most reliable trait of a stream that holds large fish is whether or not it is a tributary to a larger river or lake.

Panther Martin.

It will sink better and transmit the feel of strikes faster. Draw Parallels. Small creeks are also prone to seasonal fluctuation depending on the water source.

You need to mentally accept the fact there will be no quick battles. It also depends on the species that are present in the stream. Six Tips for Catching Big Trout at Night.


The natural presentation of a Trout Magnet grub is hard for lure-wise trout to resist. Let shadows on the water arise from landscape features rather than your backside.
© 2020 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Keep in mind, fishing with bait is not ideal for catch and release. Use a 1/16 ounce or smaller to delicately cast into small pockets behind boulders or flip to undercut banks.

In small streams, we prefer the action and balance of the 1/12 or 1/8 ounce spoons. Many of these same water bodies are managed to maintain wild stocks.Regulated rivers, or those rivers where flows are managed from operation of upstream storage reservoirs, provide more consistent flow, which translates to productive conditions for stream trout. The best way to locate lake trout in massive expanses of open water is by trolling either dead bait or lures at different depths in the water column.

You can troll them slowly with downriggers or let them swim free at depths in excess of 60 feet.Smelt are another great lake trout bait. I grew up fishing for anything that swims but really cut my teeth fishing for trout, chain pickerel, bass, and bullheads in my teenage years. There are boxes for bass, walleye, catfish, trout, panfish, and even inshore saltwater species. The second tip is to be patient. Plus, the peaceful solitude is worth it. Don't like to hike or drive long distances? They have been introduced globally to suitable cold-water habitats.In an interesting twist, lake trout were legally introduced to 3 smaller lakes in Yellowstone National Park. Unfortunately, there just isn’t a hard and fast rule.

This article will cover when to use mono for bass fishing and when to avoid it like the plague if you want to catch […]