how to fish for trout in a lake

Talk to an experienced angler at a bait and tackle shop to find out more about the eating habits of local lake trout. If you are getting hits but not locking in on fish, add a small piece of bait like a salmon egg, a pinch of worm, or a minnow head. Even if Trout are holding low, they always feed upwards so always keep separation from the bottom. Bait your hook with a leech and set the depth to roughly 1-3 ft. off the bottom. Later in Spring, when the ice begins to break up, lake trout will remain in the shallow waters for a few more weeks maximum. You can find trout in rivers, creeks, and lakes. If you can’t seem to find them at the top or middle sections, they may be on the bottom. Alternatively, drag a weighted line under water from your boat to troll for trout. This abrupt stop forces the Trout to either commit to the bait or continue to exert energy on the chase. Trout are constantly roaming like sharks. Add shiny metal foil or beads to further attract the trout. Inflows/outflows are most active in Spring and Fall, and are your primary location when fishing a reservoir. I am going to use powerbait for bait. Retrieve at the same steady pace and your lure will run through a new section of the water column. Natives to most cold water tributaries of the Pacific Ocean, the West Coast is one of the best places to find trout of any size, species, or color. These lakes offer an amazing Trout angling opportunity that can rival productive rivers and streams, as their forage and climate often produce larger and more abundant populations. Fish along the shore where drop offs and ledges are accessible by casting.Â. Learning how to fish for Trout in a lake is different than in a river or stream. Knowing the specific feeding habits of the smaller baitfish in your region can be very helpful. The twitching calls Trout in to follow, but twitching is often too aggressive to antagonize a bite. Retrieve at the same steady pace and your lure will run through a new section of the water column. The lighter line has less friction with the water, allowing you cast your line to the very bottom of the lake with ease. Locating Trout in open water is the greatest challenge when learning how to fish for Trout in a lake. Attach your bobber about 1 1/2 to 3 ft above the hook. Unlike reservoirs and lakes, ponds are limited in terms of inflow, temps and structure. Many lakes are stocked with Trout, and some even hold native populations. During the colder months, water temperatures are low and allow Trout to feed on the surface and near shore. To troll, you will need a vessel that can propel your lures through the water at a similar speed to your casting retrieves. With tip-ups, try suspending your bait 5 to 6 feet off the bottom. But catching trout in a lake is very different from fishing in moving water. His career is in Civil Engineering and he graduated from Vermont Technical College in 2013. He lives in northern Vermont with his girlfriend Amanda, stepson Charlie and dog Hank, not far from Lake Champlain. The most popular technique among the locals is to drift an olive scud below a strike indicator with the current. To start, let your line out 50-100 yds behind your vessel. In the summer months, Trout will seek deeper water for colder temperatures, but not so deep that the pressure exacerbates them. Casting lures is most productive during the colder months when Trout are actively feeding. In large bodies of water, Trout hold to the thermocline, which is a gradient layer in the water column where cold water meets warm water and mixes nutrients and oxygen. It is best to leave the cast-out line alone until you get a bite. Last Updated: February 10, 2020 In the early spring and fall lake trout swim at a depth of between 35 and 45 feet (10.7 to 13.7m). That’s why some of the best lakes for fishing are those that are surrounded by mountains. Next, tie on your hook and clinch a split shot about 1 ft. above the hook. Check the local laws before fishing. Be sure the jig you use is light, just 1/2 ounce to 3/4 ounce. Cast as normal and then wait. Rainbow Trout Caught on the Tailored Tackle Multispecies Spinning Combo. Best tip-ups and line for lake trout. Floats are also plain fun, especially for young anglers, because people can see bite happening by watching the float dance, wiggling and dive. A useful tool when fishing lake trout, even for beginners learning how to fish, is a depth finder. If there's one time of year when trout are most difficult to catch, it's probably the middle of summer, when the lake is warmest and the trout are in its darkest depths. When fishing in a lake, look for cooler parts of the lake with deeper waters. % of people told us that this article helped them. However, Trout focused bait rigs help you cast your bait further and target various sections of the water column that hold Trout based on present conditions. I use braid for shore casting but with a flouro leader. During the retrieve, a quick snap of the line will twitch the bait to represent a struggling minnow. Lures allow anglers to cover a lot of water at different depths. Fishing licenses are often required. You should have a handful of spinners to cycle through like Rooster Tails and Metal Spinners. The best place to fish for trout is a freshwater river, lake, or creek. Use a live bait float to target the top half of the water column. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/23\/Catch-Lake-Trout-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Catch-Lake-Trout-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/23\/Catch-Lake-Trout-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/aid1384616-v4-728px-Catch-Lake-Trout-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"