Once trout waters freeze, rainbow and brook trout can be caught in as little as a foot of water, which means you can safely venture onto thin shoreline ice while you wait for your regular spots to thicken up. A 30 inch to 36 inch long rod with light to medium light action (depending on the size of the fish in the lake or river) is all that is required. These are the areas where rainbow trout will find food in the winter. They can be fished alone or tipped with a wax worm, piece of minnow, or small live minnow. So observes eastern Ontario trout guru Paul Shibata. Powerbait – Powerbait is an excellent bait for trout, especially if those trout have been planted, which is the case many times with trout in lakes. When targeting rainbow trout I highly recommend fishing with worms. Filed Under: Feature, Rainbow Trout Tagged With: bc fishn, fishing rainbow trout, how to ice fish, ice fishing rainbow trout, ice fishing tips, Macks Lure, tips how to ice fish trout, Ice Fishing for Rainbow Trout Using Weed Lines, Tip – Drilling Holes When Ice Fishing for Rainbow Trout, 5 Tactics to Catch More Kokanee this Spring, A Community Coming Together for Kokanee Conservation, Our Wild Neighbours – Part 2 | Fish & Mammals | South Chilcotin, BC, Best Ice Fishing Lures For Trout - 7 Of The Deadliest Trout Lures -, Top 5 Tactics for Trolling Rainbow Trout in Dirty Water - BC Fishn, TIPS – HOW TO RECOGNIZE MATURE (SOON-TO-SPAWN) FEMALE TROUT, Kokanee Fishing The BC Cariboo - Bridge & Deka Lake. The topic of this article is ice fishing for rainbow trout. Quartz Lake is known for trophy-sized Rainbow Trout, and a good number of Arctic Char, Coho Salmon, and Chinook Salmon. Later in the day the Rainbows will become less active in the shallow water and they will move out to the deeper 10 to 20 foot range. It has been around a very long time and continues to be a productive lure to this day. In the warmer summer weather you'll usually find that trout tend to stay in deeper water as they favor the cooler waters during the summer heat. Rainbows will relate to shallow water in the winter months, sometimes as shallow as 3 feet under the ice. Fishing for Rainbow Trout with Big Ed’s Fishing Ventures is truly a great getaway! Rainbow trout are among the most active types of trout, and they like to stick around weedy coves. Like most game fish, rainbow trout are most active early and late in the day and even at night. Moving to deeper offshore ledges and fishing the mid-depths with spoons and plugs is usually more productive. They also thrive in many reservoirs, where ice-fishing often provides an overlooked opportunity. However, these trout tend to inhabit the middle of the water column when the water is deeper. In most cases, you should choose bait and lures that are light and small. Once the outside edge of weed beds or the steeper drop off is located, anglers do not need to go any deeper. The best time to pursue these giants through the ice is December through February. On cloudy days, the fish may stay shallow all day. Your email address will not be published. Ideally, the transition from the flat to deep water will be steep. Depending on what you’re looking for in your fishing adventure, you can fish at one or both lakes. The first thing I want to discus is the fish itself, followed by a couple of techniques used to catch them. Active rainbows, browns, cutthroats, and brookies under the ice classically use the biggest flats available in the 4- to 8-foot range, especially where those flats are adjacent to sharp drops into deep water. While the majority of fish species move deeper as it gets colder, rainbow trout do the opposite. A Rainbow’s diet in the hard water season mainly consist of dragon fly nymphs, caddis fly nymphs, leeches, snails, smaller forage fish and many other aquatic invertebrates which all reside in weeded or muddy areas. Anglers can read this article on ice fishing tackle and gear to get more information. 1/80 ounce to ⅛ jig tipped with maggots, worms, mayfly, or nymphs works great. Fish can be found as shallow as 3 or 4 feet. A small spoon tipped with a tiny minnow is an extremely effective combination as well. As evening approaches, the pattern will reverse itself and fish will move shallow once again to feed. Most modern ice fishing jigs are made of tungsten. For most Interior lakes in Western Canada the ice fishing season starts in later December as the colder weather brings over 6 inches of hard ice. If this occurs in 10 to 20 feet of water, so much the better. Sarasota Fishing Charters | 941-371-1390, Florida Saltwater Fishing in Fall – Pro Tips, Essential Trout Fishing Equipment – A Complete Guide, Best 6 Topwater Plugs for Saltwater Fishing. Your email address will not be published. While jigs are the most popular ice fishing lure, spoons are more effective on rainbow trout for a couple of reasons. On a good day it is not uncommon to land between 10 and 30 browns/rainbows. As outlined above, starting in 3 feet of water to 5 feet of water early in the day than slowly moving deeper is a good approach. They are a beautiful fish that has it all. You can even add a bell to signal a strike. They are spooky and the activity will often get them off there bite. Several manufacturers offer line specifically designed for anglers fishing under the ice. Here are the nutritional details about this Colorado native fish. These are all readily available at tackle shops that cater to ice fishermen. A submerged weed bed in 8 feet of water that drops off sharply to 15 feet of water is an example of an ideal spot to fish. While in Colorado we ran across an ice fishing guide and thought we would give it a try. In conclusion, this article on ice fishing for rainbow trout will help anglers catch more fish under the ice! This is mostly due to the fact that rainbow trout do not school up and cruise much more than most other game fish in the winter. If ice fishing the great lakes isn’t your thing I run trips inland all winter for pike, walleye and pan fish. As the day warms up, a change in tactics is required. Several manufacturers offer line specifically designed for anglers fishing under the ice. Ice fishing is something I have always wanted to try. When it comes to effective ice-fishing presentations, most anglers overlook the fact that rainbows—and brook trout—are the top predators in these smaller backcountry lakes. Try avoiding drilling holes throughout the day, as it can scare off the fish. It’s important to note that Rainbow Trout are the main predator in the lake, which means they can be very aggressive while looking for an easy quick meal. Anglers should match the locally available forage for best results. Any loud movements on the ice could startle the trout; so get comfortable and commit to the holes in which you drilled. It has an eyelet in the middle and a fin on the rear which results in an erratic circular swimming motion when jig. In last week’s On The Water online, we discussed some of the key early season tactics I like to employ when I’m ice fishing the many stocked trout lakes (brook, rainbow and splake) found across the country. You can read PART 1 HERE. In this deeper water the Rainbows tend to cruise in the mid water column to prey upon small minnows or insects. This material is very dense and results in a very small jig being heavy for its size. When ice fishing many times less movement is more productive than a constant jigging action. These fish are raised in hatcheries and released at various sizes all over north america and indeed the world. Trout, especially rainbow trout, are on a big feed at last ice and often they can be caught throughout the day with heavier action during the low light periods. It is one of the few times I can look down and see numbers of trout moving through my ice fishing hole making it a … On cloudy days, the fish may stay shallow all day. The best is if you can look down your ice hole and see half the hole is weeds and half is not; then you know you are in a prime area! When the snow and temperatures start to fall some angler’s fishing season comes to an end, but for many others the hard water fishing seasons is just starting! Excellent options for bait when targeting Rainbows are Pink Maggots, Meal Worms, Dew Worms and Corn. There is no substitute for time out on the water! Small bait fish are usually found hiding in the weeds or relating to deep structure such as a drop off. They come in to forage on minnows, small crayfish, aquatic worms, mayfly nymphs that burrow in the sand, and other invertebrates. Like most game fish, rainbow trout are most active early and late in the day and even at night. Using small spoons such as a Mack’s Lure Hum Dinger or Sonic Baitfish when the Rainbows are suspended over the deeper water will attract the rainbows from a far and entice them to attack your gear. When the trout are feeding up on the weeded shoals its important to keep your presentation very close to the bottom, as this is where the trout find most of their food. Anglers can read this article on, Ice Fishing for Lake Trout, Proven Strategies. The standard in the industry is the Rapala Jigging Rap. Therefore, that is where the rainbow trout will look for them as well. Rainbow and brown trout are the primary catches on the Boise and … Rainbow trout inhabit thousands of natural lakes from Maine to Washington, including the Great Lakes. They also often want a larger meal, which the spoon represents. However, this does not mean that an angler ice fishing for rainbow trout should set in one spot all day. Rainbow trout are fantastic game fish that takes artificial lures, flies, and live bait. These are submerged weed beds, particularly the edge of the weeds and open muddy flats. The best ice-fishing for brook trout and splake is just after winter fishing season opens in January. There aren’t many lures on the market that fool trout as well as Leland … 6) Be prepared with the right gear for ice fishing. Disturbing the bottom will at times kick up forage and attract rainbow trout to the lure. Use your regular summer trout fishing rod and reel for the setline application and prop the rod up so the tip rests a foot or so above the ice-fishing hole. Leland Lure’s Trout Magnets. Plugs are also effective lures when ice fishing for rainbow trout. The reservoir produces perch, rainbow and brown trout for ice anglers. — Fisheries Resource Supervisor Jason Seiders. Successful anglers pursuing rainbow trout get out on the water at first light and drill all of their holes early. When the water in a lake is less than five feet deep, rainbow trout tend to hang out near the lake bottom. Anglers fishing tiny jigs or live baits very close to the bottom should do well. Rainbow trout are one of the most popular and recognizable fish in the world! A 30 inch to 36 inch long rod with light to medium light action (depending on the size of the fish in the lake or river) is all that is required. Trout fishing continues to produce for those willing to bundle up and wear waders. I’m bound to come in contact with a Rainbow cruising this zone. Early in the ice fishing season, lake trout can be caught in a variety of depths — typically from 20 feet to 60 feet — but often into water approaching and exceeding 100 feet deep. Rainbows will relate to shallow water in the winter months, sometimes as shallow as 3 feet under the ice. Before an angler gives up on a spot, the spoon should be bounced off the bottom several times sharply, then raised a foot or so above. Live bait can also be used in conjunction with artificial lures. Once the winter arrives and the ice begins to form trout will start to move into the shallower waters. After jigging it aggressively and working it for several minutes, a few feet of line can be let out and the process repeated. Ice Fishing For Northern Pike, Walleye and Big Panfish in Wisconsin. It holds up better in the cold conditions. Rainbow trout mostly feed on nymphs, larvae, leeches, snails, and small bait fish. This weeks Spot on the Spot ID – Focuses on how-to use the Humminbird FISH SMART app to increase your catch rate when Ice Fishing the Big Rainbow trout found in some of North Dakotas Lakes. Since these fish don’t really school up and do a fair amount of cruising, often times the best approach is to sit patiently in one spot and either lure a fish in or wait for one to cruise by. The beginning of the season offers some of the best Rainbow Trout fishing as the oxygen levels are still high in the water and the fish are aggressively feeding. As cold-water fish, trout thrive under the ice and often prefer to feed in shallow water in winter-just the opposite of their summer preferences. The reservoir’s surface area varies from year to year depending on how much water is … Rainbow Trout are either super aggressive or very picky on what they choose to eat. Anglers should start fishing the spoon about 5 feet below the ice. Most anglers spool the reels up with 4 pound test fluorocarbon line. This is probably one of the most important things to know about ice fishing for trout. Of course, they can’t do this under the ice, but they still put up a terrific fight. Spoons are very effective lures when ice fishing for rainbow trout. Rainbow trout ice fishing tactics. Live baits can be presented on a small hook. Today, however, let’s talk about my favourite tactic to actually catch the fish: trolling for trout on the ice. Participant. With its relatively shallow depth and prolific insect populations, Antero Reservoir grows monster Rainbow, Cutbow, Cutthroat, Brown Trout and Splake, with a 15” average size and numerous fish over 20”. Despite consistent catch rates in the summer and fall, Oakley experiences very little … Rainbow trout will be most often found in two locations when ice fishing. A big trout will hit and run long before you have a chance to get to your rod. You can expect to catch Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Arctic Grayling, Arctic Char, Landlocked Salmon, and so much more. LINE: Unless you are fishing Big Lake Char, Lake Trout, or Pike, 8 pound test is like cable. A small bait works best for brook trout. Ice fishing season is in full swing, ... Anglers at Horsethief can expect good catch rates on small to medium-sized rainbow trout and Kokanee salmon. The drag on the reel should be set light. The key to anglers having success is understanding the rainbow’s habits and their forage. Nymphs and larvae will almost always be found on mud flats. Oakley has become a hidden gem for big trout through the ice. Aggressive fish are attracted to movement, which makes Freaky Frank's freaky worm an excellent choice for ice fishing. Ice Fishing Stocked Rainbow Trout. The fact that they will often be found very shallow requires a change in tactics. Look for areas on the lake that offer flat shoals with a drop off ledges. The water clarity in the winter months is very clear due to the lack of algae blooms in the lake so the trout will notice a well-presented spoon from far distances away. - YouTube Minnows are the best bait if you’re fishing big rainbows in larger lakes. Each year, the Rifle Falls Fish Hatchery dumps between 330,000 and 360,000 rainbow trout into the Dillon Reservoir, many of which are dumped in the fall and make for profitable ice fishing. Trout love the cold water. Tiny jigs can be tipped with waxies or mealworms as well as the head or tail of a minnow. As the evening sets in the trout will start to come back up to the shallow areas to feed, so you should follow. Generally speaking, the best spots to find rainbow trout under the ice are large shallow flats and shoals. This allows them to move about as little as possible without making the noise required to drill new holes. While conventional fly fishing tackle cannot be used, weighted flies and nymphs can be used to fool rainbow trout. Fish in depths of less than 10 feet for brook trout, splake may go deeper. Ice fishing for rainbow trout is a bit different than many other species. Most anglers spool the reels up with 4 pound test fluorocarbon line. A good approach for anglers ice fishing for rainbow trout is to start fishing shallow water early and then work deeper as the sun gets higher in the sky. Flies can also be used effectively as long as they can get down to the fish. Showcasing Fisheries from BC and the Pacific Northwest, SHOWCASING FISHERIES FROMBC AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. Jigging 12 inches off the bottom and slapping your rig off the lake floor will encourage a Rainbow to cruise over and bite your presentation. Regardless of where you choose to fish on the lake it is a good idea to get to the lake early and drill all your holes. The same artificial lures and baits that produce for anglers when ice fishing will do well for rainbow trout, too. While moving around a lot is often the key to success when ice fishing, this is not so much the case when pursuing rainbow trout. These expansive areas with muddy bottom and weed beds will have the most forage in the winter time. Big Ed’s fishing is pleased to offer guided ice fishing trips on one of Colorado’s most renowned trout lakes. Rainbows like to cruise the ledges adjacent to weeded areas seeking forage. Tackle used when ice fishing for rainbow trout is pretty basic. The rainbow trout is a trout and species of salmonid native to cold-water tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. Spoons work very well in the middle periods of the day when rainbow trout are suspended over deeper water. Many local states and provinces have programs in place to stock local ponds and lakes. Shallow mud flats and weed beds are best fished early and late in the day. Sometimes they will come out of nowhere and hammer an aggressive jigged spoon or sometimes they will desire smaller bait with no movement. Every day fishing is different and experience is a great teacher. Ice fishing for big rainbow trout. The beginning of the season offers some of the best Rainbow Trout fishing as the oxygen levels are still high in the water and the fish are aggressively feeding. If you drill into weeds, then move out 4 to 5 feet at a time until you locate the weed line. You will find something fishy about this winter adventure. However, sonar machines can be very useful in locating submerged weed beds as well as the structure breaks. Between Pool 2 and Pool … A small selection of hooks ranging from #8 up to #4 and a few split shot will complete the tackle box. Rainbow trout will cruise these edges in search of food. Tiny jigs, small spoons, and very small plugs are the top artificial lures. Ice Fishing for Rainbow Trout Tips. Some of the first ice fishing opportunities for anglers across the ice belt are often for shallow water trout. Tiny ice-fishing jigs tipped with bait are effective. Required fields are marked *, ©2018 Sarasota Fishing Charters | Captain Jim Klopfer | 941-371-1390 | Websites By: 22nd Century Web Services | Web Hosting By: Web Planet Hosting, ackle used when ice fishing for rainbow trout is pretty basic. Rainbow trout are more active than most other species and will respond to a larger bait being work more aggressively. It holds up better in the cold conditions. Jigs: Jigs in the 1/64 to 1/8-ounce range (use the appropriate weight for the water depth and conditions) can be tipped with minnows or wax worms when targeting rainbow trout. The best live baits for anglers ice fishing for rainbow trout are mealworms, wax worms, spikes, and small live minnows. Many small insects emerge from the lake’s bottom so using flies such as woolly buggers, balanced leeches, or even a bead headed nymph as they imitate what the trout are feeding on very well. While fish finders are crucial in some ice fishing applications, they are less important for anglers ice fishing for rainbow trout. If the lake that I’m fishing doesn’t offer heavy weeded areas then I search for the flattest and most shallow regions, especially if the bottom is muddy. Using jigs tipped with some sort of bait that mimics a dying or injured baitfish can be very effective when the bite is on. If you are jigging a small spoon with no luck try switching up your lure to a small baited hook such as a Mack’s Lure Glo Hook size 6 tipped with bait. Whether it's standing in a flowing river, on the banks of a lake, in a boat or canoe, or on the ice, fishing for Rainbow Trout is an incredibly popular activity. Anglers ice fishing for rainbow trout will start drilling very shallow then move out into deeper water. A small split shot can be used to get the bait down to the desired depth. For ice fishing, you can use a pretty simple line setup to catch rainbow trout. As winter progresses, though, usually in February, a midseason lull begins. Frozen lakes, ponds, or mouths of tributaries provide … — Fisheries Resource Supervisor Gregory Burr When fishing for salmon, use live shiners or smelts and set your trap just under the ice (1-2 feet under the ice). A good approach for anglers ice fishing for rainbow trout is to start fishing shallow water early and then work deeper as the sun gets higher in the sky. If the fly itself is not heavy enough to reach the bottom, anglers can simply add on a tiny split shot or two. They put up a great battle on light tackle, often leaping high out of the water. “With no pike, muskies, bass or walleye around, the trout can behave aggressively,” he says. Drilling holes approximately 30 to 50 feet away from the drop off ledge. It is not uncommon to catch rainbow trout in shallow water just a couple feet below the ice. This extra special ice-fishing package will have you staying in comfy cabins on the shores of Boshkung Lake (or Mountain Lake) in the Haliburton Highlands, one of the most productive Lake Trout lakes in the region. This two-pronged approach is often the most effective as it combines the advantages of both. BROKE MY PB!!! Rainbow trout will cruise both the edge of the weeds and the depth change in search of food. Jigging Spoons: Metal vertical jigging spoons are another type of … Running around from hole to hole is generally not productive. Anglers can add a small split shot 18 inches above the jig if needed. The same basic lures that produce fish for anglers ice fishing for other species will catch rainbow trout as well. The Trout will cruise just off the bottom of these shallow areas searching for the most nutrient rich fertile ranges such as weedy bays and shoals. By mid day, most fish will be cruising the deeper edges in 15 feet to 20 feet of water. Stocked rainbow trout are among the most popular and most accessible trout to ice fish for. Areas between 5 feet deep and 10 feet deep are generally best, but every lake is different. Tiny jigs can be very effective when worked just off the bottom or just above the tops of submerged weed beds. Selecting the best ice fishing lures for trout isn't hard. Rainbow trout thrive in clear, cool streams and rivers but have been known to survive in warm silt bottom streams as well. As mentioned earlier, ice fishing for rainbows is a bit different than other species. Jigging Raps come in a variety of sizes and colors. Drill your holes close to shore in about 3 feet of water. Try tube jigs if you are focusing on lake trout. The Trout will cruise just off the bottom of these shallow areas searching for the most nutrient rich fertile ranges such as weedy bays and shoals. Again smaller is better when fishing trout bait such as Powerbait. I prefer 4 pound test when I know the fish have been hit hard and the biggest fish I will catch is in the 16 inch class. Set up a lead shot about 16 to 18 inches above your bait. Rainbow trout, brooke trout, brown trout, and golden trout are active feeders under the ice. By: Tim Moore. While mobility is the key when chasing down yellow perch, walleye, and other schooling fish, this tactic often proves unsuccessful when pursuing rainbow trout. Rainbows have an excellent sense of smell; so adding scent onto the lures and bait such as the Pro-Cure Trophy Trout Ice Gel encourages the trout to hold onto the bait for a longer period allowing for a greater hook set. This means that their seasonal migrations are different than many other freshwater fish. 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