When it comes to trout, anglers in the Upper Midwest commonly recognize only two varieties, those that take flies in rivers and creeks and those that hang out in the dark waters of the Great Lakes.
But there is another alternative. The Upper Midwest harbors a wealth of inland lakes that abound with native or stocked brook, lake, rainbow, and brown trout, plus splake--a hybrid cross between lake trout and brook trout.
Many of these waters are stocked regularly by state fish and wildlife authorities and the harvest is limited to maintain excellent fisheries. Nearly all offer at least some prime fishing waters that are protected from heavy winds, making them ideal for small-boat anglers.
Trout that live in rivers, the Great Lakes, and inland lakes all have something in common. During most of the open-water fishing season these fish seek cool waters. On inland lakes that usually translates into deep water.
Inland trout are typically found suspended from 40-100 feet below the surface. The most practical way to present spoons, spinners, minnow rigs, and small plugs to these fish is with a set of portable downriggers.
Riviera produces two models of riggers that are ideal for trolling up trout from inland lakes. The Model 300 features a fixed arm that is designed to be fished out the back of the boat, Lexan reel, adjustable rod holder, geared depth counter, safety clutch, and 200 feet of cable complete with terminator and an Off Shore Tackle OR1 or OR4 release. This complete, ready-to-fish rigger retails for around $130.
The Model 500 is available with two- or four-foot aluminum swivel head booms, Lexan reel, safety clutch, geared depth counter, adjustable rod holder, 200 feet of 150-pound test cable, cable terminator, and an Off Shore Tackle line release. This economical downrigger ($150 each) can be fished as a flat-back or out-down version and comes complete with deck mounting plate.
Riviera also produces a quick-set transom or gunwale mounting bracket that's perfect for open-bow aluminum boats. This system allows anglers to clamp on a set of downriggers and be water-ready in just a few minutes.
Downrigger weights ranging from eight to 10 pounds are recommended for use on inland waters. An Off Shore Tackle OR4 Light Tension line release should be attached to the downrigger weight. Most of the inland trout taken by anglers fall between two and six pounds. If a heavy tension release is used, hooked fish may not be able to pull the line free of the release and could end up getting dragged around without the angler even knowing a fish is hooked.
When fishing small flutter spoons, short leads ranging from 10-20 feet enable these lures to enjoy the best action. The Fred Arbogast P-175 Thin Doctor spoon is an excellent choice when trolling short leads for inland trout.
Leads can be lengthened a little if heavy casting-style spoons are trolled behind downriggers. The Fred Arbogast P-275 Little Doc, Luhr Jensen Krocodile, and Acme Little Cleo are casting style spoons that are deadly when trolled for trout.
Body baits are commonly trolled on lead lengths up to 100 feet. The action of these crankbaits isn't affected by lead length. Using longer leads helps present these lures a little farther away from the noise of outboard motors when fishing for ultra-spooky trout.
Live bait rigs, such as nightcrawler harnesses or minnows threaded onto a Mustad double live bait hook with safety pin, can also be fished effectively off downriggers when trolling slowly. These live bait rigs produce best at speeds from .5 to 1.5 mph. Early and late in the year, when trout are a little sluggish, are the best times to troll live bait rigs.
A slider is an excellent method of adding an extra lure to one line when trolling for trout. Slider leaders are made by taking a six-foot section of 10- to 15-pound-test monofilament and attaching a snap swivel to both ends. One swivel is attached to a small spoon and the other clipped over the main fishing line.
Simply toss the slider into the water and allow the spoon to naturally work downward to the bow in the fishing line. Sliders are free to move up and down the line. During turns the inside slider sinks slightly as the downrigger weight pulls the bow out of the cable. Meanwhile, on the other side of the boat, the slider moves upward as the increased speed forces the spoon towards the surface.
Sliders are little search-and-destroy missiles that seek out trout at a variety of depths. This unique add-a-lure system is also legal to use in many waters that only allow anglers to fish one line.
As a rule of thumb, it's best to set downrigger lines a few feet above fish located on a sonar unit. Trout like other fish normally feed upwards and the closer to the surface they are, the more likely they will be in a biting mood.
Vary the trolling speed frequently and drive the boat in a series of S-turns that keeps the sliders moving and working for the angler. Remember, suspended trout can't hide. Trust your electronics and keep moving and searching until cooperative fish are located. Set your lines accordingly and hang on for some fast action on pan-sized trout.
Copyright (c) 1996 Mark Romanack. All rights reserved.
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