Our rod ideas danced rhythmically as I moved the boat alongside a sheer rock wall. The sonar confirmed us in 20 toes of water, however I knew from expertise that brook trout could be suspended and holding tight to the shelf.
We have been trolling Williams Warbler spoons — one silver, one brass — at a contact lower than two miles-per-hour (3.2 km/h). Every had the treble hook changed with a six-inch, 12-pound take a look at monofilament dropper and a #4 Gamakatsu Octopus hook, baited with half a Berkley Gulp night time crawler. The spoons have been operating about 75 toes behind the boat. One was weighted with a 1 ⁄2-ounce rubber core sinker, the opposite with a 3⁄8-ouncer.
As we continued alongside the rock wall, I may see my rod tip begin to bend again from a strike. I snatched it and set the hook. It felt like brook trout; it stayed deep, pumping arduous beneath the boat. My accomplice reeled in his line and grabbed the online as I fought the fish. After a few minutes, the brookie surfaced as the online was readied.
The fish was completely hooked within the nook of the mouth, and the glistening silver Williams spoon was an ideal complement to its attractive colors. The hook was twisted out and the trout launched again into the clear lake water. Trolling a {hardware} and bait combo had paid off once more.
In Quebec, trolling a spoon and/or spinner with a dropper and bait is likely one of the high strategies for brook trout, particularly. In Ontario, nonetheless, this old-school tactic isn’t as effectively used. It really works for all trout species and in almost each potential state of affairs. This system requires two elements: a spoon or spinner because the attractor, and a trailing bait to bat cleanup.
My attractor picks
The Williams Warbler: a go-to because it has nice motion at sluggish speeds and throws off numerous flash. The bigger the waterbody, the higher it really works.
The Lake Clear Spoon: a confirmed winner on inland lakes. Its form and design work effectively at very sluggish speeds, and 1 ⁄3-ounce weight spoons are glorious in shallow water. Use the 3⁄5-ouncer to get down a bit deeper.
Fortunate Strike Half Wave Spoon: A four- or five-incher is one other glorious selection, with actual flash on the troll.
EGB Spoons: Conventional trout casting spoons will additionally work with a dropper and bait and could also be easily tailored for trolling. I like EGB spoons as a result of of their good wobble and glorious flash. The extra compact physique of a casting spoon makes it sink quicker so additional weight might not be wanted.
Mepps Comet: I’m a giant fan of the Comet #3 or #4 with white blade and crimson dots. I used to be turned onto this spinner by an angler in Longlac. It has confirmed its value on splake, brook trout, and rainbows. It’s only a killer.
Panther Martin Spinners: these sonic blades throw a ton of vibration. The 7 ⁄16– and 3 ⁄10-ounce variations work effectively, and there’s a extensive number of blade colors and our bodies to select from (together with one referred to as HolyRoe).
My dropper bait picks
Worm: The primary stay bait is half a night- crawler or an entire backyard worm. Thread the worm head onto the hook and go away a brief piece pathing. If you happen to go away an excessive amount of worm, trout will snatch it off with out getting hooked.
Minnow: A stay or useless minnow works, however use small or medium-sized ones, not massive. Thread the minnow by the mouth and out by the high of the pinnacle. If you happen to use an extended shanked hook, like a #2 or #4 Carlisle, you possibly can thread the hook by your entire physique of the minnow.
Leech: Might be efficient for trout in summer time.
Berkley Gulp: If you happen to desire synthetic options (and I do) there are a lot of choices. Berkley Gulp crawlers and minnows are glorious and I’ve discovered them extra resilient on the hook.
Mister Tornado Exude Nymphs: These are value a strive. Even a plastic tornado, grub, or tube can be utilized as a trailer. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Strive trolling {hardware} with bait this season and count on to be impressed. It’s an actual sleeper.
Find out how to troll it
The great thing about a trolling set-up like that is you possibly can cowl a lot water. I’ve discovered that working a shoreline, over reefs, and alongside rock ledges will be particularly productive. In the summertime, when trout are deeper, add some additional weight to get down and troll the basin. Some anglers will even use lead core line to get down constantly to twenty or 30 toes.
Check the motion of your lure at numerous speeds. Not all spoons run effectively at sluggish speeds, and never all spinners have to be trolled quick. Little changes could make a giant distinction.
Take away the treble of your spoon or spinner and add a four- to six-inch dropper with #4 or #6 octopus hook. The dropper line will be 10- to 14-pound monofilament or fluorocarbon.
Trout are not often line shy when bait is trolled behind a lure.
Initially printed within the Spring 2024 difficulty of Ontario OUT of DOORS
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