Spring Fishing!

There are some things in life that can rejuvenate the soul. Spring fishing is one of these things. To be out in the country air as the last snow spots melt away is so refreshing. I can't help but be awe inspired at the way nature cleans and heals as it changes with each season.

There is nothing quite like that first season cast. You throw that bait into the water with such high hopes. You cast, retrieve and repeat. If the fish are biting it's even better.

So now that we are all geared up to fish this spring. The looming question might be what do we use for bait? That's a tough question to answer as it largely depends on where you are and what species of fish you are targeting. Today, let's focus on trout.

Water: First make sure the water is ready. Trout are cold blooded. like other cold blooded creatures, trout will be rather dormant if the water table is too cold. A good rule of thumb is to check the temperature of the water. Some experts use the 44 degree rule. If the water is not 44 degrees they say skip the fishing. However, many people report catching trout in water that registered as low as 39-40 degrees. So don't be too quick to put that rod back in the car. You drove or walked there, take some casts to see what might be there.

During springtime rainbow and lake trout tend to be within the first 20 feet of the water column. It is a good rule of thumb to look around the lake. Is there ice cover? If there is ice, trout can often be found hiding just along the edges, ie. where the ice has melted away and meets the water (Please do not walk out onto thin ice). This is because many trout, like rainbows like to stay just under the ice during the winter. If there is no ice on the lake your best bet is to get that bait between the first 20 feet of the water column.

What to use: The obvious is live bait. For smaller trout use trout worms or night crawlers (night crawlers may be too big). Spoons may also be great. We often use the smaller Swedish Pimples. Some people use the Pimples only during the winter months. It's unfortunate, because these anglers are missing out on a really effective bait. For trout, we usually use the smaller Swedish Pimples. The smaller Pimples are sizes 2 and 3. We have customers who fish the Great lakes and they often order larger Pimples, such as sizes 5 and 6, for the large lakers they are after.

Other jigs may also do the trick. Northland Tackle makes a nift little jig called the Forage Minnow Jig. These have holographic baitfish images and flash like crazy. If jigged correctly, not too fast, these look realistic to the trout.

Best of luck to you.

Jax Cat Tackle
jaxcattackle.com