Ice Fishing for Trout: Tips and Techniques
Trout are delicious and sporty to catch. With over 15 species of trout, knowing how to catch them is important.Here is everything you need to know about ice fishing for trout.
Equipment and Gear
Most trout species grow to more giant proportions, and it’s advisable to have a tackle that can withstand the weight of large fish. Some species, like the Rainbow trout, can achieve up to 40 inches in length.
If you’re a beginner and not used to ice fishing, you can use light ice fishing tackles but be sure you target smaller fish.
Here is a list of things you need if your primary target is trout.
- Rod
When ice fishing for trout, you need a rod that is between 3 to 4 feet. You can use a standard ice fishing rod if you’re targeting smaller trout. However, bring along a strong rod if you target larger species like the lake trout because they’re heavy.
- Reel
Ensure you invest in a good fishing reel. Ideally, your reel should have a size of at least 2000 to 3000.
If you’re planning to go fishing in deeper water, carry a larger reel because it allows extra line capacity. However, you might not need a reel with an additional capacity if you only target rainbow trout or brown trout.
- Fishing Line
Trout have excellent vision, and placing a thick fishing line can scare them away. Use an extra light line to increase the chances of inducing a bite.
Ideally, invest in a 4 to 6-pound monofilament line if you’re targeting brown or rainbow trout. For larger species like the lake trout, use a 10 to 15-pound braided line. Always use braided lines over fluorocarbon and monofilament lines because they don’t stretch.
- An Ice Shanty
An ice shanty with a small propane heater will keep you warm when waiting for the fish to bite.
- Ice Auger
The ice gets quite hard, and you will need an auger to drill holes. Invest in a good electric auger to help drill through the ice effortlessly.
- Tip Ups and Rod Bells
Sometimes, you need to drill and set multiple holes to increase the chances of catching a trout. It becomes hard to know when an ice fish bites, but this equipment will notify you when they detect a fish bite.
- Depth/Fish Finder
Instead of drilling holes randomly, it’s good to have a good depth and fish finder. There are many fish species in a lake, and these finders will help you locate where the trout are.
Other essential fishing gear to bring along includes an ice cover, rod holders, shovels, buckets, chairs, a hot drink, and snacks.
Best Baits and Lures for Trout
You can use both artificial and live bait to attract trout. This is because trout remain active even in cold water and will take most of the bait you present to them.
Baits and Lures to Use for Trout Fishing
While other species get less active when the water temperatures decrease, trout remain active even when it’s freezing. Some of the best natural baits and artificial lures include:
- Nightcrawlers and Wax Worms
Nightcrawlers and wax worms are relativelyn natural baits so you’re supposed to have a jigging rod to bring trout closer to your bait.
- Minnows
Live minnows are perfect for catching trout. The minnows’ vibration and flash in the water column attract active trout from afar. Ensure you carry larger minnows if you target lake trout.
- Flutter Spoons
Most anglers prefer flutter spoons because they throw a lot of flashes in the water and don’t scare the ice fish away.
- Salmon Eggs
Salmon eggs attracts these game fish because they are bright and smelly. You can as well use artificial salmon eggs available in many tackle shops.
- Marabou Jigs
Anglers prefer using them because they attract ice fish from deeper water. Ensure you use brighter colors at night and darker colors during the day to increase the chances of catching more fish.
- Jigs
You can increase your chances of catching trout by tipping tiny jigs with wax worms. Always carry a heavier jig if you plan to fish in deeper water or when the weather is rough.
- Vertical Jigging Spoons
These shiny vertical spoons work best by attracting trout to your bait. It’s advisable to carry jigging spoons of different sizes and weights and see which attracts more fish.
- Spinners
Spinners are excellent for ice fishing and work by causing vibrations that attract fish.
Tips and Techniques for Catching Trout
To increase the chances of catching trout, you must deploy different ice fishing techniques because they rarely move in schools. Trout such as brown trout are usually found in relatively shallow areas and rarely move in deep water, especially during cold conditions.
You can use trial and error to locate trout, but you can also use a fish finder to make your work easier. The most preferred ice fishing techniques for trout are dead sticking, tip ups, and active jigging.
Dead Sticking
Trout are sensitive creatures and are usually scared away by noise. Dead sticking involves setting your baited fishing line on the rod and moving away. This reduces your chances of scaring them as they come towards your bait.
Ensure you put at least two rods to increase the chances of taking home a rainbow trout.
Active Jigging
Trout don’t move in schools and prefer wandering in a wide area. So, you attract them to your bait by jiggling. Jiggling sends a vibration into the water and draws trout miles away.
Tip Ups
You need a tip up to notify you when the fish bites. Tip ups are especially effective if you want to catch lake trout. This is because they’re large enough to move the tip ups when they bite your bait.
Conclusion
Trout are among the most popular sport fish targeted by anglers. The most famous rivers and lakes for trout fishing include Lake Superior, Crystal Lake, Lake Charlevoix, and Higgins Lake.
Remember to bring along an ice auger, a fishing rod, and a line made explicitly for trout fishing. Trout mostly move in shallow areas, and you can increase the chances of catching more fish by using live minnows, jiggling spoon, and spinners.
