View Full Version : Rainbow trout fishing with a lure?
So a few weeks ago i was at a lake and trout where jumping everywhere. I was bait and wait fishing and nothing. I had a kastmaster lure I never tried. Put it on and first cast fish on! The issue I am having is I lose more fish then I land. Never fishing for trout with a lure I have noticed they have a soft mouth and i feel bad for some of the damage I have done to them. Is there a trick? Am I setting the hook to hard? Trying to get them in to fast? Wrong lure? I have been lucky the past few times out and when I hook in I give the pole to either my 5 or 6 yr to real in and they get mad when they spit the hook. Any help would be great
TheAsianGuy
08-04-2011, 04:11 PM
Depending in the water that you're at. Each water body has different food sources, so, the fishes hunt for different things each time. Which water body are you at?
But, there is a commonality that I've noticed. Trouts hunt surface trapped bugs, such as spiders, crickets, dragonflies, and long legged critters. I normally get the Betsy fly lures that has foam bugs already tied to bait hooks size #8, #10, and #12. Rig a nice 2 feet leader on a sliding bobber rig, attach a clear bobber that can be filled with a bit of water for additional weight, and toss the floating lure into the water. Real about 8 inches every 50 seconds. Those trouts won't know what hit them. This will have the same effect with the panfishes.
SHOWTIME
08-04-2011, 04:13 PM
Are you using a light-tipped rod? If not that may be the case. As far as setting the hook is concerned, that could be attributing as well. You really should not set the hook when using lures or exposed hooks. Swinging on them like you're fishing a worm or bait will probablly do more harm then good.
Kastmasters and Yo Zuri inner minnows are great lures for trout, particularly when its sunny!
HTH
reservoir dog
08-04-2011, 04:17 PM
Another good lure for trout are rooster tails. I've had trout chase after them and one even jumped out of the water towards me while I was reeling it in. And on a good note, when you lose them it's not as expensive as losing a kastmaster.
Troutcz swimbait
08-04-2011, 04:17 PM
Your drag could be to loose.
Are you using a light-tipped rod? If not that may be the case. As far as setting the hook is concerned, that could be attributing as well. You really should not set the hook when using lures or exposed hooks. Swinging on them like you're fishing a worm or bait will probablly do more harm then good.
Kastmasters and Yo Zuri inner minnows are great lures for trout, particularly when its sunny!
HTH
Ok The first time I was using a light tipped rod and landed more fish. The second time I wasn't an had about a 50/50 rate on what I brought in. I do not want to damage what I don't wanna keep and some when I brought in I have destroyed their jaw. So I keep them. Maybe thinking to much into this if i am let me know.
P.S I have gotten so lucky on 3 tries and 3 different lake and I have to drive some distance to get there. I do not want to limit out in a hour so C&R is important so I can kill the time
tacklejunkie
08-04-2011, 05:37 PM
It's the rod and the way you are using it.
You gotta change something up.
Usually if you are "pulling hooks" the rod is too stiff or you are muscling in the fish.
If you are missing hooksets then the rod is not stiff enough or you didn't set hard enough.
A softer rod will help keep the hook in longer. But you may have to slam the hookset harder to compensate.
Kastmasters are heavy too and trout shake a lot. It's easy for them to shake it out.
You will need the right rod AND you will somewhat have to get them in quickly.
You really should not set the hook when using lures or exposed hooks.
I actually find a firm lift when I get hit on Panther Martins and Crankbaits with the right rod is usually OK. They do have those small hooks that pull easy but you need a light rod and they'll stay right in. You will need to set the hook a bit though, specially if the trout are 14" or larger as they begin to get harder jaws.
I lost a bunch of goldens one trip on panther martins because I couldn't get a good hookset. I had too light of a rod with me.
With the right rod you will still need to drive the hook in some, but you will notice baits staying planted in lips longer.
Don't forget to not reel against the drag and keep all your slack out. If you give a lure fish slack, that's the upper hand for them to shake the lure out. Specially with a trout or bass. From the time you get bit to the time you land the fish make sure the rod always has at least a slight bend in it.
Viejo
08-04-2011, 05:44 PM
Another way to not damage the fish so much would be to cut two of the treble hooks off and make the third barbless by crimping it down. Now that being said, I fly fish with single barbless hooks and have caught and released a whole lot of fish with nothing more then hole in their lip. I don't lose them because I keep slight tension on the line as I strip it in. I do it because I don't meat fish but enjoy the grab and take. I seldom have long distance releases with the barbless hooks. Normally, I don't even touch the fish. I net them and use my Ketchum release tool to take the hook out of the fishes mouth...ooh and ahh over the fish and send him on his way without touching him with my hands. When you catch one you'd like to keep, well you know what to do.
tacklejunkie
08-04-2011, 05:50 PM
It's actually kinda hard IMO to find the right trout rod for crankbaits and artificials. (such as kastmanster and panther martins etc)
I like the berkley 6' tactix spinning rod myself.. it's made for drop shot and finesse fishing but it's one of the best all around 4lb rods I have tried. Works really great for trout and bass fishing light line. The high modulous provides a lovely action to the light tip. $53.... Walmart.
I just built a pretty nice marbled custom rod I intended to be for bass but it had a bit more moderate action than I would have liked and turned out to be a great panther martin and trout crankbait rod. If anyone is interested in purchasing it let me know. Works great.. got a 17" wild on it the other day for dinner using a rapala CD-5. Rod was bent ina U-shape for two minutes making sure it didn't release the tiny hooks on the crankbait.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/IMG_0135.jpg
tacklejunkie
08-04-2011, 06:02 PM
Another way to not damage the fish so much would be to cut two of the treble hooks off and make the third barbless by crimping it down. Now that being said, I fly fish with single barbless hooks and have caught and released a whole lot of fish with nothing more then hole in their lip. I don't lose them because I keep slight tension on the line as I strip it in. I do it because I don't meat fish but enjoy the grab and take. I seldom have long distance releases with the barbless hooks. Normally, I don't even touch the fish. I net them and use my Ketchum release tool to take the hook out of the fishes mouth...ooh and ahh over the fish and send him on his way without touching him with my hands. When you catch one you'd like to keep, well you know what to do.
Good advice.
If you do insist on holding or photographing the fish that you don't plan to take, use WET HANDS BEFORE YOU HOLD THEM so you don't mess the fish scales and slime coat up. Use nets that are made for trout. (http://www.themeasurenet.com/index.htm) All too often I see people grab the fish dry handed or even us a WHITE TOWEL of all things to hold the fish before releasing it. Bad news! That fish probably won't last long.
I would highly recommend those nets to any serious trout angler or weekend trouter. Get the net wet before you net a fish with it too. I drag one around hanging from the back of my fly vest by a magnetic release and cord safety system. It's right there when I need it for good size fish I'm going to release but really want a picture and measurement.
tacklejunkie
08-04-2011, 06:18 PM
Maybe thinking to much into this if i am let me know.
This kind of thinking is what leads you to be a better angler.
You realize there is a problem that you think can be solved and you are trying to find the answers for it. You are on the right track. :Cool: You can never look at the details too much when it comes to landing the fish. You can always improve something to your advantage. Eventually, losing a fish you know you got a solid hookset into becomes rare when you learn to tune everything else.
You can learn to release very well without hardly ever harming the fish.
5150fishn
08-04-2011, 08:41 PM
I always have good luck using a thomas bouyant in red and gold hammered. I use a really light weight set up and you don't really need to set the hook very hard on those soft lipped beauties. A heavier rod you just don't get that sensitive touch and sometimes overdue it. Definatley good advise from others to use the proper gear and handling these fish as gently and little as possible if releasing. Use light line and keep pressure on the fish but don't try and horse them in. Good luck!
It's actually kinda hard IMO to find the right trout rod for crankbaits and artificials. (such as kastmanster and panther martins etc)
I like the berkley 6' tactix spinning rod myself.. it's made for drop shot and finesse fishing but it's one of the best all around 4lb rods I have tried. Works really great for trout and bass fishing light line. The high modulous provides a lovely action to the light tip. $53.... Walmart.
I just built a pretty nice marbled custom rod I intended to be for bass but it had a bit more moderate action than I would have liked and turned out to be a great panther martin and trout crankbait rod. If anyone is interested in purchasing it let me know. Works great.. got a 17" wild on it the other day for dinner using a rapala CD-5. Rod was bent ina U-shape for two minutes making sure it didn't release the tiny hooks on the crankbait.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/IMG_0135.jpg
That dried mud sure looks familiar. Gate still locked?
Great Info! And thanks on the info on better catch and release. I am going out this weekend and put this stuff to the test. I just hope I get lucky again because it is always a bummer when you fish with a 5 and 6 yr old and when you don't catch anything they always suggest going to sea world.
It's the rod and the way you are using it.
You gotta change something up.
Usually if you are "pulling hooks" the rod is too stiff or you are muscling in the fish.
If you are missing hooksets then the rod is not stiff enough or you didn't set hard enough.
A softer rod will help keep the hook in longer. But you may have to slam the hookset harder to compensate.
Kastmasters are heavy too and trout shake a lot. It's easy for them to shake it out.
You will need the right rod AND you will somewhat have to get them in quickly.
I actually find a firm lift when I get hit on Panther Martins and Crankbaits with the right rod is usually OK. They do have those small hooks that pull easy but you need a light rod and they'll stay right in. You will need to set the hook a bit though, specially if the trout are 14" or larger as they begin to get harder jaws.
I lost a bunch of goldens one trip on panther martins because I couldn't get a good hookset. I had too light of a rod with me.
With the right rod you will still need to drive the hook in some, but you will notice baits staying planted in lips longer.
Don't forget to not reel against the drag and keep all your slack out. If you give a lure fish slack, that's the upper hand for them to shake the lure out. Specially with a trout or bass. From the time you get bit to the time you land the fish make sure the rod always has at least a slight bend in it.
But you just answered every exact question that I had regarding why I was losing so many trout in your answer. Nice!:) Only my 2nd year fishing trout, float tubing for them. All the biggest ones that I've hooked into I've lost, up to 6lbs, usually after muscling them, one foot from my tube, yarding them towards the net, now that I see it your way, hehe. Tooooo many I've had them right there, reaching with the net and pulling hard on the rod and the hook just goes "phhht" and pulls free, I mean we were eye to eye. Cracks me up.
I use a medium rod, spinning reel, rooster tail lure. I think I've been trying a little too hard to get them in, but these trout are insanely jumpy fish. I mean many break water 5+ times before I can get them to my tube...when they don't take it 2 feet from me lol. I've always fished pike, walleye, bass, perch, before. Trout are a whole different beast.
Anyway, thx for the excellent comment. The most informative I have found in all my trout searching :)
Sozo.
SSG Stubbs
06-04-2018, 10:31 AM
Won't ever lose them close to your tube if you had some shocking device on your tube like DFG has. Better have rubber waders on or you can be knocked out like the trout.
jdogg661420
06-04-2018, 02:54 PM
you will lose the fish because its a trout. they fight, head shake, jump, and get off sometimes no big deal. recast and catch another. ive only used panther martins and ultralights for trout its the only way to go. the ultralight will lose less fish bottom line. its designed for it. but i dont care what anyone says you will still lose fish because of how trout fight. losing fish after they are hooked is part of fishing. and trust me the people who say they dont lose fish their next trips karma will bite them and they will lose fish just for saying they dont. if anything i think the treble hooks are the better way and the thing is with trout lures they are so small and hooks so light you dont have to do hook sets. since you are reeling it in most the time the trout hits unless its a pause, but they will hook themselves so treat it like a circle hook and just reel down on them and not set the hook. you can also change your line to 2-4# mono will help a lot also. if you go after monster trout then i could see using medium and heavier line but really ultralight with 2lb line can catch up to 5lb trout easily. i pinch all my barbs off because i catch and release... usually when i lose fish its not because the barb is missing its because the fish fought hard and earned his release before i got him. and drag is your friend...ultralight is heavily reliant on drag so get used to it and you will be catching a lot more of them in no time. i switched up for 6 months not pinching off barbs lost around the same amount as no barbs.. so ya you will lose fish no matter what sometimes.. good luck. and you dont need some damn shocking device lol.
DarkShadow
06-07-2018, 02:26 PM
I think this holds the record for the oldest thread that has gotten brought back up to the forefront.
7 effin years?
This deserves some type of prize.
Maybe ScubaChris can hook it up with some of his sponsor's products.
Hah :) Thanks all. i know it was an old thread, but hey, info that good can bear repeating :) as a newbie to trout fishing, tacklejunkie's post was all the answers I was googling the questions for all tucked up into in one post :)
Shocking device on my tube! lol thats hilarious, I had no inkling that there was such a thing. I think I'll stay a little more traditional for now but thanks for the idea :)
Yes, I can see trout are a different beast than the other types of fish I fish for. None of the others are as acrobatic. bass break water sometimes once or twice, but if I was to guess, I wager that I've had a trout on the line that jumped 10 times before I got him to the tube :) So many of them spit the line on a jump. Its impressive.
Cant say that I enjoy ultralight gear. In the wind.. it can be dicey, but I get it :)
Thanks all, great advice, nice forum! :)
Sozo
fishmounter
06-12-2018, 12:58 AM
Wow! It is an old thread, but like it was said, the info replied is still good info. I used to fish for trout a lot years ago with very light tackle (2 lb test) and my main go-to lure was a Mepps silver bladed, white squirrel-tail spinner with a SINGLE hook. I used a tiny black snap swivel to avoid line twist. Trout almost always slam a spinner so no hook set is needed. On a 6 foot ultralight springy rod and very light line with the drag set correctly on a quality spinning reel, that single hook will do very little damage to the mouth of any trout. I even bent down the barb on the hook so I could release them easier. Sure some threw the hook once in a while when they jumped (they always jump!), but that was part of the fun, trying to keep them on the line. I still throw my good old Mepps spinners but not for trout anymore. The toad Bluegill at a couple of our inland lakes seem to really like them too.
Nice setup Fishmounter.
I used a tiny black snap swivel to avoid line twist. Trout almost always slam a spinner so no hook set is needed.
Yeah, lately I've been dealing with nastly line twist, I'm going with a swivel now too, thx for the reminder :) but no hook set? Man that must feel crazy, it's practically a knee jerk reaction.
Ima give it a try and see what happens :) Thx for the tip.
Sozo