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Q:
Early season just opened here in WI. What are some tactics you try to use to catch trout when they just aren't biting?

Question by mmtranberg. Uploaded on March 09, 2010

Answers (14)

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from Sourdough Dave wrote 1 year 48 weeks ago

I hiked up the canyon today and sections of the river are now free of ice. I think it is time to give the trout a try.

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from Teodoro wrote 1 year 48 weeks ago

A worm is glamorless, but often deadly. And fishing them right actually takes a bit of skill, though any fool can dunk one.

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from MLH wrote 1 year 48 weeks ago

Eat breakfast, then eat lunch, then fish a double nymph in deep holes or fly/nymph rig in shallow waters until I stumble on a hatch. Stay out until dark.

Water is usually deep and cold from the snow melt in the upper Michigan so our opener is often just a call to get out. Not much snow left so this year's opener could be interesting. How are the water levels in 'sconsin?

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from mmtranberg wrote 1 year 48 weeks ago

We cant fish worms in early season, just artificial. the water is still quite cold, but will probably warm up this weekend hopefully. I was told to fish spoons when the waters cold to trigger a defensive reaction to get them to bite.

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from MossBoss125 wrote 1 year 48 weeks ago

Ha! Matt, you don't fly fish like me, so double nymphin it aint an option for you; yet. No live bait here in WI, which sucks because with how slow the fish already are, the artificial lure only rgulation makes turning on a bite hard this early in the year. Unless you are a fly junkie like myself, the artificial lure regulation sucks! I personaly think it would not be a huge deal if it was changed because with the low number of early season fishermen/women, I believe that the trout would not get too used to the early preassure.

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from MossBoss125 wrote 1 year 48 weeks ago

Yeah, thats what lots of people say about spinners and large flashy lures.

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from matouse3 wrote 1 year 48 weeks ago

I've had a lot of luck with large Rapalas in the early spring. Those big fish are putting on the feed bags and will go after some big stuff early in the season.

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from MossBoss125 wrote 1 year 48 weeks ago

Were do you fish these large rapalas...on the Namekagon, I will fish those...I know it is like the best, but we go up and fish there in mid june once the hex hatch is just over to fish the rapalas...but the hex hatch is a must do too.

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from MossBoss125 wrote 1 year 48 weeks ago

Like six inch origianal floaters and other mid depth ones.

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from matouse3 wrote 1 year 47 weeks ago

Yeah, 6 inch and even bigger. I've gotten some 23in. + on some 7 inch floaters- I carry a bunch of sizes and will throw them all in a hole that I don't get initial strikes in. You have to stick with a good looking hole, when you are sure there is something in there. I fish in northern MI, but the tactics are the same. I love the hex hatch, and for anyone that hasn't fished it, it is a must see. Absolutely amazing.
The rapalas work great in the spring and the fall. They are really focused on big baits that time of year.

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from MossBoss125 wrote 1 year 47 weeks ago

YEAHHHH!!!!

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from Gilltheman wrote 1 year 47 weeks ago

Early season trout means slow, and deep presentations for me. I like pink or neon green.

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from bo wrote 1 year 47 weeks ago

nymphs down on the bottom or dead drift wooly buggers

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from rudyglove27 wrote 1 year 47 weeks ago

Using live bait is one of the most popular and effective ways to catch spring trout. Many anglers find night crawlers among the best all-around choice of baits for early-season fishing. Others do well with wax worms, minnows, redworms, wigglers (Hexagenia mayfly nymphs) and -- especially, if spring spawning rainbows are present in your chosen stream -- salmon eggs!!!

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from bo wrote 1 year 47 weeks ago

nymphs down on the bottom or dead drift wooly buggers

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from Sourdough Dave wrote 1 year 48 weeks ago

I hiked up the canyon today and sections of the river are now free of ice. I think it is time to give the trout a try.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Teodoro wrote 1 year 48 weeks ago

A worm is glamorless, but often deadly. And fishing them right actually takes a bit of skill, though any fool can dunk one.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from MLH wrote 1 year 48 weeks ago

Eat breakfast, then eat lunch, then fish a double nymph in deep holes or fly/nymph rig in shallow waters until I stumble on a hatch. Stay out until dark.

Water is usually deep and cold from the snow melt in the upper Michigan so our opener is often just a call to get out. Not much snow left so this year's opener could be interesting. How are the water levels in 'sconsin?

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from mmtranberg wrote 1 year 48 weeks ago

We cant fish worms in early season, just artificial. the water is still quite cold, but will probably warm up this weekend hopefully. I was told to fish spoons when the waters cold to trigger a defensive reaction to get them to bite.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from MossBoss125 wrote 1 year 48 weeks ago

Ha! Matt, you don't fly fish like me, so double nymphin it aint an option for you; yet. No live bait here in WI, which sucks because with how slow the fish already are, the artificial lure only rgulation makes turning on a bite hard this early in the year. Unless you are a fly junkie like myself, the artificial lure regulation sucks! I personaly think it would not be a huge deal if it was changed because with the low number of early season fishermen/women, I believe that the trout would not get too used to the early preassure.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from MossBoss125 wrote 1 year 48 weeks ago

Yeah, thats what lots of people say about spinners and large flashy lures.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from matouse3 wrote 1 year 48 weeks ago

I've had a lot of luck with large Rapalas in the early spring. Those big fish are putting on the feed bags and will go after some big stuff early in the season.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from MossBoss125 wrote 1 year 48 weeks ago

Were do you fish these large rapalas...on the Namekagon, I will fish those...I know it is like the best, but we go up and fish there in mid june once the hex hatch is just over to fish the rapalas...but the hex hatch is a must do too.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from MossBoss125 wrote 1 year 48 weeks ago

Like six inch origianal floaters and other mid depth ones.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from matouse3 wrote 1 year 47 weeks ago

Yeah, 6 inch and even bigger. I've gotten some 23in. + on some 7 inch floaters- I carry a bunch of sizes and will throw them all in a hole that I don't get initial strikes in. You have to stick with a good looking hole, when you are sure there is something in there. I fish in northern MI, but the tactics are the same. I love the hex hatch, and for anyone that hasn't fished it, it is a must see. Absolutely amazing.
The rapalas work great in the spring and the fall. They are really focused on big baits that time of year.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from MossBoss125 wrote 1 year 47 weeks ago

YEAHHHH!!!!

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Gilltheman wrote 1 year 47 weeks ago

Early season trout means slow, and deep presentations for me. I like pink or neon green.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from rudyglove27 wrote 1 year 47 weeks ago

Using live bait is one of the most popular and effective ways to catch spring trout. Many anglers find night crawlers among the best all-around choice of baits for early-season fishing. Others do well with wax worms, minnows, redworms, wigglers (Hexagenia mayfly nymphs) and -- especially, if spring spawning rainbows are present in your chosen stream -- salmon eggs!!!

+1 Good Comment? | | Report

Post an Answer

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