Merwin: Brown Trout Battle Plan
This morning I’m fishing for advice on catching brown trout. Here’s the deal. One of my favorite bass lakes also...
This morning I’m fishing for advice on catching brown trout. Here’s the deal. One of my favorite bass lakes also holds a number of large browns. Right now in the cold, clear waters of early spring, the trout are cruising the shoreline drop-offs chasing baitfish. These browns are skittish and easily spooked. They are also serious fish–from 2 on up to 6 or 7 pounds and more.
I could slow-troll something along the drops, but I think in that case the boat and motor might be spooking fish. Or I could position the boat for a slow, quiet wind-driven drift along shore, casting something like a Rapala or a big streamer fly. I could also anchor and hope one or two fish eventually cruise into range. I could fish live baits patiently. I could cast hard jerkbaits aggressively.
So help me out with a plan here. What’s the best way to catch these things? And what’s going to be the best lure? I won’t be able to get back out on that water until sometime next week, but I’ll happily take the best of your suggestions and give them a whirl….