By John Merwin

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....

Comments (8)

from Koldkut wrote 3 years 1 week ago

I'd throw near nuff craw patterns or clouser patterns in grey/white, black/grey/white. I'd woulnd't throw wooley buggers unless you've got them tied on a size two, four x long hook with some super buggy hackle with a conehead.

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from hunt_fish_sleep wrote 3 years 1 week ago

Toss them a big fat Canadian crawler or a leech.

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from Alex Pernice th... wrote 3 years 1 week ago

Trust me on this, use a bass popper or dahlberg diver, the big browns CRUSH these with a passion... cast from shore and make a ton of noise, this makes them go nuts!

post what luck you have,

AP

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from losername2of2 wrote 3 years 1 week ago

use a live shiner minnow 4 inches or smaller or a whole night crawler. If they're suspended, free line it,and adjust weight for depth. Use a size 4 daichi or gamagatzu circle hook, and hook it through the flesh before the tail. Also, either cast from shore, or use a canoe if you have one. They're extremely skiddish in calm water or bright light. Cast a few feat in front of them so they don't spook.

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from shane wrote 3 years 1 week ago

Small or tiny Jitterbug at night. Seriously. Have caught big browns in both lakes and rivers/streams this way.

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from buckhunter wrote 3 years 1 week ago

John, I'm not much of a lake fisherman. My guess would be to anchor and make long cast with a baitfish style plug. Pick up anchor every once in a while and let the wind blow you to the next location. Maybe a little yellow kicker on the back of your plug will get the attention of the big browns.

If the fishing is tough try drifting a live minnow through the hotspots.

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from dewy67 wrote 3 years 1 week ago

Try a Falls Bait Hottie or Jig-n-Minnow. Both work excellent for trout and you can cast them a long distance
Good luck.

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from Jim in Mo wrote 3 years 6 days ago

If you happen to use a man made bait include garlic. Any type.

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from Koldkut wrote 3 years 1 week ago

I'd throw near nuff craw patterns or clouser patterns in grey/white, black/grey/white. I'd woulnd't throw wooley buggers unless you've got them tied on a size two, four x long hook with some super buggy hackle with a conehead.

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from hunt_fish_sleep wrote 3 years 1 week ago

Toss them a big fat Canadian crawler or a leech.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Alex Pernice th... wrote 3 years 1 week ago

Trust me on this, use a bass popper or dahlberg diver, the big browns CRUSH these with a passion... cast from shore and make a ton of noise, this makes them go nuts!

post what luck you have,

AP

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from losername2of2 wrote 3 years 1 week ago

use a live shiner minnow 4 inches or smaller or a whole night crawler. If they're suspended, free line it,and adjust weight for depth. Use a size 4 daichi or gamagatzu circle hook, and hook it through the flesh before the tail. Also, either cast from shore, or use a canoe if you have one. They're extremely skiddish in calm water or bright light. Cast a few feat in front of them so they don't spook.

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from shane wrote 3 years 1 week ago

Small or tiny Jitterbug at night. Seriously. Have caught big browns in both lakes and rivers/streams this way.

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from buckhunter wrote 3 years 1 week ago

John, I'm not much of a lake fisherman. My guess would be to anchor and make long cast with a baitfish style plug. Pick up anchor every once in a while and let the wind blow you to the next location. Maybe a little yellow kicker on the back of your plug will get the attention of the big browns.

If the fishing is tough try drifting a live minnow through the hotspots.

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from dewy67 wrote 3 years 1 week ago

Try a Falls Bait Hottie or Jig-n-Minnow. Both work excellent for trout and you can cast them a long distance
Good luck.

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from Jim in Mo wrote 3 years 6 days ago

If you happen to use a man made bait include garlic. Any type.

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All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.