Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: Rob on March 10, 2023, 03:19:08 PM

Title: When do you start trolling for trout
Post by: Rob on March 10, 2023, 03:19:08 PM: I am itching to get the boat on the the lake. I can have a line in the water 15 min after hooking the boat to my truck and I intend to take advantage of it this year.

Right now my lake (Cocolalla, 15 min south of Sandpoint) is frozen and there are ice fishermen on it. I suspect the ice will break up and be gone in 4 weeks or so. How soon would the trout start chasing lures?

Is it based on water temp? Amount of sunlight?

I assume when the ice breaks up the water temps will be about 40 degrees.
Title: Re: When do you start trolling for trout
Post by: 7mmfan on March 10, 2023, 03:21:33 PM: As soon as you can get on the lake, they'll be biting. Don't hesitate.
Title: Re: When do you start trolling for trout
Post by: Ridgeratt on March 10, 2023, 03:24:07 PM: Pend Orielle shouldn't be hard water and you could drag a lure or two right now.
Title: Re: When do you start trolling for trout
Post by: Mfowl on March 10, 2023, 03:41:08 PM: Ice out is a good time to fish! And +1 on the Pend Oreille comment. I'd be hitting that up like crazy if it was my back yard!
Title: Re: When do you start trolling for trout
Post by: Jake Dogfish on March 10, 2023, 03:44:16 PM: I usually fish bait slow, or still fish until about May.
Title: Re: When do you start trolling for trout
Post by: Rob on March 11, 2023, 07:16:38 AM: Great! Have not made it out to Pend Oreille yet... well once when my neighbor took me out after Kamloops. Learning that lake is on my list for sure
Title: Re: When do you start trolling for trout
Post by: Stein on March 13, 2023, 04:09:59 PM: Quote from: Jake Dogfish on March 10, 2023, 03:44:16 PM
I usually fish bait slow, or still fish until about May.

:yeah:

They won't go fast or far to chase something when the water is cold. Slow everything down is what always worked for me.
Title: Re: When do you start trolling for trout
Post by: ironbuck on March 13, 2023, 04:33:31 PM: Ice off = fish on!
Title: Re: When do you start trolling for trout
Post by: gaddy on March 13, 2023, 04:54:49 PM: Maybe troll the ice edges if available ? And not to deep ? I used to like needle fish but that is a faster troll speed.
Title: Re: When do you start trolling for trout
Post by: Rob on March 13, 2023, 05:47:17 PM: Sounds like a slow flatfish might be a good choice
Title: Re: When do you start trolling for trout
Post by: Stein on March 13, 2023, 07:59:43 PM: I like bait too or big streamer flies. I always tried to give them a big juicy easy to catch meal. Whole big night crawler was my go to once I gave up fly fishing.
Title: Re: When do you start trolling for trout
Post by: Limhangerslayer on March 13, 2023, 08:27:17 PM: Quote from: Rob on March 13, 2023, 05:47:17 PM
Sounds like a slow flatfish might be a good choice
not necessarily, we troll plugs for winter trout from 1.5 to 1.9, they’ll hit it hard! Good luck
Title: Re: When do you start trolling for trout
Post by: Ridgeratt on March 13, 2023, 09:43:57 PM: these work well. I fish them for kokanee in my local lake.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/174537991/kekeda-tackle-trolling-fly
Title: Re: When do you start trolling for trout
Post by: Henrydog on March 14, 2023, 05:29:54 AM: I used to fishing Cocolalla a fair amount 20 years ago when my kid was little. Not a super trout lake unless the state changed something but I have caught okay bows there with a full sinking line 8' leader and a brown leach pattern trolled as a slow as the boat would good in a S pattern. Fish the north end early on SW winds push warmer water North.
Title: Re: When do you start trolling for trout
Post by: C-Money on March 14, 2023, 06:27:49 AM: Needlefish spoons are amazing for trolling lake rainbows. Put some of Slammin Sams XXX scent on the spoon....
Title: Re: When do you start trolling for trout
Post by: Rob on March 14, 2023, 06:50:18 AM: Thanks - I have noted the advice here and will give it a whirl once the ice is off.

They have definitely been stocking this lake for trout.

Looks like they put in 60K last year, and about the same the year prior