Lets Talk Fishin'

[FREYJA]

Catching trout in Montana

I have found it more relaxing(?) to not fish while sailing, but on occasion, I have succumbed to the desire to slay trout. I have found it most effective to sail ~2.5 knots, near shallows, dragging a rapala. I am of the impression that getting very close to the shallows is beneficial, as twice when I have 'touched' bottom on my way past a bar, I have hooked some very nice Bull Trout. Perhaps the jiggling of the rod as the shock of grounding passed through it had something to do with it.

I have also traveled many passive miles dragging various lures without success. I feel that concentrating and putting the boat where you think the fish are is much more effective than just sailing around dragging a lure. This requires more active sailing, but also ads a potentially rewarding challenge.

Best bet for catching fish on a Montana lake however, is the old standby,.. a worm on a hook.
Great for passing time during a calm.

Fair Winds and Good Fishing!

 

[gettinthere]

freyja
I am not surprised your lure bouncing worked. each time the lure touches bottom, it digs up a puff of silt which looks like a baitfish is digging for something, very natural. Plus that bounce sends out shock waves that attract the trout.

last summer we caught two very nice steelhead just after dawn on a flat calm 4th of July morning on Lake Huron. Trolling at about 2 knots with a pair of dipsy divers and flutter spoons. The dipsy diver takes the lure down to about 30'.

The two keys to that success were: Dawn & 2 knots speed.

 

[caguy]

Freyja is right _ half of the battle is putting the boat where the fish are. That's where the GPS/Sounder comes in handy.
The next problem is anchoring the boat over the fish you just cruised over. To do this I bought a marker buoy that I can just throw overboard when I find a school of fish. The marker buoy unreels until the lead weight hits bottom. I can then drop anchor up stream and drift back down to the sweet spot and tie off. Nothing better than being anchored over a fish hole full of fish.