Trolling Rigs

Generally, springtime or shallow-water trout fishing can be done quite nicely with your standard walleye trolling rig, remembering of course the line factor. Several disappointing experiences were all that I needed to know why the trout were winning and I was losing. When I was running approximately 120 feet of line and a small floating minnow bait in the three- to five-inch range in conjunction with a single number five splitshot placed four to five feet ahead, I was consistently hitting fish but I was losing them just as consistently. What I began to realize was that this nice, soft monofilament that was so perfectly suited for casting had too much stretch to allow the lure to slip through the jaws of the trout and set the hook.

If by some strange event you find that you are hooked on lake trout, you might want to make the decision to acquire a longer, stiffer rod, perhaps to use it in conjunction with similar techniques for other species. You can purchase one of the many very good brands on the market today or you can construct it yourself. Readily available rod-building materials can be acquired from many of the well-stocked tackle shops and custom rod-building suppliers. As spring moves closer to summer, anglers must use different equipment and techniques. But first they've got to establish the depth at which to fish. In the absence of special charts of the area and sophisticated depth finders, an angler can obtain valuable clues by knowing the location of the lake trout's prey. Here's a table of the most common baitfish and their temperature requirements:

Knowing this will also help you to determine how best to simulate a particular prey in your choice of lure size, shape, color, and action.

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