Support Iceshanty... Get some great gear and forum goodies... Join The Iceshanty Hardwater Militia
Baits and Scents – Cutbait is legal if the fish used has been legally acquired and the size, bag and possession limits for that species and body of water have been followed. It also is legal to chum for fish using nonharmful baits. Anise oil and other scents that do not stun, kill or harm fish are permitted.
No reason trout wouldn't work, just observe the regs for bait wherever you go. For example, here in WI you can't use dead bait unless it is preserved in a way other than freezing or refrigeration; that pretty much means salted. I've done that and I'll always salt dead baits regardless of the regs, I think it helps.As far as muskies on dead bait, don't believe everything you hear. I've caught many thru the ice swinging dead bait though I confess to presenting most of it on a wind tipup. That said, please consider C&R for these guys as they do help keep systems in balance, again contrary to what you might hear/read.I had some lake herring from Superior one year when I tried to get bloater chubs. There were no chubs in the catch so they saved me 50# of the smallest herring. I bought 'em sight unseen (wrapped in butcher paper) for $1 a pound. When I got 'em home the smallest one was 12" and most were 14 - 15". I thought what the hey and took them on a local lake at early ice to "select" for bigger pike. Didn't even get my 3rd tippy in the water and had a 39" musky chewing on some of that 15" shark bait. Next day I caught a 44" and I put the big stuff away not wanting to get a ticket for targeting out of season. See the 39" below (I was fishing solo for the 44" so no pic):Just my experience, UMMV....../m
We got into some big river trout in western Nebraska a couple years ago. I wish we could get them to last through the summer around here. They are a blast to catch when they are 18"+, in heavy current, and on light tackle.
A lot of the small town ponds and city lakes around here are stocked with put-and-take trout in the fall yearly. The water warms up too much the next summer, and they die off. I'm thinking catching them this fall and using them for big Pike and Muskies under our tip ups. We fish one lake in Nebraska that is known for monster pike and muskie, holding the state record for both. One of which was a 35.5" pike I caught last year, not exactly a monster, but my biggest by far.We typically just use frozen smelt for bait, as some of the other lakes we fish, that is the only legal bait.Well, this year I have been working on a few other baits to use on the lakes that are not under that rule. I caught, seasoned, and vacuum sealed a few dozen creek chubs ranging from 4" to 7". I'm thinking they will work pretty well, but I like having options, and and bigger is always better right?I know trout are pretty greasy, and flavorful, so they should work well. The smallest I usually catch are maybe 7-8", but with chances of 40" pike and 50" muskie, that's just an afternoon snack.I'm thinking just to catch and package them the same way as the creek chubs, so they stay relativity fresh.Anyone use trout for bait like this?
Who's paying for the trout you plan to use for bait? Taxpayer? F & G club? Doesn't seem to me that's what they're stocked for.
If its put and take public water then the person who caught them has the right to do what ever theychoose with the. Some states have certain laws pertaining to wasting fish and game though so you just can't throw them in the garbage or garden. I have seen guys here in pa throw a whole trout under a tomatoe plant with some Lyme for fertilizer