Rainbow advice

[FishinIsLife]

Looking to target rainbows and wondering which lake would give the best bet and tactics. Thinking pennesseewassee or the range ponds, anyone have any advice on which would give the best chance? Are they caught in all the range ponds?
From what I've read while using tip ups, worms or small shiners  in shallow water is best?
What's the deepest and shallowest you have caught them?

[Seamonkey84]

I’ve caught them in as little as 18” of water and as deep as 20’ while jigging. Tipups within a few yards of shore usually are sure bets for brookies and bows. I use nightcrawers and dillies on my tip ups, I don’t like to bother with shiners if I don’t need to. As a note, I use size 2 or 1 circle hooks for waters that have larger trout, and 6-4 for the smaller stocked ponds. Just have to learn to not set the hook, just start slowly pulling in the line and it’ll be hooked in the corner of the mouth most of the time.
I know both upper and middle range have bows, lower gets brookies and more browns.

[MadFisha]

3'-8' crawlers or small shiners. Yes on both those places good luck.

[FishinIsLife]

Thanks that helps a lot. Never put a crawler in a tipup so I feel wierd doing it. Is it better resting on bottom or suspended?

[Seamonkey84]

I’ve always hung it maybe 6-10” below the ice.

[zwiggles]

If the lake has smelt, I’d venture that’s what the holdovers are eating. They can be anywhere, but typically I target shallow water with small cobbles or ideally sand, and if there is a dock bubbler around all the better. A piece of worm and salmon eggs can also be a deadly combo.

The smarter rainbows will drop a bait if they feel any resistance. The polar style traps also work well to hide the spool in the hole, and can be set very light.

Powerbait is also an effective bait that has not been mentioned.

[FishinIsLife]

[FishinIsLife]

Success

[Seamonkey84]

Congrats! Hope the tips made it easier.

[Fish Wayniac]

Congratz on finding a Bow. What bait did you catch it with? My shack is on one of the ponds you mentioned. In 2 outings this year I have yet to catch one. I have had lots of flags with dropped baits. Out of the 3 of my friends I fish with Dan caught a 22 inch, still swimming.

[MadFisha]

Looks like a good first one to me

[Troutsniffer76]

X2 on what did you catch it with?

[TroutWorm]

Definitely try crawlers

[FishinIsLife]

Caught it jigging a silver slender spoon. Watched it happen on the camera. Came out of nowhere. Missed the spoon in it's first attempt then circled around and slammed it. Had tipups set, 2 with worms 2 with shiners. Caught nothing but perch and bass on them all day.