Rainbow bite is slowing

[Jim111]

Looks like the rainbows are getting finicky now and hitting VERY lightly now too. I had quite a few flags this morning but all were light hits and almost no line gone. When I went to skim holes, I found a few cleaned and no flag even tripped! I hooked two fish jigging a small piece of crawler and never felt either. Just went to jig the line and both were just "there". The first was at 5:30 AM, in the dark! It fell off right at the hole, about a 16 inch fish from the looks of it (I was wearing a headlamp). I landed the second one, about a 20 inch fish. NICE! The "bite" though, was all over by 8:00 AM. I stayed a while longer and even with this storm upon us, they wouldn't hit again. The bite's lasting less and the fish are hitting lighter as each day passes now. Oh well, only six days left in the season anyway for ice fishing. We may try 'Magog for trout and salmon (big perch too) this Saturday, if the wind's not too bad?  -Jim

[triple threat]

I've been experiencing the same problem all year long on Lake Winnipesaukee with rainbows.  They trip the flag but drop it after only pulling off a few inches.  I've tried everything I can think of to make my traps as sesitive as possible but it doesn't make any difference what I do, they still drop it.  I'm going to try some jig rod holders that we made that set the hook as soon as the fish takes any line and see how those work.  Hopefully they will be the solution to my rainbow blues.

[Jim111]

We set our rainbow tip-ups like ten feet apart and sit and jig right amongst them! That's the only way we can get to the tip-up quick enough. Limited out this morning, by the way!     -Jim

[triple threat]

Sure Jim, go ahead and rub it in.

[jflood]

jim,you have been kicking some serious rainbow butt this season.
do you have this much luck in the open water

[Jim111]

We have pretty good luck, compared to most. But keep in mind, I got to know a lot of the waters and techniques due to my profession as a guide here. Most people have a regular "job" to go to every day. I have one of those too, but I can still pretty much fish and hunt when I choose to, especially now that I'm semi-retired. I no longer guide much, so can fish (or hunt) the spots that normally I'd save for "clients".  I just have to take a pager and cell phone along, in case I get called out.  -Jim