Spawn sacks

[keithm87]

So I see in the trout forums that these work well when targeting both trout and salmon. So I was wondering if anyone has used these around vt? I see that they appear to be legal for use in VT according to F&W. So has anyone tried them, with any success?

[JMailbox8]

How would you fish with an egg sack through the ice?

[legend]

dead stick works in wyoming.....

[keithm87]

Yeah I guess people just dead stick them, figured it may be worth a shot on a tip up, or the jaw jacker

[JMailbox8]

Would you fish them on bottom or just under the ice? You've got me curious now.

[keithm87]

Not any sort of clue... hopefully someone chimes in with some info.

[peteinvermont]

when I was younger I knew a guy that caught trout all day long on them.  He just hooked a small treble through the netting, and dropped the sack to the bottom - but he was in very shallow water (3-6') right where a brook emptied into the lake.  He wouldn't even stand on the ice...he's stand on shore and watch his tipups. 

[fishn freak13]

They work great for rainbows when they are spawning in shallow water 1-5 ft.  They do work out in deeper water just under the ice but not as good as when you fish them in shallow by a brook.  Haven't had much luck on them for Browns though.  Your biggest problem is going to be finding a lake around here that has a healthy population of reproducing rainbows.

[pokholes]

Not any sort of clue... hopefully someone chimes in with some info.

Check the NH forums, I believe the use them over there.

[VTMatt]

If you're fishing spawn, it either has to be store bought junk or the eggs have to come from the same water body, and they must be treated properly.  That being said, spawn works very well in rivers and lakes for trout and lakers, but salmon not as much (they will work but not as good as other things). Trout will eat eggs year round, especially during the Spring and Fall spawn.  The problem with spawn is that the eggs turn a white color after a while because of the cold water. The more the eggs are cured, the longer they'll keep color, but they won't "milk" as well. The steelies to crazy when a bag is popped and the eggs leak. I know a lot of guys that will use a fresh bag and pop some and only use the bag for 10 drifts and then change it.

For ice fishing, it may work...but my guess is the eggs will then white very quickly.

[JMailbox8]

Does it make a difference if they turn white? I can't imagine the cold water changes their flavor. Are trout that picky with color? White usually works best for me when jigging for lakers anyways.

[VTMatt]

They don't look natural when they're white like that.  When I used to spin fish mostly, I could fish with a white bag for an hour and as soon as I put on a new bag I would get a fish on the first drift. White bags still catch fish, but your catch rate drops dramatically if the eggs are white. Of course that's my own personal opinion but I know others who would agree.

[BomoBrown]

I have imagine the realy challenge would be keeping it on your hook long enough to find a trout. The smelt would strip that hook in a heart beat here on Bomoseen.

[VTMatt]

Spawn is usually wrapped in mesh bags that are quite tough. The smelt may peck but they wouldn't do much.

[fishy1]

x2

[BassInVt]

http://www.berkley-fishing.com/PowerBait%C2%AE-Power-Eggs%C2%AE-Floating-Magnum/1285471,default,pd.html

I've used these for years.