Got a Puzzle for you guys

[cutbow_07]

Alrighty then......I live in south west MT and fish a fishery that produces some stellar trout, I consider stellar 3-5lb average since I've never caught one smaller.  I have fished this lake my whole life and have a few questions.  The lake is usually quite murky through the winter since the algae dies off for the winter and high winds keep it stirred up until severe cold.  I have caught fish all over the water column with little or no sense to it.  No matter where the wind is blowing to or from, barometric pressure, temperature, and so forth has led me to pattern these fish consistently.  Im allowed 2 poles per person and cant use minnows.  This past ice season I caught a 20" brown 6" off the bottom on a pink ratso and then a rainbow halfway down the water column (1-10ft).  The rainbow I caught on a yellow perch forage minnow pattern with a worm and egg on board.  The ratso had no bait at all and the brown nibbled at it for 20 minutes while the rainbow yanked the pole to the edge of the hole.  Old timers are telling me to use corn,worms, and eggs on the same hook and to find the springs under the ice......I DO NOT WANT TO FIND THE SPRINGS.  I've seen panther martins, wooly buggers, and tiny tot jigs work here....what is going on?  Any input is much appreciated

[jimmyclaude]

I'm puzzled alright... Your catching 20" browns and rainbows all over the water column, no matter what you throw at them....
HUH?  Whats the problem again?

[pooley]

i'm puzzled too. you can catch trout anywhere in the water column, even just under the ice. the ratso is a lure, and the worm is bait, so that's a no brainer. what's the puzzle? you seem to be doing good.

[cutbow_07]

Those are the only two fish I have caught there in the past 2 years.  There are no perch or other baitfish aside from suckers in the lake.  I mean maybe Im fishing this all weird.  I fish the arm farthest away from public access (1 1/2 miles) cause we have property right up to it essentially.  A few people walk all the way while some bring 4 wheelers through the canyon, which to me is suicide.  Talked to some guys last year that were in my new spot and they said they had caught 12 rainbows, 4 browns, and an 18inch brookie along with numerous suckers.   Needless to say I nearly had a heart attack when they gave the numbers of their catch and had to see it to believe it.  But their biggest fish was 18"?   Im not bragging or boasting but wondering why I never run into fish under 16-18 inches in open water or hardwater.  So what's going on in this lake?

[miket.]

sounds to me like you have every thng down pat. not sure what the problem is because you sound like you have it all under control according to the post. maybe a little more input will get your point out there.

[Master Angler]

It is strange you are only catching the bigger ones.  You say you have patterned these fish consistently but how come you've only caught 2 fish these past 2 years? Or have you only fished it once or twice these past 2 years? As for the trout being all over the water column, thats normal, as there is no doubt a lot of different insects in the lake which will be all over the water column, throughout the entire year.   And there must be some sort of minnows in there too.   How deep of water do you usually fish?  In the winter I find really shallow water the best for rainbows (2-5 ft of water).   One thing you could do when you catch a fish is use a stomach pump to see what they are feeding on, then "match the hatch", this will give you more info as to whats going on at different times of the year.

[bart]

cutbow_07, are you complaining or bragging...

[sticks]

if your worried about the springs, bring a spud bar to check the ice ahead of you.  to find the springs watch it next spring and fall and watch for the areas to freeze first and open back up first.

[cutbow_07]

No Im not bragging but merely stating the facts.  The average rainbow 2 years ago during the spawn was 22" and 2-3lbs.  This information comes from being at the milking station on the main tributary where the rainbows are milked by the FWP.  These rainbows are originally Deschmidt rainbows but are the only trout known to of adapted to be highly resistant to whirling disease and are being studied in depth around the state. 
Forage resources are very high with minnow lures like blue foxes work well during open water.  A huge staple of the food chain is the crawdad population.  Could the problem with catching more fish be the fact that they have no need to feed since so much food is available to them?

[pooley]

that could be one reason. also, from reading posts here, a lot of people fish very shallow water for bows. try water from 5 feet deep to as little as a foot deep. they will post more once it gets cold.

[dabber-doo]

LOL I'm confused. 

[jayswimmer09]

odds are when you pump their stomachs it would just reviel minnows which he cant use. i would have to say your best bet is to fish more and fish harder!!! dont be afraid to move. any guys on here can give you tips but the best way to learn how to fish better is do it yourself. Good choice on not going toward the hot springs. In fact im not sure why they would say that. The warmer water would hold less o2 which should keep the fish far away. If in the winter there are no weeds at all. then your best bet is to go deep. Thats where the 02 is the strongest because its the coldest water. If there are any weeds then its simple, fish the weeds

[cutbow_07]

Yeah i will keep my eye on future posts and start changing some more things up.  Thanks to all for giving me input and best wishes to all!

[Neptune]

Cutbow,

do you understand why finding those springs may improve your catch rate?  Oxygen!  As the winter presses on the lake becomes less oxygenated due to the lack of exposed surface area.  The fish will congregate where they feel it is easier to breath.  The bait will congregate there also.


I gotta ask....what lake?



Good Fishing

[miket.]

hey cutbow 07, make sure you keep us posted or updated. thanks

[mud_n_fun]

Cutbow,

do you understand why finding those springs may improve your catch rate?  Oxygen!  As the winter presses on the lake becomes less oxygenated due to the lack of exposed surface area.  The fish will congregate where they feel it is easier to breath.  The bait will congregate there also.


I gotta ask....what lake?



Good Fishing

Not only will there be more oxygen but yes the water there will be a little warmer. maybe into the 40's. the fish would like 40degree water much more than the 30 degree water.

[jimmyclaude]

odds are when you pump their stomachs it would just reviel minnows which he cant use. i would have to say your best bet is to fish more and fish harder!!! dont be afraid to move. any guys on here can give you tips but the best way to learn how to fish better is do it yourself. Good choice on not going toward the hot springs. In fact im not sure why they would say that. The warmer water would hold less o2 which should keep the fish far away. If in the winter there are no weeds at all. then your best bet is to go deep. Thats where the 02 is the strongest because its the coldest water. If there are any weeds then its simple, fish the weeds

 Jay ,
 All of the trout that I have caught the last two seasons have been full of snails... not a minnow, crawfish, in any of them. some caddisfly larve though.

[pooley]

actually, springs in the lake have a low amount of disolved o2. not a good place to icefish. for some reason, where steams come in, it also is not good. been reading about this for years!

[miket.]

yes pooley, i have heard something of the same nature myself.

[jimmyclaude]

  Link?

[Neptune]

actually, springs in the lake have a low amount of disolved o2. not a good place to icefish. for some reason, where steams come in, it also is not good. been reading about this for years!

Pooley, this totally depends on the spring...and unfortunately there is not definitive way to tell.  Either way, fish congregate at underwater springs because the water temperature maintain a more consistent temperature.  When I find them, I have always found more fish.

Good Fishing

[pooley]

hhhmmmm. could be a 'where you are ' thing. around here, it means less fish. could be something as simple as PH. i'll have to look into it more.

[jayswimmer09]

Jay ,
 All of the trout that I have caught the last two seasons have been full of snails... not a minnow, crawfish, in any of them. some caddisfly larve though.

and that my friend is why you got to learn how to fish differently when you move cause were i fish i always find small minnows in my trout

[pikeking]

I have some tips on catching nice size trout. Swedish Pimples and Mealworms. Gold and silver. I some times catch a trout here and there...

[jimmyclaude]

and that my friend is why you got to learn how to fish differently when you move cause were i fish i always find small minnows in my trout

These are hard water trout.... during soft water season they have every thing in their bellys.

[jimmyclaude]

should be no minnows in pristine trout waters

[jayswimmer09]

the lakes im fishing arnt pristine. they are all stocked and its put and take, they love the little minnows, i find them full of them all the time

[jimmyclaude]

Guess you don't have the "No live Bait rule"?

[jayswimmer09]

not yet, its bound to happen eventually though

[Fishrmn]

Not only will there be more oxygen but yes the water there will be a little warmer. maybe into the 40's. the fish would like 40degree water much more than the 30 degree water.

Where are you finding 30 degree water?  Ain't that ice???

Fishrmn