trout fly Fishing in lakes Tips and Techniques Grab Bag!

[buzzardbait2]

where and when are the biggest trout in lakes found

[Bodofish]

where and when are the biggest trout in lakes found? THINK INSIDE OUT, the biggest trout in lakes are found cruising the shoreline early in the morning or late evening. big fish need big food and big food is found around the shoreline, they will take a small creature off the shore just like a killer whale will beach itself to capture prey. depending on your skill level with a fly rod, position yourself close to the shorline and cast to shore with one of my favorites from Denny Rickards website (flyfishingstillwaters.com) the Seal Bugger in a burnt orange.

I see a Denny boy..... Keep working it, it's a good one but not the only one.

[jonb]

It depends on the lake. In some lakes the larger fish key in on chironomids, which can be found in 5-20+ ft of water. Some lakes have a large baitfish population and the largest trout key in on those, which are mostly found in <5ft of water. Some trout fisheries (alpine lakes) are best fished as the ice is melting, trout will wait for food previously frozen in the ice and eat it as it thaws. So there is no one go to technique or fly. Personally id fish a knudson spider or leech over a woolley bugger anyday if wanted to immitate baitfish in the shallows.

[Ian Horning]

Chronies work great at certain times of the year. I personally love to fish leech patterns, size 6-10, either on a full sink or under an indicator. Tying them with a non-slip loop under an indicator and casting them into the wind is a great technique, keeping the fly within a foot of the bottom or thereabouts.

Baitfish such as fathead chubs, stocked in a couple lakes (Pass being a prime example) or small perch or trout make a fine meal for large, predatory trout. Trolling Rapalas in areas with brown, rainbow, cutts, etc, catches fish, especially browns. So naturally throwing baitfish patterns towards the shoreline or over weed beds is a productive technique. Some brown trout even become bass-like and hang around docks, foraging on baitfish.

Don't neglect our hard-shelled friends either. There are certain lakes with robust crawfish populations, and fishing the bottom with a craw imitation (I wouldn't go bass size though) can work especially during warmer months when they are more active.

I tie wire-weighted streamers, generally white with some green baitfish flash over top and stick on eyes cemented to the sides. These work well. Usually, they're around 1.5-2 inches long, sometimes bigger. The weight is great for getting th efly a couple feet under the surface, especially on weighted lines, while maintaining a fast strip. Let the fly sink a couple seconds, then retrieve quickly. Love this technique. And if you fish in multi-species lakes, you'll catch bass, large perch and crappie sometimes, and even catfish on occasion. If you fish in areas with muskies or pike in the mix, don't be surprised if a little bugger comes after it either!

Just my two cents.

Have fun y'all!

[jonb]

Thats a good 2 cents mr. Horning

Terrestrials work well too. Definately have some grasshoppers and ants. Ive done well on dry flies on lakes too. depends on how the trout are feeding that day. I once gutted a trout that had 5 adult 3"-4" frogs in its belly..so theres that too. That was one greedy 14" cutty lol

[Bodofish]

And I've pulled in a 10" bow with a 9" soft bait salamander complete with hooks hanging out the front. Still trying to eat more. I guess my point is trout in lakes will eat darn near anything that will fit.... or not, in their mouths. I don't really think the pattern matters that much, more the color and will it fit in the cake hole. =)

[Ian Horning]

Want a killer big trout bug, look no further than Crayleesha.

Yessir, a mixture of a semi-seal leech and crazy dad. Lead eyes lead to an up-riding, quick sinking pattern, burying in the top jaw of trout. Cuts through weeds like a champ too. Tied on a #6 salmon hook (more like a 2x long #8). Is it a leech? Is it a craw? Who knows. It's the woolly bugger of invertebrate patterns, representing a wide variety of species.

Cast this stinker around structure and through weed beds and hold on.