UPWEATHERDOG'S Great Lakes Weather Blog

Da Fish 'N' Trout Blog

Posted by: upweatherdog, 23:03 GMT le 05 avril 2009

Da Fish ’N’ Trout Blog

As most Yoopers know, trout and salmon fishing season on type-1 streams starts on APRIL 25TH. With trout season coming fast, I’m going to provide info on trout fishing techniques and good trout streams and lakes. I’ll mainly focus on good trout streams and lakes near Ishpeming, Michigamme, Champion, Marquette, L’Anse, Gwinn, and in the Huron Mountains.

Michigan DNR Fishing Page

Inland Trout and Salmon Regulations

Good topo maps can be found here. Topo maps are good for finding potential trout streams.
Terraserver USA

Central U.P. Topo Map

Feel free to share fishing info in the comments!

Before I get into details on fishing spots, I have some trout fishing tips.

crimped hooks
When fishing for trout, especially the native brook trout, it is best to crimp the barbs on your hooks. This minimizes damage to the fish, ensuring good fishing in the future. You may think that crimping the barbs on the hooks makes it more likely to loose the fish, but trout have mouths that tear easy. Barbed hooks sometimes tend to tear out of the mouth than stick. Unbarbed hooks just slip out when not enough tension is put on the line. I will go over casting techniques later.

Lures and Bait
Trout are picky when it comes to food and food imitations. Like with fly fishing, you usually need to match the lure to what the trout are feeding on for best catch.

Spinner Fishing
Spinner fishing is one of the best ways to catch trout. Spinner fishing is equal to or second to fly fishing it terms of catch rates. I personaly have never fly fished, but I have studied about it. On streams where brush and trees are in the way, spinner fishing is the best option. In clear water and in sunny conditions, it is best to use a orange, yellow, white, gold, or grey spinner. Spinners with willow leaf blades usually produce higher catch rates in clear water, where a fishes sight is used more than its hearing. Willow leaf blades have more of a "fishy" look and produce very little sound or vibration. In cloudy weather or muddy, cloudy water conditions, it is best to use a red, black, silver, orange, or gold spinner. Spinners with Colorado blades usually produce higher catch rates in muddy, cloudy water or in rapids. This is because Colorado blades produce a lot of vibration, so the fish are more likely to bite the spinner. Indiana blades are a hybrid between Colorado and Willow Leaf blades. Indiana blades sometimes are the best spinner blade in certin situations. In cloudy weather a silver or nickle colored blade works best, regardles of water quality. Silver, gold, or nickle spinner blades also work really good in late Spring and early Summer, because this is when the fish begin to feed on minnows, and a silvery or gold spinner blade makes a spinner look more like a minnow or shiner.

Different spinner blade colors entice different kinds of trout.

Gold blade: Brown trout
Silver blade: Rainbow trout
Copper blade: Brook trout

In large rivers with fast current, it is best to use a spinner size 1, 1 1/4, to 1 1/2.

In medium streams use spinner sizes 1/2, 3/4, and 1. If the current is high, stick with a size to 1 to 1 1/4 if your fishing for lunker fish.

In small streasms use a spinner size 0, 00, 1/32, 1/8, 1/4, and 1/2. If the stream is small but has very fast current, a size 1/2 to 1 can be used to get larger fish.

The best spinners are the Mepps Aglia, Panther Martin, and Rooster Tail. Mepps Aglia spinners are the number one rated Spinner in terms of catch rates a performance. Mepps Aglia spinners are meant to catch the fishes curiosity, not mimic prey, like other spinners. These spinners make the fish think "whats that new thing swimming by? could it be food? Lets find out!". Panther Martin spinners are another great spinner. These spinners are unique because unlike traditional inline spinners with the blade on a swivle, the willow leaf blade is mounted right to the spinner shaft. Pather Martin spinners tend to spin faster than inline spinners in slow water. Panther Martin Spinners also look more "minnow like" also because of the way the blade spins. Rooster Tail spinners have very bushy hook dressings with your average spinner blade setup. The large, colorful tail dress really entices fish to bite. Picking the right spinner can be a difficult task, but it's good to experiment with different kinds of spinners to know what to buy in the future.

Spoons
Spoons are another good lure for trout. Spoons wobble and vibrate as they move through water. Spoons come in many different sizes, shapes, and hundreds colors. Spoons are good for use in rapids where you need a heavier lure. In late Spring and early summer, when the trout are aggresive, spoons are a great lure choice for rivers and lakes. Spoons look more like a "bigger minnow", and thats one of the foods trout are after in late Spring and early Summer.

Little Cleo by far has the largest collection of spoons. Little Cleo spoons don't have the best movement, but the large selection of spoon colors makes Little Cleo one of the top spoons.

Mepps Aglia makes some very good spoons. I really like the wobble and vibrate action of their spoons.

It's good to experiment with different kinds of spoons. One of my favorite spoons for trout fishing is the Red Daredevils. The red and white line pattern really attracts fish in sunny and cloudy weather. Every fisherman should carry a Daredevil in his tackle box. I have also had good results with orange black spotted spoons, and with silver side winder spoons.

These are some spoon base colors that are good for trout.

Gold/Bronze/Yellow Spoon: Brown trout
Silver/White Spoon: Rainbow trout
Copper/Bronze/Brown/Red Spoon: Brook trout

In general, brighter colored spoons are used in clear water or sunny conditions. These include: red, orange, yellow, green, and white. In cloudy weather or in cloudy water, use blue, purple, black, brown, and red spoons. Light gold and bronze spoons work good in bright sunlight. Silver and copper spoons work better in cloudy water. Silver seems to work good both in bright sunlight or cloudy weather.

In early spring, use small spoons. This is because the trout are lazy in cold water, and the fish aren't in the mood to go after large prey. In mid spring, use medium sized spoons. In late spring and early summer, use large spoons. In mid and late summer, use large spoons, but use medium to small spoons in very hot weather, or in warm water conditions. In the fall, use medium sized spoons. In late fall, use small spoons.

There are also glow-in-the-dark spoons. I have never tried using these spoons, but from what I hear and read, they work very good in muddy or deep water.

Bait: Worms/Smelt/Power Bait, etc
Nothing beats bait when it comes to trout fishing. Many times when lures failed to entice the fish, a good worm does the trick.

Worms are one of the favorite foods of all trout. Worms are better to use than night crawlers because they are smaller so fish have a better chance of biting the hook. I've found it helps to not use a bobber when bait fishing for trout. Trout are wary of strange things, and the bobber sometimes scares the fish. It also helps to use a gang hook setup. Having the worm suspended on two hooks makes the worm look more natural than a "worm ball" on a single hook.

To trout fish with worms in a lake, you use the smallest test monofilament line you can use for the fish your after. Attach two monofilament leaders with unbarbed size 10 hooks to the swivle on the fishing line. You can buy specialy made gang hooks on the internet, but I like to make them myself. Attach a splitshot or two 12 inches above the bait. Dont attach a bobber. Cast the line to where you think the fishes are. Keep the bail open to prevent "pole running" where the fish pulls the pole into the lake. I really have gotten into the sport of trout fishing in the past year, and my dad and I have used this method on Perch Lake(Republic) with good results. I caught a 13 inch splake with this method the first time I used it, when spinner baits and spoons were not doing the trick. My dad hooked what looked like a 15 inch rainbow trout, but in one of it's "tail walks", the trout fell of the hook.

To fish for trout in rivers with worms, use the smallest test monofilament line you can use for the fish your after. Once again, use the gang hook setup. Attach a sinker heavy enough to keep the worm from being picked up and carried by the current, and light enough to keep the worm drifting across the bottom. When you fish with worm, keep the bail open to allow the worm to drift. If you feel occasional snags, you doing it right. Occasionaly, one of those "snags" will be a fish. When the line suddently "shoots" from the reel, start to reel in the line. Hold the pole high while the worm is drifting to minimize snags. This method stated above works good in deep holes and in rapids. If the worm is held in one spot, it dosn't look as natural and the trout are less likely to bite.

Smelt
Smelt are another good bait. You can by two kinds of frozen smelt from the local grocery stores. There are large 5 to 7 inch smelt, and the 2 to 4 inch smelt. I use the large smelt for pike fishing, but I think the small smelt would work good for trout. When I fish large smelt, I just use treble hooks on a steel leader, and the smelt is hooked in the spine. Then the smelt is just cast into the water and if adventually sinks.

I have an idea of how to fish for trout with smelt. To fish in lakes: Use 4 to 6lb monofilament line, and put on a size 10 hook. Don't use a steel leader! Hook the smelt to the back, and cast into the lake. The smelt will float to the bottom, and the trout will smell it and eat. This method may work to get some huge trout, because large trout usually go after fish. I have never tried this method, it's just an idea of mine, so give it a try if you like!

To fish for trout in rivers: Use 4 to 6lb monofilament line, and attach a size 10 hook. Depending on wether or not you want the smelt to float or drift near the stream bottom, attach a spilt shot or two 12 inches above the bait. As the frozen smelt unthaws, it might sink naturaly, so sinkers may not be needed. Just cast upstream near the head of a pool, then let the smelt drift to the tail of the pool into the rapids. I have never tried this method either, so give to a try if you like!

Powerbait
Berkley Powerbait trout bait is another great bait. Powerbai is a flavored dough trout can't resist. I have never used it, but I know how to use it. A small ball of Powerbait is placed on a size 10 hook. On the line, a few splitshot are placed on the fishing line 12 inches above the bait. Remember, use the smallest test monofilament line that you can use for the fish your after. Just cast into the lake and or river, and there you go. A little ball of powerbait can be placed on the hook of a lure to make the lure smell like food, thus increasing catch rates.

Corn Kernnles
Corn from the cob or caned corn can be used as bait. To fish with corn, throw some corn into the water, and the fish will eat it and know it is food. Corn kerrnles are used just like powerbait.

Other Bait
Grasshoppers, crayfish, flies, beetles, insect larve, cheese, and beef all can be used as bait.

Rods and Line Setup
To start, you should have a 4 to 6ft light spin casting rod. For fishing line you should use 4 to 8lb monofilament line. Using thiner fishing line like 4lb test is your best bet in small streams, since most trout, especially brook, dont get over 4lbs. In large rivers trout, and salmon can get to huge sizes, anywhere from 4 to 30lbs. Depending on what size of fish you expect on catching, predict the range of line strengh you'll need, and stick to the lower end of the range. Using the thinest line as possible is key since trout a wary and have good eyesight. The rule above also applies to spinner fishing in lakes, spoon fishing in lakes and rivers, and bait fishing.

It sometimes helps to use a ultra strong, thin line like PowerPro or Spiderwire spliced with a 24 inch monofilament leader. This setup is usefull in river fishing where you need to let out a lot of line, and you dont want to lose all your fishing line if you get a snag. The monofilament line will break before the Powerpro or Spiderwire. The downside of using these kinds of strong lines is their high visibility to fish, even though the fishing line is very thin.

On you fishing line, don't use steel leaders, especially if your fishing in a small stream or a lake. (This rule only applies to trout fishing in streams or inland lakes, not the Great Lakes) The leader looks unnatural and scares the fish. The best thing to do is attach a swivle to the end of your line where the spinner or other lure will connect. This prevents line twist and the dreaded "birds nest". If your using a light spinner and the water has a fast current, attach a split shot or two 12 inches above the lure.

Spinner Fishing Techniques
When fishing with spinners, casting upstream towards the head of a pool and let the spinner drift downstream near underwater obstacles to the tail of the pool into the rapids works best. Slowly reel the spinner in as it drifts towards you, and then open the bail and let the spinner drift towards the tail of the pool. Occasionaly pinch the line against the fishing pole and jerk the spinner a bit as it drifts to give the appearence of a dying minnow trying to swim upstream. When the spinner drifts into the rapids at the tail of the pool, start to reel the spinner in at a slow, jerky motion. This fishing tactic explained above allows you to get the lure right where you want it, and trout feed with their mouths facing upstream, so this method makes it more likely that trout will strike the spinner. If the fish strikes when the bail is open, quickly close the bail and reel in the fish. The trout are more likely to bite the spinner towards the head or tail of the pool, overhanging banks, or in the rapids between pools. Also, you should your fishing pole high to prevent snags.

To fish in the rapids, cast just above the tail of the pool and let let the spinner drift into the rapids. When the spinner drifts into the rapids, open the bail and let the spinner drift down the rapids. Occasionally pinch the line against the pole and jerk the spinner as it goes down the rapids. This makes the spinner look like it's a dying minnow. When the spinner reaches the head of the next pool, close the bail, reel it in and occasionaly giggle the spinner. Usually a trout will bite the spinner during one of the jerking motions as it drifts down stream or when the spinner is moving upstream. When a trout bites the lure, quickly close the bail and reel it in. Remember, hold the pole high when you let the spinner drift. Trout like to hide behind rocks in rapids, where they can feed on drifting food with ease and enjoy the oxygen rich water. This fishing technique allows you to get to spinner right where you want it, and where the fish are.

When fishing in a lake, cast as far as possible and let the spinner sink close to the bottom. Reel the spinner in at a steady rate and occasionaly jerk it. Depending on weather conditions, very the retrieving speed and the depth of the spinner. I will go over how weather conditions effect fishing later.

Spoon Fishing Techniques
Spoons also have a technique. In a lake, cast where you thing the fish are, and reel in the spoon at a steady speed. Ocassionaly stop reeling in the spinner and let it wobble downwards a few feet, then reel again. Reeling in the spinner in quick, jerky motions also works good. For better control of the spinner, hold the tip of the pole low. If the spinner is being retreived correctly, vibration will be felt in the pole.

To fish with spoons in rivers, cast in any direction. Try to cast into deep pools and near underwater obsticles, and reel in the spoons at a steady speed. Occasionaly stop reeling in the spoon and let it wobble downward a few feet. Reeling the spinner in with a quickk jerky motion also works. If the spinner is being retreived correctly, vibration will be felt in the pole.

Casting
To cast far with the wind, bring you hand near your ear, and swing your arm foward until your hand is even with your forehead, and let the line go. To cast into the wind, lift swing your arm straight up above your head, and swing the pole downward to neck level, and let the line go. If the wind is comming from your right side, and you cast with your right hand, cross your arm in front of your neck to your left, and then cast.

Low horizontal casts can be made by swinging your arm like your throwing a rock to get it to skip. Bring your arm backwards horizontaly, and then swing the pole forward until it is straight ahead of you, and let the line go.

Reeling'r In
Often times I loose a trout when I reel it in. This is usually due to not enough tension being put on the line or I'm holding the pole too high. Hold the pole low and keep steady tension on the line.

Depending on the way you were fishing, close the bail when the fish strikes, if it's open. As soon as the bail is closed, quickly swing the pole down and back while reeling in the line to keep the line taught. Keep the pole low as you reel in the fish, and don't let any slack in the line, or else the fish will flop lose. This takes practice, especially if your stream fishing and the bail is open, but thats the way you do it.

Be sure to use a net to minimize the need to touch the fish. Trout have a protective slime on them that keeps their skin smooth and protects against bacteria. If the slim is removed by human hands, the trout can get a infection.

Fish behavior: Lures/Bait continued
In early spring, the trout are usually towards the mouth of the stream, river, or near the bottom of lakes, where the water is warmer. As spring progresses, the trout head upstream knowing that the water will become warmer downstream. This upstream movement is especially rapid in slow and small streams, because the water warms faster. As you should know, the stream is cooler at the source and is warmer at the mouth because the water warms as it flows. In lakes, the water begins to warm at the surface, so the trout and most other fish move upwards from the lake bottoms.

In early spring, fishing is best done near the mouth of the stream or river. In mid spring, fish halfway between the source and mouth of the river. In The late Spring to early Fall, fish near the source and middle of the river or stream.

In late Spring to mid Summer, trout like to feed on minows. Use medium to large silver spoons at this time of the year to simulate minows. Spinners may also work, especially in late Spring.

In the summer during hot, humid weather, trout will often feast on flies during the evening and mornings and will hide during the day in deeper water. In these times, fly fishing is the best method of fishing.

In the late summer and early fall, trout swim upstream in a river or stream, or to gravel seeps in lakes. When trout spawn, they become very active, and will quickly take a spinner or fly. Salmon eggs are a good bait at this time of the year. Spawn sacks (clumps of salmon eggs) a great bait for trout during the fall.

How Weather Effects Fishing

Weather has large effects on trout activity.

The best time to trout fish is when a warm front is passing through. Warm, moist southerly winds, lowering pressure, cloudy to partly cloudy skies, and showers or thunderstorms all come together creating excelent fishing conditions.

The ideal "perfect" fishing conditions are when a warm to quasi-stationary warm front slowly moves over a area. Warm air advection, ascentropic ascent, strong nocternal low level jet, and plentiful moisture cause thunderstorms, mainly in the form of a MCS, that bring very heavy rain at night. In the morning, as daytime heating causes updrafts, the low level jet is disrupted, causing the MCS to die, usualy resulting in no rain when you get out to fish in the morning. This means heavy rain at night will wash insects and worms into the streams, rivers and lakes. In the morning, the fish will feast on all the food, and with the lowering pressure and southerly winds, the trout will be even more active. What you get is a morning feeding frenzy, where fish will easily take your lure or bait. The fish will be full when it comes to the afternoon, so fishing during the afternoon would not be very productive. In the evening though, the fish will become hungry again before dark, and another feeding frenzy may start. Looking ahead into late spring and summer, this "warm front" situation looks like it's going to happen a lot this summer.

The worst possible conditions for trout fishing is when a cold front comes through, with cold temps, sunny skies and rapdily rising pressure behind it. Many folks say the trout will slow down in activity and hide at the stream bottoms. However, I really don't believe pressure effects trout activity in streams or rivers. They say that when the air pressure is higher, the fish hide on the stream bottom because the pressure excerted on the water is pushing too much on the trouts air bladder, and the trout needs time to adjust. However, because a stream or river flows, the downward pressure exerted would be spread out, in theory. I also really don't think that the air bladder of a trout takes a long time to adjust to the water and air pressure combined. The pressure exerted on a trout when it changes depth in water is much greater than the pressure air would excert on water, so I do not think pressure has a very large effect on trout. I believe high pressure is associtated with bad trout fishing is because it usually gets sunny and cold, a very bad combination for trout fishing.

If a cold front comes through with heavy rain, and clouds and showers linger behind it, trout fishing will also be good, even if pressure is rising. Heavy rain will wash insects and worms into the rivers and streams, and cloudy skies will make feeding easier for the trout.

Usually, it takes a few days after a cold front moves through for the trout to adjust to the sunny weather conditions, and possibly the higher pressure.

In the morning or evening right before a cold front moves through is also a good time to fish for trout. In this situation, the trout will get very aggresive and will usually easily take your bait or lure.

Moons Effect on Trout

Moon phases also effect trout fishing significantly. A Full Moon lets fish feed all through the night on insects, and in the morning, the fish are not hungry anymore, resulting in poor morning fishing. In the evening, the trout start to become hungry, and the feeding begins again and lasts through the night.

When the moon is New, the trout don't feed at night. This means the trout will be hungry in the morning, resulting in good fish activity. In the afternoon, the fish usually will not be hundgry anymore, and the fish activity will be low. In the evening, the trout will try to eat as much as possible before nightfall, resulting in good fishing conditions.

The moon only effects trout activity when the sky is clear. Cloudy weather sometimes produces a situation like as if there was a New Moon, even if the moon is Full.

Thats it for trout fishing techniques, now time to go over some good fishing locations!

Good Fishing Areas on Rivers and Streams

Stay tuned for updates!

My Pike I Caught!

The 39 and 42 inch pike I caught on June 2nd 2008 at the mouth of the Peshikee river into lake Michigamee 4 miles northwest of Champion. The filets were sure tastey! I could have got a Master Angler Award for the 42 inch pike if I did released it. It was worth the meat though!

My uncle holding the fish.

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My Fishing Forecast

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***My Spring Forecast***
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Updated: 01:40 GMT le 19 mai 2009

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About upweatherdog

Gender:Male Age:16 Hobbies: Fishing, biking, pyrography, music, camping, crossfit, science experiments, blogging, skiing, gardening, and snowmobile.

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