LAKE FISHING TECHNIQUES

The following techniques can be used to fish lakes for trout of all sizes (including land-locked steelhead) as well as bass, yellow perch, crappie, bluegills, sunfish & brown bullhead catfish. They are presented in order of difficulty, beginning with the easiest to master & most likely engage the interest of young anglers. Use 5 to 10 lb. test line with either bait, spinning, or fly rod and reel. Do not use bait if you plan to release your catch as fish tend to swallow the hook along with the bait, making it difficult to release fish unharmed.

Fish from the Top with Bobber & Bait

The object is to hang your bait at the level fish are cruising, and well above pesky submerged logs and weeds that can grab your hook. This technique is often best in mornings, evenings and other low-light conditions when fish feel more secure being closer to the surface. Effective baits include worms, corn, marshmallows and PowerBait. If using marshmallows or PowerBait, you’ll need to add one or more weights (such as split shot) to the line 18 inches above the bait. Add weight to get the bait more quickly to the desired depth. When using PowerBait, try changing colors if you aren’t having any luck.

Fish from the Bottom with Floating Bait

The object is to suspend your bait just above the bottom or above the bottom weeds. This is most often accomplished these days by using PowerBait molded around a small (size 16 or 18) treble hook or in conjunction with a worm. To rig for PowerBait and a worm, thread a sliding sinker on your line, then tie a No. 8 worm hook to the end of the line. Mold PowerBait around the eye of the hook or thread a worm onto the hook, burying the point inside the worm. Pinch a small split shot on your line below the sinker, about 18 inches from the hook (or however much above the bottom you want your bait to float). Slide the sinker down to the shot. This technique is often best when fishing mid-day or when the light is bright on the water and fish are feeling insecure about being seen by predators from above. Be prepared to lose plenty of tackle, since you’ll easily catch on submerged plants, wood, rocks and debris.

Cast & Retrieve Lures

Spinners and spoons imitate the look and movement of the tiny fish that serve as natural fish food in many lakes. Use small spinners (such as Rooster Tails) or spoons (sizes 0-2), casting out and retrieving the lure back to you. As a rule of thumb, use smaller, darker spinners and spoons when the water is warmer and the light is brighter; use larger, brighter hardware when the water is colder and the light is darker. Vary the speed of your retrieve from fast to slow to fast to slow, imitating the movement of a wounded fish.

Cast Flies

Aquatic insects are the primary natural fish food in most lakes. If you see fish actively feeding on the surface of the lake, try casting dry flies. Cast, and wait. If there’s no action on the surface, wet flies (such as nymph, larva and pupa imitations) are usually more effective. To fish wet flies, cast, pause, then retrieve (varying your retrieve: fast, slow, strip and pause) till you find a method that draws a bite. Common lake insects (found in the lakes as buglike and worm-like creatures before they hatch) include caddisflies, mayflies, damselflies, dragonflies and midges. Leeches (aquatic worms) and scuds (tiny freshwater shrimp-like creatures) are also plentiful. Grasshoppers and ants are often blown into the lake; fish imitations of these “terrestrials” closer to the bank.