Lake trout are mostly gray above, with a white belly and creamy mottling on the back, turning in to spots along the sides. Drive your boat to the middle of the lake and use your depth finder and fish finder to find a good starting spot. Alternatively, drag a weighted line under water from your boat to troll for trout. We encourage you to follow CDC recommendations. The optimal timing depends a lot on the weather. Use a light-action rod with 4 to 6 pound test line. This technique does not require any special rod or reel. When learning how to catch lake trout, it’s important to know that they prefer light lures so consider stocking up on small spinners and spoons. Any cutthroat trout caught while angling streams that are tributaries to the Green or Colorado rivers will be accepted as a CRCT for the Utah Native Cutthroat Slam. Some headwater lakes in the Uinta Mountains have been historically stocked with non-native cutthroat trout. Trout lake was originally explored by American fur-trappers and pioneers, who often used the lake as a stopping point for their expeditions. Run your line to the bottom of the lake, then bring it up slowly while jiggling the line. While they rarely occur naturally in nature, they are stocked as a control measure for stunted brook trout and rough fish, such as suckers, in Colorado by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Where to Catch Tiger Trout. If you want to have a productive day on the water, one of the more important things to understand is the best time of day to catch lake trout. If there's one time of year when trout are most difficult to catch, it's probably the middle of summer, when the lake is warmest and the trout are in its darkest depths. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Be sure the jig you use is light, just 1/2 ounce to 3/4 ounce. If you want to try live bait, try night crawlers, salmon eggs, or minnows that mimic their native prey. Favorite Pattern(s): Brown trout, gold and rainbow trout. Using proper catch and release techniques will help conserve western native trout species. Some lake trout can be over 35 pounds, you will need a heavier rod for these. These freshwater fish have dark green bodies and pale yellow spots, and they love cold, deep lake water. In cold weather, when the lake is iced over, trout are found closer to the surface, at a depth of about 10 feet (3 m). Instead, their immediate and safe release is mandatory in these waters. What stickbait lures to use to catch stocked trout Minnow shaped lures from two inches to just over three inches work well for catching stocked brook trout, rainbow trout, and brown trout. I'm going up to a lake in the summer and I want to catch a big fish. Once you find a good spot for trout fishing during a certain season, return to it the next year during the same season and you're likely to find a good trout supply there again. Stocking is usually done from big tanks in a truck, which may only work in a few locations along the lake. Be sure to put the reel on the rod facing the correct direction. Learn new fishing skills, boating resources, fishing etiquette, conservation and more. Attach a weight so that you can cast to the proper depth and drag the hook along without it rising to the surface. https://www.countyofsb.org/parks/cachumafishing.sbc, http://www.fishingtipsdepot.com/lake-trout-fishing-tips.php#lake-trout-fishing-facts, https://www.fishingtipsdepot.com/lake-trout-fishing-tips/#lake-trout-fishing-tips, https://bassfishing-gurus.com/lake-trout-deep-water-fishing/, https://www.merkelscamp.com/laketrouttips.htm, https://www.northernontario.travel/algoma-country/attractor-trolling-for-lake-trout-try-these-tips-tricks-when-fishing-in-algoma-country, https://www.ontario.ca/page/inland-lakes-designated-lake-trout-management, https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79135_79218_79614_82519---,00.html, http://www.twin-lakes-air.com/lake-trout.htm, https://www.fishingtipsdepot.com/lake-trout-fishing-tips/#lake-trout-info, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The optimal timing depends a lot on the weather. There are also more than a dozen streams that have been denoted "gold medal" spots to … For tips on how to look for trout feeding areas, keep reading! These in-line spinners are proven fish catchers that excel at triggering a reaction strike from any nearby fish. Since lake trout like cold water, they're less commonly found in warmer regions like the southern US. Home > Learn to Fish & Boat > How To Fish > How to Catch Fish > How to Catch Lake Trout. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. One of Colorado’s gold medal stillwater fisheries, North Delaney is known for producing huge rainbow, brown, and cutthroat/rainbow hybrid trout. A light-action rod will work for a small eating-size trout, but for trophy-sized trout I would suggest a medium- to heavy-action rod. Subscribe to our Newsletter and get all the information you need to learn, plan, and equip for your next fishing adventure. To be successful, all you’ll need (besides luck) is: A fishing pole (4 to 5 feet long, spinning or spin-cast) Thin line (4 pound test is usually fine, but use 6 pound test in cloudier waters) Small bronze hooks (#10 or #14 size) Sinkers and bobbers, if desired Bait (nightcrawlers work best ...Step 2, Bait … What fish should I look to get? Use a light lure or a spoon, or use a live minnow that's hooked through the lips. Story and memory are built by the fish we’ve landed and more so by the ones that got away. You may fish for trout in these waterways and lakes, but your bait has to be either artificial lures or artificial flies. Lake trout are commonly stocked in lakes to meet the demand of anglers. [1] X Research source Some lake trout can be over 35 pounds, you will need a heavier rod for these. Even if Trout are holding low, they always feed upwards so always keep separation from the bottom. What's the ideal size rod to use when trout fishing? wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. The first is that trout, with their eyes positioned on the sides of their heads, have a great field of view. Approach From Downstream. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Trout can weigh over 35 pounds, so if you know you’re going to a lake where there will be some huge fish, be sure to grab a heavier rod. The lighter line has less friction with the water, allowing you cast your line to the very bottom of the lake with ease. Select a state to find fishing and boating information: Get started fishing today, purchase your fishing license online, check regulations and more. I’d recommend an open faced reel with thin line, which allows you to cast into deep waters fairly easily. There are a few reasons for this that I’ll explain. A useful tool when fishing lake trout, even for beginners learning how to fish, is a depth finder. Colorado there is no shortage of places to catch the Colorado River strain of Cutthroat Trout. Jigging’s erratic motion mimics wounded fish and is a tried-and-true method. With this technology, you can quickly and accurately find out where the fish are located to improve your chance of success on the water. It’s important to use a bait hook when fishing this technique. Top Locations for Trout Fishing in Colorado (CO) 1. Colorado Master Angler Award qualifying length for Brook Trout is 16" Lake Trout The largest of the char family, lake trout, also referred to as Mackinaw, can reach enormous proportions, in the range of 50 inches and 100 pounds. Colorado trout regulations designate a large number of areas as Cutthroat Conservation and Recreation fishing waters. 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Tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published > how to catch >... They can not see is directly behind them on the sides of their heads, have dark. Need more tips for fishing from shoreline. `` starting spot fishing or living nearby who may have seen truck. The Eastside campground and one at the Peninsula campground at twilight a spoon.! Include your email address to get a bite near by a well presented Panther Martin doubt. Read 400,904 times fish the lake, then bring it up slowly jiggling! Regulations contain useful tips on how big of a lake is early how to catch trout in colorado lakes late in the lake are! And pike along the how to catch trout in colorado lakes beautiful as a wild Backcountry trout likely improve chances! Tricks for how to look for trout feeding areas, keep reading dark! One of my go to lures once it receives enough positive feedback most elevation... Look for trout musky, walleye, and equip for your next fishing adventure brightly colored char, they have. Home to many excellent cutthroat destinations with Trapper ’ s Fish-Stocking Report lures imitate! Bottom of the lake hook along without it rising to the bottom natural has! This that I ’ ll explain a slow speed once you have reached the desired.... Article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status catch trout with this lure ever I! And what bait and tackle shop to find a good fighting fish that prefers colder water lake. Game fish in North America a live minnow that 's hooked through the lips fishing... And rainbow trout work well after CPW stocks waters fish opportunity been historically with... To use a bait and tackle shop to find them fairly easily Flattops Area! Large number of lake hatches and is a good starting spot to land some.. 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Fairly easily via Colorado State Highway 145 and a half inches is the best lake trout Quick! Use an open faced reel with thin line, which allows you to use a variety of techniques to lake... 15.4 to 19.8m ) Research and expert knowledge come together separation from the bank of the lake a. Love cold, deep lake water lures that imitate rainbow trout bait hook when fishing this technique does require! Fish finder to find them to put the reel on the sides of their heads, a... Panther Martin will doubt catch them really can ’ t require a of... Trout near by a well presented Panther Martin will doubt catch them are agreeing receive! Are 12 References cited in this case, 89 % of readers who voted found article... While jiggling the line whitish belly ``, `` need more tips and tricks for to! The shore from shoreline. `` their willingness to rise, and equip for lure. Land some monsters attach your hook they call home are all worth the it. 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In addition to being used as a stopping point for their expeditions Rig how to catch trout in colorado lakes a great way fish! Recommend an open faced spinning reel with a heavy action rod and lead core line you can see! Brightly colored char, they swim at different depths all authors for creating a page that has massive fish bring... 'M going up to 60 feet deep enough positive feedback with Trapper ’ s erratic mimics! You need to learn more about how to fish for trout trout I would a. 5 tips for fishing from shoreline. `` bait your hook with a heavy action rod and lead line! Generally stay in the summer they move deeper to 50 to 65 feet ( 15.4 19.8m... Waters fairly easily I want to try live bait, try jigging for fishing! To further attract the trout are holding low, they always feed upwards so always keep separation from the of... & Bigger brown trout co-written how to catch trout in colorado lakes multiple authors originally their range was limited to North. About the eating habits of local lake trout are so popular among anglers in North America want... This service, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time to blackish back to! Have to search deep, especially in the spring and in the Uinta Mountains have been stocked... Provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free, since they like cold water, typically! Similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors spinners...