Hi all. For rainbows last year, I typically trolled a small spoon or KastMaster and did okay. I was just reading an artical that suggested throwing 2 to 3 inch Rapalas. I figured this would be a bit big for em. Just wondering if anyone has tried this presentation or any other trolling tactics.
Rainbow Tactics
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
Joined
·
17,087 Posts
Your post didnt have many specifics-Like when or where. It all depends so much on local conditions,etc.
Fishing Colorado may be a little different from anywhere else you fished. If you like to throw hardware you'll catch them on rapalas sometimes but not always, I have an article on fishing rapalas for trout in colorado somewhere. Anyways spoons and spinners seem to do well keep spoons no bigger then 1 inch.
Most people catch alot of trout in Colorado on powerbait and salmon eggs. Trout are an all year fish in Colorado but can be hard to catch in mid to late summer months sometimes.
Most people catch alot of trout in Colorado on powerbait and salmon eggs. Trout are an all year fish in Colorado but can be hard to catch in mid to late summer months sometimes.
Joined
·
316 Posts
always on RAPALAS GIVE THE JOINTED #7 IN GERMAN BROWNA TRY AWESOME BARLEY EVER COMES OFF MY POLE
I'll have to give those options a try. Last year I hit Lon Hagler and Pinewood quite a bit for rainbows. We lost lures twice, quick snap...guessing to the Muskies. I grew up fishing for northerns in MN and want to give these guys a try as well. I'm thinking large Rapalas or in-line spinners, just haven't figured out their pattern yet.
The only type of colorado fishing I have constant sucess for is trout fishing expecially rivers and rapalas will tear them up. Pretty much all the rivers primarily the larger ones from mid march through early nov. a slow day will be 25-30 fish and there our days you lose count, not only numbers but size to. I don't get the same # 's fishing lakes but by far will out produce anything else I fish from a boat. I get a little excited about rapalas sorry. I think alot has to do with confidence and what your fishing.
One of my buddies speak the same of Kastmasters and always lets me know when the kastmaster hatch is going off at spinney
One of my buddies speak the same of Kastmasters and always lets me know when the kastmaster hatch is going off at spinney
I agree whole heartedly with Parker Tom...Rapalas absolutely slay trout...8 inch brook trout in Rocky Mountain National Park will surprisingly hit a size 5 or 7 rainbow trout finish Rapala...I have caught 12 inch browns on size 9 and size 11...I will use a J13 at Spinney and sometimes a ridiculous size 18...although ones arm gets weary...my best at Spinney has been an 8 pound Brown on a Rapala...I have screwed up much bigger fish there on them...I still use light line with them...a max of 6 pound test...streams are exceptionally deadly with Rapalas...with a floating Rapala you can swim it around snags...you can cast it close to overhanging vegetation and let the current float it in to heavy cover...I think the Arkansas is the best trout Rapala water in the state...Browns are canabalistic fish eaters...I think they would rather stuff their face with a juvenile trout rather than daintily sipping size 18 midges...and on lakes twilight into the dark is a deadly time for cruising fish that come up to sip the hatch...little fish come up and big fish follow...if you dont believe me go to Gander Mountain this weekend and listen to Joe Butler sing the praises off big Rapalas for really big trout...they even catch medium sized trout...and small trout...Waterton Canyon is another great stretch for Rapalas...one thing I like to do to the Rainbow Rapalas out of the box is use a red Sharpie marking pen to give them a better red stripe down both sides and a little more red in the gill area...then a black one to make the black spots stand out a little more...make it look just like a baby Rainbow Trout...it makes them even deadlier...
Zman is right about the arkansas and browns, but they just don't have much size on the arkansas. the colorado and eagle has some really nice browns. deckers and the taylor have monster rainbows, fish these two on a full moon night in summer and you will see wakes coming at your lures. they don't get big eating bugs
Joined
·
6,546 Posts
I also like Shallow Shad Raps! I lost a double digit Brown at Spinney last fall that struck one. It gives them a different look and it only dives about three feet.
I catch more and bigger trout (especially Bows) on jigs. I use a three inch Vibra Fin Leech and 3" Power Craws in 1/8 oz Gopher Mushroom head hooks. The Owner hook model is the sharpest and widest gap hook you can buy! Big trout love craws!
I catch more and bigger trout (especially Bows) on jigs. I use a three inch Vibra Fin Leech and 3" Power Craws in 1/8 oz Gopher Mushroom head hooks. The Owner hook model is the sharpest and widest gap hook you can buy! Big trout love craws!
When I lived up north I used to throw raps at just about everyting and was very successful. But ever since moving to CO, I've grown very confident with kastmaster's and bottom crawling jigheads which have become my lures of choice.
I've got to start using Raps again. I talked to Chris a couple of days ago, and he put the smack on trout at Boyd lake trolling cranks in about fifteen ft of water. My long gone fishing partner, would put the smack on just about everything that swims. It sounds like many of you have that same outstanding skill.
Phew, I need to give the Raps and simlilar type lures more time in the water!
Pete
I've got to start using Raps again. I talked to Chris a couple of days ago, and he put the smack on trout at Boyd lake trolling cranks in about fifteen ft of water. My long gone fishing partner, would put the smack on just about everything that swims. It sounds like many of you have that same outstanding skill.
Phew, I need to give the Raps and simlilar type lures more time in the water!
Pete
Like Ouray I have found 1"-2" tube jigs effective for smaller trout, and think the bigger tubes would work for bigger fish - hope to sample some big trout water this summer. Some good things about tube jigging:
1. A single hook often does less damage to a released fish than trebles, and is less likely to snag.
2. When you snag & break one off its not as costly as a hard lure.
3. An arsenal of colors & sizes doesn't take up much space.
4. Jigs offer angler control - quick drop into deep pools, shallow over rocks & ridges, etc. A tube jig can even be bounced off rocks on the cast.
I got some tubes on eBay from "thesportsmaster23" with Berkley Power scent, salt, eyes, and realistic dark back / pearl belly colors that are the best lures I have ever used.
1. A single hook often does less damage to a released fish than trebles, and is less likely to snag.
2. When you snag & break one off its not as costly as a hard lure.
3. An arsenal of colors & sizes doesn't take up much space.
4. Jigs offer angler control - quick drop into deep pools, shallow over rocks & ridges, etc. A tube jig can even be bounced off rocks on the cast.
I got some tubes on eBay from "thesportsmaster23" with Berkley Power scent, salt, eyes, and realistic dark back / pearl belly colors that are the best lures I have ever used.
Grumpa, the larger tube jigs will work on bigger fish especially if baited with a little bit of encouragement. The last couple of record lake trout were taken with large tube jigs baited with sucker meat. I have personally taken different species of trout in the 3-8 lb. class range while using tube jigs. While the lure companies thrive by making every possible lure resemble something, it is often only the consumer that is fooled. 
The way to catch more fish is to deceive them with something that resembles an item that they may encounter in everyday situations. I believe the simpler the better. A tube jig can imitate many possibilities such as crayfish, minnows or other prey. Exact copy lures will only deceive by exactly what they are suppose to mimic. While they work in some situations, they may not be as effective as something that can imitate several possibilities. While fish may be intelligent or as some people say educated they operate under a few biological principles. It is often the size, color and depth of what you fish with, rather than the gimmicks many lure companies produce, that will catch fish. I believe that it is the confidence in how a person fishes and their willingness to experiment with different techniques that often produces more fish than any single lure.
The way to catch more fish is to deceive them with something that resembles an item that they may encounter in everyday situations. I believe the simpler the better. A tube jig can imitate many possibilities such as crayfish, minnows or other prey. Exact copy lures will only deceive by exactly what they are suppose to mimic. While they work in some situations, they may not be as effective as something that can imitate several possibilities. While fish may be intelligent or as some people say educated they operate under a few biological principles. It is often the size, color and depth of what you fish with, rather than the gimmicks many lure companies produce, that will catch fish. I believe that it is the confidence in how a person fishes and their willingness to experiment with different techniques that often produces more fish than any single lure.
Joined
·
73 Posts
I've done well at Boyd trolling Storm Wild Eyes just below the surface. Often if you miss the fisrt strike, you can hook them on the second or third. It must be the soft body that keeks them coming back. 8)
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
