CTFishTalk.com: seeking tips on brown trout - Connecticut Ice Fishing Reports ( CT Ice Fishing Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

jimbojonez · Joined: 04 Feb 2012 Posts: 295 Location: Berlin/Kensington

assuming the ice is safe enough, I am planning in targeting browns in a medium sized private pond (small lake) in central CT. I got my first brown out of there two winters ago in water near 40ft deep. I am wondering what i can do to increase my chances of catching more or bigger browns in the same body of water. There are plenty of shallows and different depths in the lake but much of it is very deep for its size 40-60ft. any tips on what depths/structure would help what time of day etc. thanks.

nicklovesPK · Joined: 10 Jan 2011 Posts: 102

try setting up a few tip ups with shiners right under the ice. alot of times trout cruise right under the ice even in deep water

SeaDog1 · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 2629

Hi Jim,

Fact:
All trout are roamers and pretty much sight feeders -> They can be 2" under the ice or on the bottom -> Also in shallow to deep water !

I found the best chance of catching trout is to stagger tip-ups from shallow to deep and set at different depths.

Once you start getting flags (particularly from one tip-up) -> Re-set some tip-ups to either side of that tip-up.

As for jigging -> All I can say is try different depths in shallow to deep water.

Chumming is a good way of getting fish to come to you vs running all over the place -> I've had good success chumming 2-3 holes close to each other so as to concentrate the scent in a smaller area !

As for Atlantic Salmon (such as at Mt. Tom) -> Fish over deep water 8-15 ft down -> Salmon tend to stay suspended about mid-water !

Best of luck !
SeaDog1

icefishingnewbie · Joined: 18 Dec 2011 Posts: 275 Location: Haddam, CT

I have had most luck fishing for browns on the bottom with a medium shiner ana 4-5 foot leader of 4-6 lb flouro. Rainbows cruise shallow and will feed on nightcrawlers often

NorthEastFisherman · Joined: 27 May 2012 Posts: 582

Long light leaders about a foot or two under the ice medium shiners. I prefer fishing trout on drop-offs into about 20 feet of water. If at 40 FOW the bottom is sandy put the minnow near bottom the fish will most likely be down there instead. As for jigging try a little spoon like a mini krocodile tipped with some waxworms or spikes and jig bottom for 5-10minutes then wind up 5 feet and continue. Also i dont really do it but the trout become very sensitive and if you touch the minnow or line with your hand then the fish will smell you and wont bite. Buy some scent sticks or spray from gulp or another brand and spray it on the minnow and line once you finish rigging the tip up. Also if you have too big of a hook the trout will feel it when theyre eating the minnow and spit the hook so you can either use a smaller hook or get to the tip up faster and just feel the line to make sure the fish has the bait in its mouth.
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jimbojonez · Joined: 04 Feb 2012 Posts: 295 Location: Berlin/Kensington

thanks for the advice yall. when i caught that one last year my tipup popped as i was putting it down. i thought it was my fault but damn it if there wasnt a brown on there hit when it hit the bottom but no more in that area after that. we had another pop up that day that ran all the line off the spool and took the spool with it Sad

i have a feeling when i find the pattern there it will be a blast. i was thinking about taking a guest from CTFishTalk if anyone wants to give it a go... tomorrow or Sunday? it is near Middletown, PM me for details.