The Rainbow Beauty

[Guest]

Can anyone tell me the trick to catching those rainbows out of Little Long and Christmas in the summertime? My nieghbor used to do quite well in the winter on Christmas, but I'd like to try it this summer. I know it can be tough on lakes like that. Just inquiring on some tricks of the trade.

Reon

[Fisher Dave]

Christmas will pick up within a couple weeks of opener, sometimes it is good by opener (same as walleye opener for lakes).

Troll small crankbaits and spinners in 25-45 feet of water. I have found the NE, E, S, & SW sides of the lake to be the best. It is usually good until mid June. If you can pinpoint the fish to one location (they move alot) you can anchor and fish with a slip bobber and crappie jig and do very well also... that is if the recreational traffic isnt overbearing (it usually is).

#5 deep shad raps in natural colors, jointed rapala's, vibrax spinners to #3, and little cleo spoons in the blue/silver and green/silver have been best for me in the years past.

[G_man]

If I might inquire, what was the easiest way you found to keep the lures mentioned above running that deep?

Thanks.

[Fisher Dave]

The lures dont have to run deeper than they are designed to in most cases. I have used the smallest dipsy divers with some success .. but they are far more trouble than they are worth normally. The depth can be varied by the speed you are trolling also. I have my best luck trolling from .8 to 1.2 MPH most days, once in a while they want stuff moving fast (up to 7 MPH) but not very often.

I do use light line (4lb & 6 lb) in which does help get considerably more depth than heavier lines. I will at times also troll with very long lines. Most the time you dont have to early in the year, but if you dont hit fish within the 1st 20 minutes let some line out. It will get you deeper in some cases, and also will get you away from the boat.

The most active fish are always higher in the water table ... weather your in 10' of water, or 90' of water. The only fish I tend to catch at Xmas over the deep holes are northerns .. go figure. If your not picking up any fish on your depth finder it usually means the fish are all right near the surface.

All I can say is give it a try, it usually primes around the beginning of June. If your fishing and keep getting smaller trout (14"-18"), keep fishing the same areas. The big fish do run with the smaller fish, you just have to fish through them.

[Guest]

I have had some limited luck on little long using a small bright mepps or a lindy floating florescent with a night crawler. east side. I wonder about the other side of the lake?(thru the channel) however, I will definetaly be out there soon tryin some of fishing daves hints. sure is beautiful out there it will be sad to see houses surround it.