Winter Trout opener

[cgorman]

Anyone going out for the winter trout opener on the 1st? Im going to try this year and my luck this winter around some SE MN streams. Any advice on gear, tackle, locations etc would be cool, thanks

[ted4887]

If the storm keeps me around the area this weekend, I will probably be heading over for some fishing.

[Crm7290]

Isnt this area mostly barbless?

[Albers]

i got down 2 whitewater yesterday. perfect day for fly fishing. only had an hour or 2 to kill but got in to some browns right off the bat. maybe walked 50 yds of stream and caught 3. good first of many outings

[ted4887]

Albers, that's great to hear. I'm planning on driving over to Whitewater tomorrow morning for some fishing. Any tips on flies?

[Albers]

i have mainly been using orange scuds

[JIvers]

Thanks for the info. Albers, and welcome aboard!

[Albers]

thanx the site has been alot of fun and helpful so far

[ted4887]

Albers, I had a bait shop owner in Elba tell me the same thing today when I stopped in for a few tapered leaders. I unfortunately, had no luck. But than again, I was mostly just out to learn how to cast my new fly rod. I did spot a few fish, but I definitely need to learn some techniques for getting there attention.

Does anyone have any tips for keeping ice from building up on the eyelits of the rod? That was the only bad part of the entire day, other than getting a few leaders miserably tangled up.

[Albers]

i personally dont have any secret tips 4 that problem, i usually just clean them out periodically as i fish. ive also had luck in the winter using either a bead head pheasant tail or prince nymph but the scud is usually my go to. also 2 save urself a little cash i use regular fishing line as a leader. small spools of your stiffer type monos like trilene xt seem 2 lay out very well (better than store bought leaders in some cases) in like a 2 or 4lb test. also you will want to run a real small split shot about 18-24 inches out in front of that scud to help it both track well and get down into those cut banks a little better

[ted4887]

So you just use a 4lb test mono for a leader, rather than buying the tapered leader? I guess I don't see why you couldn't, since you hook the tippet up to the end anyways...

[Albers]

ya i actually prefer them to tapered leaders plus it makes retying quick. maybe try each and see which one casts better for you. plus with the mono i always make them a little long for those picky days when you have to retie a bunch to find what fly the fish want. also r you using a strike indicator float about 6-7 ft above your fly

[ted4887]

I'll have to go and pick up some regular mono before I go back out(I think on Sunday).

Yes, I did use the strike indicators that were included with my cabela's prestige combo pack. I can't image that there is a huge difference in terms on floats, but maybe i'm mistaken.

Honestly, I think my biggest problem was my approach and casts. My casting ability is low. I also need to learn alot more about technique. I have NONE. I figure it will all come with practice.

[Albers]

ya practice, practice, practice. ya indicators r all about the same.some guys dnt even use them but helps to have that quick hook set in the winter. ill prolly b out fly fishin this weekend or maybe tommorrow if the papermouths arent bitin ill let ya know what there bitin on if i figure it out

[Tredawg32]

A good tip to keep your guides from freezing up is spray on some PAM cooking spray! Good luck fishing! Not a big winter stream fisherman, prefer the ice, but once the grass turns green I'll be hitting it hard!

[ted4887]

Thanks for the tip Tredawg. I'll have to give it a try before I go out next time.

[MichaelSwan]

Does anyone have or know where to find pics of a ice fishing rig set up for trout? Seen some different bobbers or something mid-way up the rod, between eyelets on the line...

[ted4887]

Does anyone have or know where to find pics of a ice fishing rig set up for trout? Seen some different bobbers or something mid-way up the rod, between eyelets on the line...

My guess would be that you will get a fairly quick answer in this forum

[Albers]

my go to setup is a #16 or 18 orange scud then a real small split shot about 18-24 inches above that and then a strike indicator about 7-8 ft above all that. theres a million different strike indicators out there i use a small foam ice fishing bobber personally (the style u push the little toothpick in to keep it from sliding) but they make little foam pinch on ones that work alright 2. it just has to b something u can see. ive even seen people just tye a piece of bright colored yarn on

[Crm7290]

How has the trout fishing been going so far this year? Im supposed to get out before my 10 oclock class at winona. I am supposedly going to be learning to fly fish with a friend, dont know if that will happen or not.

I went a lot this summer with friends. We all used inline spinners and only caught a few fish all summer, but that was because a lack of time spent, a lack of waders, and the lack of experience