In this video, Nick Nault breaks down everything you need to know to take advantage of this incredible bite, trolling boards for super-sized brown trout.
Trolling for Spring Brown Trout (FULL Breakdown)
The winter brown trout bite in the harbors of the Great Lakes has garnered a lot of popularity in recent years, but don’t sleep on the springtime bite shortly afterwards.
All throughout the spring months brown trout can be found cruising the shallows searching for schools of baitfish.
River mouths, shallow bays, and boat harbors are a couple of good places to look for big browns in spring.
Water Temperature
During warmer months, focus your trolling efforts in deeper sections where the water is cooler. In the colder months, target shallower areas where brown trout may be more active.
The key to finding these trout in spring is to locate the warmest water.
A few degrees in difference is a big deal, especially when the water is cold in spring.
Warm water is going to attract baitfish and in return the trout follow. Usually in spring the warmest water is going to be shallow. Target shallow flats near creek mouths or river mouths and near warm water discharges like power plants.
In most cases you will be fishing in less than twelve feet of water.
Gear
The gear you need for Great Lakes springtime brown trout is pretty simple.
A few trolling rods paired with line counter reels, planer boards and a couple of stickbaits is all you’ll need to catch fish.
Trolling Rods
When flat line trolling crankbaits the St. Croix Eyecon Trolling Rod in a 8’6″ medium power, moderate action is a great choice.
The St. Croix Eyecon is capable of handling the weight of a planer board and a big brown trout. They also are extremely comfortable to use. Created with a dynamic blend of premium SCII carbon and super premium, 100% linear S-glass these rods are built to last.
Another great trolling rod option is the St. Croix Onchor series which was specifically designed for salmon and trout trolling.
They come in a wide variety of lengths and actions for all types of trolling presentations.
All of the Onchor series rods load up well and handled planer boards, flashers, monkey balls and head shakes from big fish.
Trolling Reels
Line counter reels are necessary if you want to have repeated success trolling.
A Daiwa Lexa Line counter reel is critical when trolling because it allows you to replicate your presentation. You know exactly how far back your bait is and how deep your bait is running.
A Daiwa Lexa Line Counter reel spooled with some ten pound Sufix monofilament is a great reel and line combination for brown trout.
Monofilament line is preferred because it has enough stretch to keep these big browns on the line in shallow water.
Planer Boards
Planer boards are another critical piece of equipment when trolling for spring brown trout.
Planer boards allow you to get your baits away from the boat which is a big advantage in shallow water.
By spreading your baits away from the boat you are able to cover a cover a greater amount of water on a single pass.
The Off Shore OR12 planer board is the perfect size board for trolling spring browns.
Lures for Brown Trout Trolling
Choosing good trolling baits is fairly simple. Start by using a variety of spoons, shallow running stickbaits and crankbaits.
All of those baits will all work when trolling for spring trout.
Switch and mix up body styles, depth ranges, and colors until you find what the fish are keying in on that particular day.
Color can be a big factor when trolling for trout. It is very beneficial to have a variety of different colors out at once, because some days a simple change in color can make all the difference.
Experiment with different speeds until you find the sweet spot, typically ranging between 1.5 to 3 miles per hour.
Conclusion
Spring is a great a time to target big brown trout. By understanding the behavior of brown trout in the spring, selecting the right trolling gear, and employing effective trolling techniques you can catch a pile of big Great Lakes brown trout.
