Cold Water Fishing

4 for Boating · 04-08-2008, 10:26 PM

Hello,

I understand that during the spring fish typically found in the deeper colder water (salmon / lake trout) come closer to shore as the water is still cold. I usually just fish in the summer for bass and such off my dock; so I’m a bit in the dark as to when and what technique might be best. Can anyone provide some guidance as to what water temperature might provide for the best chance of catching one of these creatures from the deep? (It’s 36 now around the dock, what temp might be good to start trying?) Also, what bait, fishing from a dock, might be best?

Always have a license and always catching and releasing.

Thanks

Smitty1 · 04-09-2008, 05:44 AM

you can catch Salmon/Rainbow Trout now. Smelt seems to be the bait of choice.

AJs in Meredith is a great bait shop and always has good advice.

Check out www.fishlakewinni.com

Good luck!

Smitty

hilltopper · 04-09-2008, 03:07 PM

Salmon prefer water temps in the low to high 50s so, temperature wise, you should be able to get them off the dock for awhile. Best places to target them now are areas of warmer water or where rivers and streams enter the lake (smelt "run" up these streams and rivers to spawn). I would use smelt or shiners 1 to 3 feet under a bobber and cast those suckers as close to the edge of the ice as you can. Lake Trout are even a possibility this early in the Spring. Let us know if you have any luck.

4 for Boating · 04-09-2008, 06:37 PM

Thanks for the info, just a couple of more questions if you don’t mind:

You know I tried to toss some shiners in today and I think they went into cardiac arrest. Do medium size shiners typically do Ok in such cold water? He/she swam around for about 20 seconds and then took what I would classify as a very long rest. (Joke)

Will a Lake Trout go after a somewhat lifeless shiner or do they need to be active?

I’ll try anything, just looking to increase my odds of success.

hilltopper · 04-10-2008, 11:46 AM

When I hook medium shiners just behind the dorsal fin they seem to do OK. I've used them ice fishing and have pulled them out of the hole hours later to find them still alive.

I don't think you'll catch much fishing dead shiners suspended in the water column but Lakers can definitely be caught by fishing dead/almost dead shiners right on the bottom.

Good luck!

budman · 04-23-2008, 01:45 PM

Make sure that when you put the hook in behind the dorsal fin that you go below the back bone or the shinner will die very quickly.
AJ's is where you want to go to get good information. Al will tell you exacly what you need to know.
I wish I could just get up there and spend some time fishing.
Good Luck!

Treerider · 04-30-2008, 09:09 PM

get a good sharp #8 hook, and hook the smelt through the nostrils, add a little weight up the line and maybe a tiny swivel 4 or 5 ft away and troll the rig at 1.6mph.....and hold on.
Maybe even tie on some lead core line with 50 ft of 6 lb flourocarbon line to the hook, troll it about 1-2 colors-Treerider

04-08-2008, 10:26 PM	#1
4 for Boating Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 210 Thanks: 1 Thanked 37 Times in 25 Posts	Cold Water Fishing Hello, I understand that during the spring fish typically found in the deeper colder water (salmon / lake trout) come closer to shore as the water is still cold. I usually just fish in the summer for bass and such off my dock; so I’m a bit in the dark as to when and what technique might be best. Can anyone provide some guidance as to what water temperature might provide for the best chance of catching one of these creatures from the deep? (It’s 36 now around the dock, what temp might be good to start trying?) Also, what bait, fishing from a dock, might be best? Always have a license and always catching and releasing. Thanks

04-23-2008, 01:45 PM	#6
budman Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	cold water fishing Make sure that when you put the hook in behind the dorsal fin that you go below the back bone or the shinner will die very quickly. AJ's is where you want to go to get good information. Al will tell you exacly what you need to know. I wish I could just get up there and spend some time fishing. Good Luck!

04-30-2008, 09:09 PM	#7
Treerider Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 54 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 6 Posts	troll the smelt get a good sharp #8 hook, and hook the smelt through the nostrils, add a little weight up the line and maybe a tiny swivel 4 or 5 ft away and troll the rig at 1.6mph.....and hold on. Maybe even tie on some lead core line with 50 ft of 6 lb flourocarbon line to the hook, troll it about 1-2 colors-Treerider

04-09-2008, 05:44 AM	#2
Smitty1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Moultonborough, NH Posts: 142 Thanks: 44 Thanked 14 Times in 5 Posts	you can catch Salmon/Rainbow Trout now. Smelt seems to be the bait of choice. AJs in Meredith is a great bait shop and always has good advice. Check out www.fishlakewinni.com Good luck! Smitty

04-09-2008, 03:07 PM	#3
hilltopper Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Meredith Posts: 716 Thanks: 25 Thanked 105 Times in 66 Posts	Salmon prefer water temps in the low to high 50s so, temperature wise, you should be able to get them off the dock for awhile. Best places to target them now are areas of warmer water or where rivers and streams enter the lake (smelt "run" up these streams and rivers to spawn). I would use smelt or shiners 1 to 3 feet under a bobber and cast those suckers as close to the edge of the ice as you can. Lake Trout are even a possibility this early in the Spring. Let us know if you have any luck.

04-09-2008, 06:37 PM	#4
4 for Boating Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 210 Thanks: 1 Thanked 37 Times in 25 Posts	Thanks for the info, just a couple of more questions if you don’t mind: You know I tried to toss some shiners in today and I think they went into cardiac arrest. Do medium size shiners typically do Ok in such cold water? He/she swam around for about 20 seconds and then took what I would classify as a very long rest. (Joke) Will a Lake Trout go after a somewhat lifeless shiner or do they need to be active? I’ll try anything, just looking to increase my odds of success.

04-10-2008, 11:46 AM	#5
hilltopper Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Meredith Posts: 716 Thanks: 25 Thanked 105 Times in 66 Posts	When I hook medium shiners just behind the dorsal fin they seem to do OK. I've used them ice fishing and have pulled them out of the hole hours later to find them still alive. I don't think you'll catch much fishing dead shiners suspended in the water column but Lakers can definitely be caught by fishing dead/almost dead shiners right on the bottom. Good luck!