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Ice Fishing for TroutThe right bait makes all the differenceIce fishing for trout can be a challenge if you are not experienced with the hard water. Trout patterns are different in the spring than they are in the winter. But the good news is they remain active and aggressive in all seasons. You just need the right mix of lure and bait to have success.
When you arrive in the morning and after you have punched your hole in the ice, throw in a large flashy spoon and dramatically jig it up and down. This will lure trout to the region. It can be like sounding the dinner bell. The vibrations from the spoon or spinner will draw nearby trout to your area. Do this from time to time throughout the course of the day.
After you have used the “thumping spoon” for a minute, pull it out and switch to another lure. A flashy spinner in combination with a big minnow often produces good results. The presumption is, if trout (in particular rainbow trout) are not lively enough to hit the spinner the bait will entice a strike.
Another good combination is a silver Kastmaster tipped with a night-crawler. Jigging this combination has proven to be a very successful right across the country. The silver flash that can be seen in dim light along with the scent of the night-crawler is something rainbow trout often can’t resist. Don’t be without it when you hit this ice this winter.
One last lure and bait combination to mention is a small jig 
tipped with a mealworm or maggot (make sure they don’t freeze before you use them). An airplane jig or a “jigging Rapala spoon” seems to work just as well. Some day’s the trout will strike a hook full of maggots and other days they will only move on one. You may need to vary your approach.
For early morning rainbow trout, try fishing a foot or so off of the bottom. Bring your lure to a shallower depth in the water column as mid-day draws near. This is a pattern that works in many lakes and reservoirs. Don’t be surprised if you catch a trophy right below the ice as the as the afternoon wears on.
There are a number of strategies you can use ice fishing for trout. The bottom line is you will most likely need an assortment of lures and baits to keep the fishing hot for the entire day. The mood of fish will change as the day wears on and you have to change with it.
Thanks for reading.
Good fishing.
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