For some reason, in the last week my son has become obsessed with catching a rainbow. I haven't used my trolling gear much since May so I broke it out and hit Pleasant Lake in New London on Saturday to try for brookies or salmon and got skunked on DBs, and topguns. During that trip, he said "I'd really like to catch a rainbow dad".
I know 'bows are a bycatch when targeting salmon so I'm guessing 6 colors of lead and 32 ft on the DRs will get me there but do you troll faster for bows?
I also have a very limited fly selection and no dodgers - will spoons be effective this time of year for the bows?
Do you focus on structure and shoreline drop offs or just drag gear out in the middle?
Finally, I am torn between WinniSquam (that I have never fished) and Winni (which I know pretty well). Is Winnisquam a better 'bow fishery than Winni? If I hit Winnisquam, I will be in the upper section. It looks pretty open but I don't have depth maps...am I going to be losing lots of gear if I fish that section.
ANY advice will be helpful or redirect me to a better bow fishery south of the lakes region.
Mike you might give newfoud a try trolling rapalas off lead at 6 colors last week was working for bows,slow fishing but nice body of water good luck BARRY
I had planned on bringing my boy up to the lakes region at first light but I came down with a fever. I felt a little better when I woke up but he was bummed to miss out. So even though we missed the morning bite and we couldn't get on the water until lunch time, we did get out.
We hit Winnisquam and trolled for a few hours. 5 and 6 colors of leadcore off planer boards and downriggers at 30 and 35 ft. One release - no fish. We took a nice long swim (it was hot) then fished different shorelines. Around 4 we got our first fish...a 17 inch laker. About and hour and a half later we got one off a rigger at 30 ft. We needed to wrap up by 7 (his mother's orders) and at about 6:45 we hit 4 lakers in just a few minutes on everything...then had to leave (I hate it when that happens but leave them wanting more...).
No salmon no bows. 30 ft and the leadcore I had out should have been "right" but going in the middle of the day probably didn't help. I threw everything at them that I had for hardware. I had no attractors and ran my lines 100 ft back....was this my mistake?
I was very impressed with Winnisquam (my first time on) and the state launch facility is first class. I think I've heard it said here before but "Winni could sure use a free launch site like that".
Have done well on very good qaulity rainbows this week southeast of Birch. One 3 lber and one at 3.5, 6 colors on the white perch fly! and Chappys sexy smelt!
Thanks...do you need to use a dodger to have success with these white perch flys? How fast? Are you only using lead core or do you also have success with these flies on downriggers?
Sorry about all the questions but I've never had success on flies and I'm sure "the key" is in one of the questions above?
One thing you can try for bows is too troll a little faster 2.3 or so. Keep in mind too that the fish are eating yoy bait fish this time of year so fishing with smaller flies and lures works well. White perch flies as tied by Al at AJ's bait and tackle on 4 to six colrs of lead so produce some rainbows for you on Winni. Another thing too try is pink, rainbows seem to like pink like in the rangly pattern.
