Ice-Out Rainbow Trout

Spring into Action





As winter comes to an end and the ice fishing huts are being pulled off the lake, every hardwater angler begins to wonder - What next? Well, if you're anything like me, the answer is ice-out rainbow trout.





Where to Start?





When the ice leaves the lake, the spring sun begins to warm the shallows first. This warmer water attracts baitfish, which in turn attracts larger predators like rainbow trout. Fish can often be found in water as shallow as 4 feet.





Rainbow trout begin their annual migration in the late fall and finish usually by late spring. This means that river mouths are a great place to start. During the spring you may catch beautiful fish that have yet to start their trip up stream to fish that are extremely beat up from their incredible journey.





Go Light, Go Long.





This old adage for catching ice-out rainbow trout remains true to this very day. With fish stacked up tight to shore in shallow water, they are easily spooked by the sound of your motor as you troll by. One way to increase your catch is to let out a lot of line so that the fish have had time to settle down after being spooked by your boat.





Planer Boards





Another great technique to catch ice-out rainbows is to use planer boards. Planer boards are designed to take your bait out to the side of your boat and away from your noisy motor. As a bonus, your motor may even scare fish right into your baits path. Planer boards also allow you to cover a few different depths at once. This can help you hone in on the best lure/depth presentation for the day.