#1 Brookie bait?

[Roe+]

I don't have a number 1 bait. I have numerous baits I prefer depending upon the conditions. They will hit different baits at different times in the same creek and some days they can't make up their minds.

My favourites include Panther Martins, EGBs, small flatfish, worms (I always take them with me) and a small white jighead along with small white powerbait twister tails.

Roe+

[gonq67]

fished brookies twice a year for the last 5 years,all in algonquin,wild fish...nothing beats a little cleo blue and silver tipped with a piece of worm,trolled from a canoe can get down anywhere from 5 to 15 feet depending on lure size,hook up with the odd laker,great for splake.lots of pics to prove it

[bicephalic]

.lots of pics to prove it

Well light it up friend..we're always happy to see fish pics

[TroutSlayer]

I have to list ten! Well the more I think about it, the harder is is to pick 10.

Conditions, location and seasons effect my choices very much. So, for this thread we will assume my chosen baits are for open water lake Specks, on spinning gear.

My first choice (and I've talked about it on many sites) is the double bladed Hildebrandt spinner with a mono trailer. This setup has put more Specks in my canoe and boat than any other lure. I have used it in both Brackish and Fresh water Speck locations.


The first photo is of the complete rig, (hard to see the line and double hooks) but with rubber instead of the real dew worm. Notice the 15 inch ruler to show the length of lead behind the blades. Also notice the tandem hooks to keep the worm stretched out. In dirty water I will shorten the distance between the blades and the hooks. Big Specks like big meals, but have learned to be cautious and will often strike short on lures. This rig brings them in and they can't refuse the fresh dew worm! ;D

It's important to have a good quality swivel at the head of the Hildebrandt as well as between the lure and the dew worm on the mono trailer.




Two more closeup shots of the same rig:




The above setup is my trolling / exploring rig for covering lots of water in an effort to locate fish. When I do get to know the water and Speck locations, I will switch rods and downsize bait. (below) I like to throw a number 2 silver spinner (with stinger) and worm at structure in the area I last caught a Speck. I will be tossing the lure below with very light line and a long float rod to allow distance from the spooky monsters!




I am usually targeting Specks destined for the frying pan, so you will notice the Siwash hook on the Blue Fox spinner. I have found less fish are lost with the single hooks, but I don't bother changing out the trebles on the small plugs. I think it's a vision thing as well as the plugs were designed to swim with their trebles.

I will clean the first few fish on the spot and determine the stomach contents. At this point, If I find minnows or large nymphs are the order of the day, I will run small plugs behind the Hildebrandt at the same distance, or behind the Blue fox by about 8 inches and troll the area well.

Here are some of my choice plugs in divers as well as wobblers:









Of course the old dew worm on a single hook by itself is great bait when the Specks are active. I have also found three and four digested frogs in the stomachs of larger Specks, and have used live frogs with success in the right conditions! It's too much like bass fishing when I fish with frogs! LOL!


If I have access to a creek or river, I will collect helgramites (sp) and stonefly nymphs and use them on a small hook and light line. There are times when live nymphs will outfish anything out there!

A collection of small EGB spoons is also a must have at times.

[pudge]

Troutslayer was just wondering if you have ever used or seen these.I picked them up from a friend in England,they are called flying condoms.lol.They look similiar to the blue fox vibrax that you have in one of your pics.When i was in England we used them for brown trout and sea run salmon.

[TroutSlayer]

Troutslayer was just wondering if you have ever used or seen these.I picked them up from a friend in England,they are called flying condoms.lol.They look similiar to the blue fox vibrax that you have in one of your pics.When i was in England we used them for brown trout and sea run salmon.

Thanks for posting those Pudge, I've never seen them before. I'll look into finding some.

[pudge]

I've never used them in Canada for trout or salmon,but when i saw your post it got me excited to try them cause they look like the spinner you have.The guy that i was fishing with in England gave me some as a souviner.Let me know if you find any.

[TroutSlayer]

I see Mepps makes them as well http://www.mepps.com/products/brochures/flyingc/ . I may order some to try on the sea-run Specks on Cape Breton Island.

[pudge]

That didn't take long,thanks for the info.I might try them around the whirlpool next time i'm down there.My friend in England swears by them.

[Huggybear]

A dry fly 3ft down from a bobber has been gold for me this year. I let it float out in the current of the stream I've been fishing then slowly real it back in. I catch a lot of small rainbows in the 5 - 10 inch range. Using a wet fly gets me fish on the bigger side of the range but I get fewer of them.