Where to go?

[intothedeep]

I agree with PA on the baits... Spoons don't work very well for bows, like they do specs and lakers. I've caught the odd one on a spoon, but micro jigs, flies and live bait are key for bows... I would never use one anymore... Brookies though often prefer metal!

I caught one bow once in 35fow, but shallower is better. Could be anywhere on that lake, plus they move...

Pikeattack, average back lake bow in your lake 5lbs??? Is that a fish story PA

[pikeattack]

no theres lots of lakes with 5 lb bows in the bancroft area, most are snowmobile access only but i do know a few that have easy access, you just gotta find them, camera helps, brookies are often around 4-5 pounds in these back lakes too, I've shown you the pics, so you better believe it.

[greenpark]

There are lakes with a 5 pound average in the Haliburton area

Nothing more to add. Good luck!

[KEVERS]

I am a big fan of points/drop off's. Fish from 4 fow out to 20 fow, on dead stick use half a worm/full leech or small minnow. I fish suspended in all depths, jig with micro tubes, tungsten jig and minnow. I have caught them on small spoons and rattle baits also. One thing that would be worth finding out is what strain of rainbow you are fishing for. MNR stocks 2 different strains which are not created equal in my books. Domestic strain and the Ganaraska, the Gany's being the more difficult of the two.

Do not be afraid of playing around weeds and muck, and i am not a big fan of a incoming stream or river because that is the coldest water on a lake and rainbows are not looking for that. I agree with all the other tips on this thread, HOWEVER never believe it when someone says there are always successful with bow's through the hard stuff.

[intothedeep]

There are lakes with lots of 5lb bows yes, but not average...

[intothedeep]

no theres lots of lakes with 5 lb bows in the bancroft area, most are snowmobile access only but i do know a few that have easy access, you just gotta find them, camera helps, brookies are often around 4-5 pounds in these back lakes too, I've shown you the pics, so you better believe it.

Good for you PA, keep catching em

[KEVERS]

I believe that there are lakes with average fish being 5 lbs, but are people catching true 5 lbs fish? and in what numbers? If they are true 5 lbs they should be in the 23" to 25" range. Also i would think you would not catch them in high numbers due to fishing/predator pressure and being that they are probably at the end of there life cycle. (with domestics, which are more commonly stocked then Ganaraska)

The rainbow lake i fish is a domestic strain lake. This past November i caught lots of fish off shore between 17" and 19" which were between the 2.5 and 3.00 lbs mark. Now this coming Nov they should be close to that 5 lbs mark so 23" to 25", but in much smaller numbers. Also the new generation of fish will be stocked on top, giving you lots of 6" to 11" and very few 23" to 25"

Show me a pic of 5 bows all around the 5 lbs mark and i will believe average size is 5 lbs, but catch one fish that is 5 lbs and saying that it is average size is not accurate.

If a lake was stocked with 500 fish and forgotten about then you could have both size and numbers, but such a gem is rarely attainable.

[scud_17]

well just to let everyone know, i went out this morning and of course auger wouldn't work right so couldn't try many spots... found some stick poking our of the snow and got 3-4 done ( carb was falling off the auger..). NOT ONE BITE ! was on the lake from 9 am to 11 am and tried waxies on micro jig in orange and yellow, as well as a rattle spoon with minnow, green and yellow cleo ( 1/4 oz) with minnow..
tried in the 20 ft range up to the 4 ft range... if you looked at first pic, i was mostly at the south ( bottom ) of the lake... this lake just to let you know, you can probably lob a rock across it at it's widest spot. i think rainbows can hear me coming a mile away!!! but this i have leant, need a new auger!

[awbringl]

id fish the shallower parts, thats where I've been having most of my luck for back lakes bows, that drop off between 5-20 looks promising and where i would probably start my search.

x2 on the shallow approach. Recently at a lake where numerous bows were iced. Fishing the shallows with Gulp products in a max depth of 3 ft. of water. The lake has several drops that extend into 50 to 60 ft. of water, which is where the perch hang out. Good luck!

[auger]

Look for 8 to 10 feet of water....and when over deeper water fish only 5 feet down.....and they will be cruising...
8 plus from a haliburton area lake...


Auger