09-21-2007, 11:25 PM
09-22-2007, 12:14 AM
I've heard they're catching tiger trout up to 20 inches. Try maribou or tube jigs, wooly buggers, or minnow immitations.
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09-22-2007, 02:32 AM
Minnows. Plain and simple. Fished however you choose, just fish them. Rainbow powerbait has also produced. As always, silver Panthers or Fox's in larger sizes do produce.
Rainbows are averaging around 12-14" with bigger bows being few and far between, tigers about 16" with the occassional one up to well over 24". Cutts are around 18-20" when you find them.
Rocky structure's best. Keep the bait off the bottom, though. Lower water's concentrated the massive crawdad population.
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Rainbows are averaging around 12-14" with bigger bows being few and far between, tigers about 16" with the occassional one up to well over 24". Cutts are around 18-20" when you find them.
Rocky structure's best. Keep the bait off the bottom, though. Lower water's concentrated the massive crawdad population.
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09-22-2007, 01:45 PM
I won't ask for any secret spots or anything like that, I just want to know what you think the best way is of keeping the minnows off the bottom and how far off the bottom. I get tired of the crawfish chomping my minnows and have tried floating them but with a lot less luck than in the past. I have tried corkies off the bottom as well as floating down from the top. I can never figure out the best way to keep them up and how far they need to be either up off the bottom or down from the top. Any advice would be great.
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09-22-2007, 02:22 PM
[black][size 3]Hey fishluvr,[/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]I find that 4 to 6 inches off the bottom works for me. There are several methods of raising your offering off the bottom. My usual method for doing that is to use a corky (or an inline float). [/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]Here's one of the ways I do it: [/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]1. Put an egg sinker on your main line.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]2. Place a bead on the main line below the sinker.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]3. Tie a leader on your main line with a swivel. [/size][/black]
[black][size 3]4. Tie a bobber stop knot on your leader up towards the swivel. You can also use one of those neoprene bobber stops. This will make it so you can adjust the distance of your bait above the bottom.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]5. Next, Thread a bead on the leader and push it up to the bobber stop.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]6. Thread a corky or an inline float on the leader. Use a float that will balance to the weight of the hook and the bait you will be using.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]7. Last, Tie your prefered hook on the leader.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]8. Hook on your minnow and cast it out - gently.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]Your rig should go something like this. Starting at the Hook and working up to the rod. Hook, corky, bead, bobber stop, swivel, bead, sinker.
[/size][/black][black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]If you are fishing from shore, prior to casting it out, place your offering in the water right next to the bank so you can see exactly how far the minnow floats above the bottom. Adjust accordingly.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
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[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]I find that 4 to 6 inches off the bottom works for me. There are several methods of raising your offering off the bottom. My usual method for doing that is to use a corky (or an inline float). [/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]Here's one of the ways I do it: [/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]1. Put an egg sinker on your main line.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]2. Place a bead on the main line below the sinker.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]3. Tie a leader on your main line with a swivel. [/size][/black]
[black][size 3]4. Tie a bobber stop knot on your leader up towards the swivel. You can also use one of those neoprene bobber stops. This will make it so you can adjust the distance of your bait above the bottom.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]5. Next, Thread a bead on the leader and push it up to the bobber stop.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]6. Thread a corky or an inline float on the leader. Use a float that will balance to the weight of the hook and the bait you will be using.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]7. Last, Tie your prefered hook on the leader.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]8. Hook on your minnow and cast it out - gently.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]Your rig should go something like this. Starting at the Hook and working up to the rod. Hook, corky, bead, bobber stop, swivel, bead, sinker.
[/size][/black][black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]If you are fishing from shore, prior to casting it out, place your offering in the water right next to the bank so you can see exactly how far the minnow floats above the bottom. Adjust accordingly.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
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09-22-2007, 02:53 PM
I find simplicity is best. I do a couple of things.
First is just putting it under a bubble anywhere from 2-6'. That usually works best when the fish are active in the area chasing minnows. When the wind comes up, it gets a little harder to fish like that, but it still works. I've also done slip bobbers down to anywhere from 8-12'. That works too, especially when the fish are deeper.
The second one I use is a clear bubble filled just to the point it sinks. Put a little split shot below it. When I've had to do this, I've had fish on before it can even hit bottom for the crawdads to munch the minnows.
Anywhere in the dam arm has been producing a lot of fish, especially the larger fish. The farther out you go, the more 12-14" rainbows you seem to catch. Also, it's kind of concerning how many chubs are in there now. Last week I got probably 3 redsides for every chub when I threw my cast net at Mountain View.
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First is just putting it under a bubble anywhere from 2-6'. That usually works best when the fish are active in the area chasing minnows. When the wind comes up, it gets a little harder to fish like that, but it still works. I've also done slip bobbers down to anywhere from 8-12'. That works too, especially when the fish are deeper.
The second one I use is a clear bubble filled just to the point it sinks. Put a little split shot below it. When I've had to do this, I've had fish on before it can even hit bottom for the crawdads to munch the minnows.
Anywhere in the dam arm has been producing a lot of fish, especially the larger fish. The farther out you go, the more 12-14" rainbows you seem to catch. Also, it's kind of concerning how many chubs are in there now. Last week I got probably 3 redsides for every chub when I threw my cast net at Mountain View.
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09-24-2007, 05:47 PM
Fishhound, thanks for the advice. I appreciate the detail you went into to explain that for me. I'll have to give those things a try.
McLennon, thanks for the hints. Also, I have noticed the same thing with the small chubs. The last time I got out fishing was before the hunt over a month ago and I also noticed the chubs in my casting net. I'm not excited to see that crap in there. Maybe it's just me but the past year, including ice, has been slower than normal for me at Scofield. Maybe it's just because I haven't gotten out as much. It seems that there are so many more, especially really small, minnows than what I am used to seeing the past five or six years. I guess it's good for a food base for the fish and I just need to find a new spot on the lake.
When you fish in the rocky areas what do you do to keep from snagging and losing rigs on the bottom? Or has this ever been a problem?
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McLennon, thanks for the hints. Also, I have noticed the same thing with the small chubs. The last time I got out fishing was before the hunt over a month ago and I also noticed the chubs in my casting net. I'm not excited to see that crap in there. Maybe it's just me but the past year, including ice, has been slower than normal for me at Scofield. Maybe it's just because I haven't gotten out as much. It seems that there are so many more, especially really small, minnows than what I am used to seeing the past five or six years. I guess it's good for a food base for the fish and I just need to find a new spot on the lake.
When you fish in the rocky areas what do you do to keep from snagging and losing rigs on the bottom? Or has this ever been a problem?
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09-25-2007, 02:39 AM
I've noticed the decline in the fishing, too. Five years ago I couldn't keep the really nice 18" fish off every trip I went, despite the time of year or weather or anything. In 02 I litterally averaged 35 fish days. Last couple, 12"ers are average, and luck's with you for a 10 fish day.
I hate the snags in that part of the lake. I usually just take enough gear to plan on loosing at least 8 or 10 rigs. Eventually I'll just get frustrated and fish the spillway instead.
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I hate the snags in that part of the lake. I usually just take enough gear to plan on loosing at least 8 or 10 rigs. Eventually I'll just get frustrated and fish the spillway instead.
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09-25-2007, 03:22 AM
I'm glad I'm not the only person noticing the change in Scofield. My wife used to love going because our average fish, out of 15 or more, was at least 18 inches. We rarely had the 12 to 15 inch fish and when they would hit you always worried about losing your pole. The ice fishing the past two years has been a lot worse as well. We still catch a couple fish here and there but not the numbers or size as in the past. I think it's because the water came up and the minnow numbers grew so much because they had so much cover in the weeds that are now in the water. Now there are so many minnows the fish don't have to try as hard for food like they used to. Who knows, just my guess.
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09-25-2007, 03:29 AM
The decline in size I think has to do with keeping and not releasing.
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