I don't post much anymore, and try to not post on controversial topics, but, this is one of those topics that will get me in trouble for sure. [pirate] LOL
First, there is an old saying that says 10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish. Over time, I believe it is more like 5% catch 95%. I have also noticed that many of the 90% that don't do well are convinced that either there are no fish or that they themselves are far better then they actually are.
I won't call anyone out by name, but it you take offense to the above statement, then you DO FIT into the 90% group. Uggggg [
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Now, for the truth of the matter. Big fish don't necessarily go deeper, they go to where the water temperatures, oxygen levels, and food supply is best for them. They also get lazy, more on that in a moment.
Big fish need more oxygen then smaller fish, so they seldom spend much time below the thermocline. They also spend little time in the warm oxygen depleted shallows. They also spend little time suspended in with the smaller fish in open water. Because they are lazy, meaning they want to spend as little energy as possible for the largest meal possible, they don't cruise in open water where they have to chase food down, they station themselves near structure where they can ambush those big old chubs, shinners, planter rainbows, and small cutties that swim too close. I have said too much about this already, but if you want to catch slot busters consistently, trolling is probably not going to work.
Now, about what they eat, think big. For whatever it is worth, a friend of some note has said that fish, including trout, can and often eat food as long as from the tip of their nose to the anal vent. This is not "normal" but if you think a 27" cuttie gets that large by eating bugs or spinners or mini squid or powerbait, then you are probably part of the 90% club.
Now, as for how many slot busters there are, well, to a point, it is a numbers game. Only 0.1%, or less, of fish live to a ripe old age. They also grow fastest, at least length wise, in their youth. Without getting preachy with numbers, you will always have lots and lots of small fish, smaller numbers yet in the slot, and smallest yet in the slot busters club. If you are catching slot size, and not catching sub slot size or slot busters, you are fishing where they are not, or with food offerings not suited to their preferences.
Now is when I am glad I don't have a camera with me when I fish, even though my wife wants me to start. Before I sold my boat to my son a couple of years ago (he lives in Washington State), I took myself to Strawberry for a last catchemup day. Only caught 1 Bow, over 30", and 7 Cutties, 27"+ on my board. Now I doubt I could ever do that again, and all were released without pictures (hard to photo when you are by yourself anyway), but they were sure there for me once I located them.
I doubt that the 90% believes me, and perhaps 5% have their doubts, but the members of the 5% club know, as I do, that the big fish are there, in catchable numbers, right where they are supposed to be. They, and the slot size, are eating chubs, shinners, crawfish, young rainbows, young cutties, and on rare occation, even eating tube jigs, powerbait, and mini squid. HEHE
Perhaps, if you are not finding them, you should ask yourself which club you belong to, the 90%, the 5% that are learning, or ......................[crazy][
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Then, ask which club you want to be in and set your goals and open yourself to learning.
Let the flames begin. LOL
