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Going for Trout for the First Time

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Scipio24

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hey all,

So this year I decided I wanted to take my daughter to trout fish on opening day by my house at Pickerel Lake in Wayne. They started stocking trout a few weeks ago and Saturday is opening day. I have never fished for trout before, though I have fished this lake. I have a few small jigs/flies that I was planing on using as my initial lure choice. However, as mentioned, I don't have much experience so I thought I would kindly ask for any sage advice from the fine WCF folks.

Any recommendations on lures? Presentations? Or just other general knowledge on this species and this event (opening trout day in IL). Anything is most appreciated. Thanks in advance.
 
#3 ·
I recommend a small kastmaster or spoon. A tiny rooster tail as well. Some openers the guy casting is the first to limit.

Some openers the guy with a bobber in the right corner gets the limit the fastest. Set up a float with a piece of crawler or redworm and a small hook. Honestly I think any live bait would work, as well as powerbait, I just prefer the worm wiggle.
 
#4 ·
^Might need to try these
 
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#6 ·
urbanHog312 said:
cant beat the kastmaster but the cold temp on saturday might make that impossible. plan b is a minnow under a slip rig.
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How small of a minnow and how deep do you think? aren't the fish pretty small?

Also, does anyone know which lake is better to fish/less crowd? Belleau or Axehead

Haven't fished either but those appear to be the closest to Arlington Hts
 
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Discussion starter · #8 ·
Appreciate the advice. I will basically plan a multiple pronged attack consisting of small spoons, flies & some live worms. Hopefully it's not too crowded out there, weather and all that. Not sure what to expect but hopefully will be good fishing & bonding with my daughter regardless!
 
#9 ·
One year I limited out in an hour with a dry fly behind a casting bubble. Same results another year on a small orange rooster tail, and once using waxies. Other years I've been skunked after trying everything in my tackle box.

I guess my point is you never know what will work, come prepared to try everything. And know that it will be crowded.
 
#10 ·
I'll preface by saying I've never wrangled a spring trout as there is no Busse spring stocking. But at Busse I've had strong response to minnows under floats, light line and shallower than most who seem to want to throw baits out a hundred yards and wait.

I also caught several nice ones on 'powerbait eggs'; they are different from the regular powerbait in that they are small spongy 'eggs' together in a string. I had 'sunrise' color on a dropshot, as they float. Enough line to get them off the bottom a few feet.

Never tried lures.

The real thing though is that it's a wild experience. Go with a spirit of adventure. Both Belleau and Axe can be pretty much shoulder to shoulder but the temps may thin out the crowd a bit though we've had snow on opener day before.
 
#11 ·
minstrel said:
The real thing though is that it's a wild experience. Go with a spirit of adventure. Both Belleau and Axe can be pretty much shoulder to shoulder but the temps may thin out the crowd a bit though we've had snow on opener day before.
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Im excited for the experience, is it really "shoulder to shoulder" like everyone says? Seems comical
 
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#13 ·
urbanHog312 said:
no sense in going if youre going to be crabby bc theres too many people.
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No no I didnt mean that, I meant comical because I've always seen pictures like this and had no idea they were "real"

Image


I always assumed they were for some kinda contest or special event
 
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#16 ·
minstrel said:
I always refer to it as "Fishing For Gold Bars" because you'd think that is what is going on. :)
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Do they at least taste good? lol
 
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#18 ·
I got two last spring and two in fall.
Rooster tail, Mepps, KVD crank 1.0, Kastmaster in gold. Tried Little Cleo (blue/silver) - got a strike but lost it.
Good luck. It can be crowded, lines get crossed. I go to Blackwell FP, Silver Lake. Had an idiot in a boat troll within 15 yards of the fishing pier I and several others were on, ran across several lines, guy next to me lost his lure due to boat hooking his line, tempers flared. Be careful out there. Several guys had kids along.
I went back on Sunday and got nothing.
Good luck and stay warm.
 
#19 ·
Anyone have some good smoked trout recipes and heating schedules?
 
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#20 ·
I always had a good time taking Goby Jr. to inland trout. We went to Banana which isn't a great lake but has a pretty chill atmosphere or Wood Dale Grove which has lots of room even though it does get crowded and I think bigger trout than Lake or Cook county in general.

My last year in Illinois I did get a little tired of the crowds and just waking up so early and so we went for the sunset bite. It wasn't as good but we did catch fish and it was way less crowded and we got to sleep in.

I did go to one fall opening down near St. Louis when I was visiting St. Louis for my grandmother's birthday. It was a way different scene. Only about 20 people there on this huge lake. The locals told me the trout last all winter.
 
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