Was wondering if anyone here has ever trolled, tossed, or jigged some of the bass swimbaits we have for big browns? Like the Rago Tool or Mattlures 6" swimbaits. Or even let a Rof16 Hudd bonce the bottom? The season is almost upon us...I know I am going to try some weird stuff this Fall and Winter. I will keep you updated.

I have tried a 6" castaic trout but do not like trolling it. I like to troll between 2-3mph and have found that this lure does not like going that fast and the action seems near non-existent. Since most of the time I am trolling rocks and stump areas and prefer lures that have a lot of action, I have stayed cheap using rapalas. I would be a bit afraid trolling a $40-100 lure through these areas on 12lb flouro leader only to have a rock/stump catch it or a brown's teeth saw the line.

The only time I will pick up the Castaic is when the food truck (stocker rainbows) just dumped their load into the lake and the browns are coming in for dinner. But instead of trolling, I drift through the area, cast it out and reel it in slowly like a disorientated rainbow.

I've thrown a wake jr for macs. Haven't had any results as of yet but did have a nice follower not too long ago.

I have a few places that I know hold some massive Browns. I have actually watched a Brown of about 8-9lbs chase a little rainbow almost onto the bank and wait for that little trout to head back out and the the Brown crushed it. I was in my tube with a little trout pole and fly rod thinking, man if only I had my swimbait rod. Anyway that is what got me thinking about the swimbaits for browns. To me it would be very similar to throwing for trophy bass. Same school of thought, why would a big ol Brown spend that much energy to eat a bunch of little midges and small crustations? Anyway, we will see how it goes. I will keep you posted. :)

I had to spend some time at Hell Hole Reservoir and we would stay with the PCWA caretaker. He did nothing but talk about the trophy brown trout that are in that lake. I did throw a Hudd for them a few times, but IMHO the timing was way off. I was doing it at a time of year when I felt the browns were real deep. Anyway, he told me that you have to go after them just before ice forms. He also told me that he is friends with a local. He actually goes and picks this guy up in a snowmobile so he can fish the place. And the guy catching toads. Anyway, for somebody that is real serious about sticking a trophy brown on a swimbait Hell Hole is probably one of the best places to do it.

Timing is everything if you are going to throw swimbaits at them. Morning/evening are typicall times when there is low light and the fish come into the shallows searching for food. But if the water temp is too high or the food source is offshore, you will be throwing for nothin. At those times, use a downrigger or leadcore to get deep.

Best time would be when the water temps are below 50 degrees or fishing a lake right at/during the first 2 weeks of ice off.

What if the lake does not freeze over? I have gotten some good browns Nov through March but the lakes did not ice over. So low light periods during the Fall/Winter would be best? I have also heard that stormy conditions are also prime. Dropping barometer? I know most "Brown Baggers" do not let things out so I really dont expect to much info, just fun conversation. I can tell you one thing, a slow troll during the winter with a big swimbait far behind the boat might actually work....we'll see. ;)

Try these www.trophysticks.com

I checked out those Trophy Sticks and they are made by the same company that copied Rago's Bluegill. I thought I had seen those before.

scotty why are you always trying to cause trouble? just go away!!!!

I know nothing about brown trout but I do have several customers who use my littel 6in trout to catch them. I have no idea how they use them though.

Trophy Sticks are good lures, I have caught a lot of browns on them during the prototype era of these lures. L4T where you referring to me? I just got back from Oregon this past week. Check out Trophy Sticks website there has been a lot of big fish caught on those lures. As far as swimbaits go I usually just stick with stickbaits myself, but swimbaits work too. It is what ever you feel confident with.

Scotty

>I checked out those Trophy Sticks and they are made by the
>same company that copied Rago's Bluegill. I thought I had
>seen those before.

Hardly,
Trophy Sticks are the real deal. Total different arena than anything Rago.