Outsmarting trout with a clever lure trick

Several weeks ago, I observed trout feeding in water that was about 8-feet deep.

 

They were pushing shrimp up to the surface and attacking them.

 

I could always locate the school of trout by looking for shrimp jumping on the surface.

 

Lucky for me, the water was clear, and I could see shrimp swimming back to the bottom. Many of them did not make it. 

 

This got me to thinking. If I could make my lure fall at about the same speed as a shrimp swims to the bottom, I could catch a lot of trout.

 

So, I began experimenting with different jig head weights and lure combinations.

 

After much trial and error, it became clear a 1/10th ounce NedLockZ jig matched with a Z-Man Finesse TRD or StreakZ 3.75 was the right combination.

 

After settling on the right jig and lure combination, I had to figure out the retrieve cadence.

 

I started with a big lift of the rod tip and then quickly dropping the tip back to a low position. I figured this would imitate a shrimp escaping to the surface and then swimming back to the bottom.

 

It worked! However, the technique needed a few refinements.

 

When a trout eats a lure that is slowly descending to the bottom, it can be difficult to feel the strike.

 

So, I began fishing with an 8-pound test high visibility braid with a 3-foot fluorocarbon leader.

 

After dropping my rod tip to the low position, I would watch the braid where it entered the water. It would twitch when a trout ate the lure. After making this adjustment, my catch rate went way up.

 

The other refinement was in my tackle. A 1/10th ounce jig is pretty light and a chore to cast on heavier gear. For this technique, I use a light power, fast action, 7-foot spinning rod.  

 

Now when Brody and I go trout fishing, Brody does not have to work so hard. We simply watch the surface of the water for jumping shrimp.

 

Contact Captain Greg Peralta at captgregp@gmail.com or call (843) 224-0099.