Recipe for Success While Fishing for Brown Trout
Locating Big Browns
Locating trophy “football browns” along the extensive shoreline of Lake Ontario in April and May requires a mix of strategy, understanding water conditions, and utilizing the right gear. In spring, brown trout gravitate to shallow, warmer waters, especially near areas where creeks and rivers feed into the lake. Captains often recommend paying close attention to water temperature, targeting warm pockets and murky water that these trout favor. In early April, sun-warmed sand can increase near-shore water temperatures, and creek discharges, such as those from Stony Creek and North and South Sandy Creeks, create crucial warm breaks.
Spring Water Temperature Matters
Smelt and alewives also concentrate in these warmer plumes along the shore, drawing brown trout to feed. By closely monitoring water temperatures, which can vary by as much as 10 degrees between zones, you can pinpoint these ideal conditions. A temperature gauge on your boat is essential for tracking these changes and optimizing your chances of finding feeding fish. In particular, murky water close to these tributary outflows often signals high fish activity.
Planer Boards
For tackle, planer boards are especially effective because they allow anglers to get lines further away from the boat and its noise, a crucial advantage when targeting these near-shore browns. Planer boards keep lines running parallel to the shore in quieter water, where browns are often feeding. While downriggers and flat lines have their place, planer boards are the favored approach in spring. High-quality masts and bases, such as those made by Great Lakes Planers, are known for durability and customization options. Their versatile accessory racks and rocket launchers add ease and flexibility to adjust setup height and positioning.
Finding the Right Brown Trout Fishing Line
Selecting the right fishing line is crucial for successful brown trout fishing, and while there are many options on the market, most captains have their preferred choices. The importance of using 100% fluorocarbon leaders cannot be overstated. Fluorocarbon is nearly invisible underwater, offering both low stretch and minimal memory, making it ideal for fishing clear water. A popular choice among captains is P-Line with “UV-Guard,” which protects the line from the sun’s rays, ensuring a longer lifespan without sacrificing breaking strength or abrasion resistance. For leaders, we recommend 10 to 12-pound test lines, while for main lines, 15-pound test is often preferred. Well-regarded brands such as Trilene, Big Game, Cortland, and Stren are all excellent options for your main lines, offering the durability needed for battling trophy brown trout.
Use a Line Counter Reel
One of the most effective tools for precision when fishing for brown trout is a line counter reel. These reels help ensure that you’re deploying the exact amount of line every time, allowing for consistent lure placement and the ability to track how far a fish is from the boat once hooked. The Daiwa Accu Depth ADP27 is a high-quality, reasonably priced line counter reel that provides precision, ensuring your lure is at the correct depth for targeted presentations. To pair with the reel, captains often choose 7 ½ ft. Daiwa Heartland graphite rods, known for their reliability and dependability in all fishing conditions.
Captains typically run leads anywhere from 60 feet to as much as 250 feet off the planer boards, depending on factors like boat traffic and water clarity. When using downriggers, lures are often placed 80 to 100 feet behind the ball. Flatlines can be run at similar distances. A line counter reel ensures that the depth of your lure remains consistent throughout the day, which is crucial for increasing your chances of success when fishing for brown trout.
Finding the Right Water Depths
Brown Trout Fishing Lures
Michigan Stinger Spoons
When it comes to brown trout fishing in the spring, many anglers have their go-to lures, but few can compare to the effectiveness and versatility of the Michigan Stinger spoon. This lure is a favorite for a reason: it performs well at a variety of speeds and stands up to the relentless action of a fish’s aggressive strikes. Over the years, these spoons have proven themselves to be one of the best options for targeting lunker browns, thanks to their durability and the attractive flash they offer in the water.
Among the many Michigan Stinger spoons available, some of the most successful colors and patterns include Hud Special (Houdini), Sunkist, Yellow Jacket, Emerald Shiner, Natural Born Killer, Orange Shankster, Alewife, Tuxedo, GBT Brown Trout, and Michael Jackson. These spoons not only target brown trout, but they also shine when it comes to landing other species such as king salmon, steelhead, walleye, and northern pike. Their ability to attract a wide variety of fish makes them a must-have in any angler’s tackle box, especially during the prime spring fishing season.
Body Baits
Body baits have long been a staple in brown trout fishing, and for good reason. Among the most reliable options, the Jr. Thunderstick continues to be a top producer. For decades, it has provided consistent results, offering an enticing action that browns find irresistible. However, other body baits such as Smithwicks, Yo-Zuris, and Rapalas also deserve attention, as they have proven effective in various fishing conditions.
When selecting colors for body baits, it’s essential to go with the classics. Black, orange, and gold have stood the test of time, with many successful anglers swearing by these hues. That being said, modern tackle shops have introduced an impressive range of color schemes, making it easy to see why so many anglers get lost in the aisles. While the traditional colors still reign supreme, don’t be afraid to experiment with the newer, flashier options—after all, you never know what might catch the eye of that trophy brown.
Downriggers
As the season progresses and brown trout begin to move off shore into deeper waters, between 40 to 70 feet in depth, downriggers become an essential tool in any angler’s arsenal. This technique allows you to target fish that have moved beyond the reach of standard trolling methods, providing you with a greater chance to land those deep-water lunkers.
For downrigging, we’ve always been satisfied with our Cannon downriggers, which have proven to be reliable and effective over the years. These downriggers allow for precise placement of your lures, ensuring they’re in the optimal zone to trigger strikes from trout. On certain days, large brown trout can be found sitting right on the bottom, and downriggers help get your lures directly in front of their faces.
Using fluorocarbon leaders is essential in these deeper conditions. The line’s near invisibility in the water makes it a must-have for fishing in clear depths, where fish may be more cautious. Some of the prime locations to target during this offshore transition include Stony Point, Stony Creek, Rays and Sawyers Bay, and the “trench”—all hot spots known to produce monster browns during the spring months. These areas are often where you’ll find the fish feeding heavily as they prepare for their seasonal movements.
Perfecting Your Timing
When targeting the elusive “football browns,” it’s essential to consider the time of day. Early mornings often yield the best results, as the fishing tends to slow down as the day progresses into noon. While early fishing is hot, as the sun climbs, browns tend to become less active and harder to target. For those looking to land true wall-hangers, one of the best tactics is to minimize your lines in the water—sometimes, fewer lines out can be more effective, especially in the quieter periods of the day. Additionally, avoiding areas with heavy boat traffic while using longer leads off planer boards and rigs can prevent disruptions that might spook fish.
As the season progresses, baitfish tend to migrate towards structures or dive into the thermoclines, and naturally, the browns follow suit. Typically, these fish are found in water temperatures ranging from 48 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Having a quality fish finder is an invaluable tool during this period, as it helps pinpoint exact locations where browns are congregating. Whether it’s locating submerged structures or tracking the baitfish movement, the right electronics are crucial to a successful outing.
Electronics to Use While You’re Fishing
When it comes to outfitting your boat with electronics, there’s an overwhelming array of options available on the market. For new boaters, one of the first questions is usually about which fish finders to buy. While the best sonar equipment is important, I always stress the importance of having a marine radio as the very first purchase. This communication tool is crucial for safety and staying informed, especially in busy fishing areas.
Over the years, we’ve used a variety of sonar, GPS, and Lorans equipment on our boats. However, for the past three decades, we’ve found Lowrance products to be exceptionally reliable. When selecting a sonar-GPS unit, I recommend opting for a model with at least 480 x 480 pixel resolution. This ensures superb target detail and exceptional chart definition, which is vital for pinpointing fish in the often murky waters where brown trout like to roam.
Brown Trout Fishing Guide Techniques
Sliding Cheaters
One of the key techniques used by experienced brown trout fishing guides and charter captains is the use of fixed or sliding cheaters. These cheaters are added to the rig to get the lures away from downrigger weights, giving them a greater chance of attracting fish. Additionally, another valuable piece of equipment for downriggers is the “winger,” which attaches to the cable and helps spread your pattern farther from the boat, keeping your presentation more natural. You can find winged spreaders locally at Great Lakes Planers and Henchen’s Marina in Henderson Harbor, which are often used to increase the spread and improve success rates.
Scents for Fishing Success
Brown trout have an extraordinary sense of smell, which is why many seasoned captains use various scents to increase their chances of success. Among the most popular scents for brown trout are herring, anchovies, and WD-40, all of which have been proven to entice these fish into striking. Adding scent can make a significant difference in triggering a bite, especially when the fish are not actively feeding.
Adding Weight
In shallow waters, adding weight to your spoons can help get them down to the fish. Keel sinkers are a good choice for this purpose, but adding split shot above your leader swivels offers a quick and easy way to adjust your setup for deeper presentation. Additionally, deep-diving body baits are excellent for reaching browns that are lying deeper in the water column, especially as temperatures rise and fish move to cooler depths.
Another sign to watch for when looking for active baitfish—and therefore, brown trout—is the presence of cormorants and seagulls. If these birds are actively working an area, it’s a clear indication that there is bait in the vicinity, which means the fish won’t be far behind. Even gulls working alone are a positive sign, as they may be feeding on injured or dying baitfish, a favorite meal for brown trout.
Get Out and Have Fun
With these small but effective tips in hand, you’re ready to make the most out of your brown trout fishing experience. However, the most important thing to remember is to have fun. The weather, including sun, clouds, and wind, can all affect which areas are productive and what colors of lures work best. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different approaches and tackle to discover what the fish are responding to on any given day.
And finally, remember the joy of fishing—take a kid fishing for brown trout and share the thrill of the chase! The sport is as much about the experience as it is about the catch.
Original Article By Captain Bob Dick
About The Author
Captain Bob Dick owns and operates Moby Dick Charters out of Henderson Harbor on Lake Ontario. Captain Bob specializes in sport fishing for trophy walleye, browns, lake trout, king salmon, northern pike and smallmouth bass. He has lived and fished the eastern end of Lake Ontario and tributaries his entire life and is a member of the NYS Outdoor Writers’ Association.
This article has been revised by Daniel O’Neill, an experienced angler and writer, to ensure its continued relevance and accuracy. As a result, it may no longer reflect the original author’s views or intentions.
