Anyone fish on Trout over the opener? I am headed up there for the first time this friday and curious what I might find? I am a walleye type of guy but plan to learn trout this weekend.

tkettel:
You will find Trout Lake walleye fishermen more tight lipped than walleyes during a May fly hatch. Trout is a very difficult lake to learn and I believe it will take considerably more time than the week-end. I didn't fish Trout this past week-end but I have fished the lake every year for the past 45+ years. Early season cold water can make things very very difficult. The only word of advice I could give you is "go north young man".

Is this the same trout that is listed as ice covered in the ice out report?

http://climate.umn.edu/doc/ice_out/ice_out_status_08.htm

I hope the link is not clobbered. :-)

I would think that with the wind conditions that we had, NW that is, there was probably little activity on Trout as the opening to the main lake would have been plugged with big ice. Only fishable water was probably from the river to about 5 Sisters. if that much.

I spoke with the guy who runs the portage and he was not operating this weekend. He confirmed that everything north of 5 sisters was locked up with ice as of Friday. I don't know what happened over the weekend. Our party has camped/fished on trout every year for the last 15 with this year being the only exception. it was a difficult weekend sitting at home thinking about it. We are planning on going in this Saturday, hope things are open by then.

Aland, I wonder how we would find out if he is operating next weekend? As I said, my first trip into Trout, and I am not sure what to expect. With what Barney has said in a previous reply, info and learning curve might be little and steep. But, I did manage to get invited by a group that has been going there for years, but sounds like more for trout that eyes. I will be in a grey Alumacraft Lunker with a 25hp 4 stroke Yammy, give me a holler if you catch a glimpse. So a question for you tight mouth experts and this is more of a general BWCA lake question than Trout Lake. I have always been under the impression that this time of year you want to fish very shallow. But I am reading that fish have been caught at many different depths. Is this usual or because of the late ice and cold water? I am gearing up for mostly long lining Raps, throwing bobbers and jigs into shallows and running some lindy rigs around the shallow breaks. I plan to concerntrate on the north shores and inlets if I find them. In the past I have accidentally caught trout using these wallye tactics, any thoughts?

Just read the ice out status, maybe I need a plan B which most likely would be Vermillion. Are there islands with public campsites on Vermillion or any shore campsites?

I just checked the ice out report, maybe I need a plan B like staying on Vermillion. Is there any public shore or island camping on the big V?

Trout is a fun lake because you never know what your going to pull out of the water when you hook something. I too have caught trout by accident. Boy are they delicious cooked up fresh. I have had success in all depths in all water temps. I have also caught huge pike while jigging for trout in 40 plus feet. Its no secret that little trout is the place to go for walleye action, thats where we will be most of the day. If the weather is good, we will be running in with a 19' square stern with a 9.9. If the forecast calls for wind will bring a boat along too. I would try a variety of depths and areas. I dont have any secret spots, i try the typical spots where you would expect to find fish. My only advice is to stay mobile, if you don't catch anything, keep moving until you do. im sure you'll have some success, that is if the ice is out. I would be shocked if it wasn't gone by Saturday, but i have been surprised by this winter (spring) more than once so far. Anything is possible

Shore, there's Hoodoo Point and McKinley Park on the East (Tower) end... or you might be able to get one of the campsites on Hinsdale Island. McKinley & Hoodoo have boat access, and are close enough to town, that if you find a need to get something you may have forgotten, it's not a long haul. Hinsdale is a bit more centered, lakewise, and I can't honestly tell you how to reserve a spot, or if they're first come-first served.

The campsites on Hinsdale and other sites on the lake are first come first get. Others in the Trout Lake portage area.

I went in there this past weekend and stayed on trout... LOTS OF ICE OUT THERE!!!! We planned on going into Little Trout, but didn't make it there.. We portaged into Pine and caught are share of walleye's. Good Luck

All public campsites on Vermilion are first come-first served.
Cliff

Mmmm....ice out eyes on trout. The only time I've caught multiple eyes over 28" in a day. I'll just say this. Look for an area where there's a river with cabbage all around and toss a slip bobber and leech.

Thanks for all of the info guys! BTW, where locally can I buy a good map of Trout?