Do not rule out the effectiveness of crank and minnow baits for spring trout. 

The mention of spring trout fishing casts up visions of dry flies, silver spoons and small spinners as the standard attractors of choice.  For some reason, using anything else did not seem worthy of mention until a blog visitor and Alberta fishing guide, Mike Robertson shared details about his recent haul of 'chromed-out' rainbow trout from the Bow River in Alberta. 

Mike was able to access a favourite section of the Bow River during a warming western chinook wind.  Instead of using standard issue flies, spoons or spinners he used Rapala Countdowns. The river's 'silvery rainbows' inhaled them. The Bow River blogger explains his technique like this,

"The method is a little different in the early spring. I cast out and make the Rapalas dive right down to the bottom. Then, I lift the rod tip up to make the lure swim quickly and erracticly. Then, I leave the lure on a long pause letting it drift down the river without reeling. I then, repeat this process two more times and slowly retrieve the Rapala back into shore." 

A successful angler will always be flexible enough to adapt their technique to the conditions that surround the fish they are targeting. Mike's photos below prove that the newest additions to my usual trout candy showcase will now include some diving cranks. It seems brown trout go 'strike-crazy' for Mike's spring offerings as well.

The immediate application for these countdowns is simple. Depending on when the retreating snow opens up some of the shoreline along your favourite trout stream, you may be able to cast these lures out into them now. 

Locally,  in the Huntsville area, rivers like the Muskoka, the Big East and the Little East could be options for you. Local anglers have confirmed, to me, that the Muskoka River has instances of rainbows but, more than likely, you could hook into some speckled trout in these three rivers. Portions of the Muskoka River closer to Bracebridge have also been stocked with brown trout. 

Mayflower Lake, in Arrowhead Provincial Park, also has stocked rainbow trout.





*Mike Robertson is a Blogger and Fishing Guide at the Bow River Blog. All photos used with permission.