Fishing for bull trout without downrigger

[Big Red Ripper]

Can anyone give me any info on fishing for bull trout at LBC without down riggers?? Any way that you have tried and that works the best. Also what is the best bait to use this time of year over there, and about how deep ?

[Aufish101]

While I don't target them, I have caught a few while jigging for Kokanee. Also I've seen them flat lining plugs, trolling next to shore. Casting spoons near shore also works sometimes.

Aufish101 http://members.aol.com/garyk10/images/poisson_39.gif

[Private-Aye-Fish]

Big Red, That's a tough question.

Downriggers really help in deeper water but are not mandatory by any means. I've caught more Bulls without downriggers than with them.:)

There are a number of baits and lures that work well for Bull's at LBC.

J-14 Rapellas, Whole or plug cut herring, Assassin's by Bettencourt Baits, Nordics, Buzz Bombs there are more these are ones I've used that worked. A couple years ago I was Kokanee fishing with a big orange buzz bomb and hooked a nice 26-27" Bull that got released back.

I saw a 12 year old kid catch a 28-29" Bull off the docks at Perry South last year with a 6" black and silver Rapella he was casting from the dock while we were tied up so the ladies could use the facilities.

While sitting at the Three Rivers beach I saw a guy catch two Bull's in 15 minutes 30' from the Three Rivers boat ramp trolling some knock off of a blue and silver Rapella.

Last year my wife caught a 30" Bull using a really cheap knock off of a Rapella fishing at 20 pulls with 1 oz of lead while trolling along the north side of the lake east of the island.

I caught one last year with this ugly cheap Taiwain made lure that looked like a crippled herring on LSD (Very colorful looked like Peter Max designed it) that I got for a buck at a garage sale. :laugh:

I like to find fish with the finder and troll around the outside of them. Vary my depth. They will be a little deeper this time of year but they usually follow the schools of Kokes but not always. The one I caught last weekend spit a couple 8"-9" Kokes out after caught. He was caught pretty deep 65' to 70' or so in open water the fish finder hadn't beeped a beep. I caught it with a cut plug herring. I prefer the big "Purples".

These are just somethings that have worked for me or that I have observed working for others and by no means is all that will work. Be careful the wind can be dangerous this time of year especially on the Crooker River Arm.

One last thing. PLEASE if you are going to release the fish be gentle. Get your picture quick make sure they have revivied and treat them like the wonderful fish they are. These are beautiful fish and it is a privlidge to be able to fish them. They deserve to be treated with respect. Handle with CARE!!!! Although we target them we practice catch and release for the most part. We may harvest one fish a year. If there is any question about keeping the fish leave it in the water and let him go. Thanks!!!!

Just my :twocents:

[Bobberman]

I know this is a old thread, but..... I'm hoping to get a few more tips, as the wife wants to get out on the boat sunday.

How do divers and herring work trolling?

[FallRiverGuy]

I have heard of people being successful following the shoreline using several ounces of lead and herring.

[Doc_Rhen]

I have used a size 0 deep six diver with a big sling blade and herring. I don't think that I was getting the depth that I was supposed to. I think that the dodger/herring combination was too much for the little diver, but I was hitting bottom at around 35-40 feet of water with a 150' set back.