Brown trout deliberately avoiding my bait: So I found this lake that is just full of brown trout! It was my first time ever trout fishing so I bought, powerbait, night crawlers, and a...

FS Digest

So I found this lake that is just full of brown trout! It was my first time ever trout fishing so I bought, powerbait, night crawlers, and a "trout magnet" lure to see what would work best.

The water was less then a foot deep by the shore, and I could literally see these guys swimming and jumping out of the water a few feet in front of me. I saw these fish literally swim past both types of bait and my lure for hours.

I could not understand why they didn't take any of the bait. I fished for over 6 hours, I was so determined! I know I could have just used a net since they were so close, but that would feel like cheating and take the fun out of it to me.

Please someone let me know what I need to do, I swear they were taunting me, and I want pay back!

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by ajtroche6447

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

FS Digest wrote:

So I found this lake that is just full of brown tr... (show quote)

The answer is pretty simple, if you could see them, they could see you, and of course, they are not going to bite when you are looking over their shoulder

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

My guess is that perhaps they are tuned in to other natural food sources and for some reason the choices you offered were not close enough. Flyguy has a very good point about visibility between the predator and prey...so definitely keep that in mind.

I would suggest trying something in the flyfishing arena...like perhaps a "feathery" crayfish imitation twitched and strolled along the bottom. Maybe even a leech pattern.

Ivey Loc: South Central Tennessee, Tim's Ford Lake

FS Digest wrote:

So I found this lake that is just full of brown tr... (show quote)

All my experiences with Browns they are VERY spooky. Like Fly said if you can see them they can see you. My uncle used to fish a small stream in PA. and always told of big Browns there. He would say they'd spook whenever they saw people. His solution was a blind. He'd go there set up a camo screen and fish from behind it. He said he always caught more from behind his blind than just walking the bank. I've never tried this and my uncle was known for spinning a few tall tails but he did have photos of some very large Browns he always told were caught from behind his blind.

Jeremy Loc: America

Ivey wrote:

All my experiences with Browns they are VERY spook... (show quote)

No ne of the stores sold browns did they :) Tall tales? Sounds like it should work real well.

Slimshady Loc: Central Pennsylvania

Guy I knew used to take his dog fishing with him all the time. He would crawl along the stream on his hands and knees so he didn’t spook the fish. The dog was there to root out the rattle snakes

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Slimshady wrote:

Guy I knew used to take his dog fishing with him all the time. He would crawl along the stream on his hands and knees so he didn’t spook the fish. The dog was there to root out the rattle snakes

Now I LOVE fishin, BUT, I'm not gonna crawl on my hands and knees in Rattlesnake country to catch ANY fish.

Anybass Loc: Pa.

Ivey wrote:

All my experiences with Browns they are VERY spook... (show quote)

What part of Pa.? Thanks

Anybass Loc: Pa.

FS Digest wrote:

So I found this lake that is just full of brown tr... (show quote)

Comments re you see them, they see you spot on. Also, what pound test were you using? Fished with a guy one time who related story where using 4lb test catching trout while buddy with 8lb barely getting hits. Since I mostly fish bass, the heavier line not a problem for me. Would consider my friend's experience if after spooky trout, especially at Halloween.

Ivey Loc: South Central Tennessee, Tim's Ford Lake

Anybass wrote:

What part of Pa.? Thanks

He was from Milroy. Somehow he met my mothers sister in Huntsville Al. They lived in Milroy until Earnie had a heart attack. They moved back to Huntsville in the early 80's where they lived till they passed. Earnie was a boisterous guy, lots of fun. He had a story about anything you could think of most of them involved Alcohol, guns, or girls normally not mixed.

Anybass Loc: Pa.

Ivey wrote:

He was from Milroy. Somehow he met my mothers sister in Huntsville Al. They lived in Milroy until Earnie had a heart attack. They moved back to Huntsville in the early 80's where they lived till they passed. Earnie was a boisterous guy, lots of fun. He had a story about anything you could think of most of them involved Alcohol, guns, or girls normally not mixed.

Thanks. Way to far for me to try for his Browns. Sounds like Earnie had no grass under his feet.

Captain Lahti Loc: Kennewick, WA

If they are swimming past you and jumping in front of you they aren’t spooked. They are keyed in on a natural food that you didn’t offer. You can effectively fly fish with a clear bobber and small drys that imitate what’s hatching. Just got to figure out what that is. And some times a streamer or nymph is the trick.

maddog10e Loc: Woburn

FS Digest wrote:

So I found this lake that is just full of brown tr... (show quote)

Browns generally don't go after PowerBait - they much prefer live bait or flies. The line you use makes a big difference- I use 6# Nanofil. Browns love leeches - take your shoes and socks and stand in the water for a bit, then get out of the water and pick them off your legs and put them in a container. Free bait!

Anybass Loc: Pa.

maddog10e wrote:

Browns generally don't go after PowerBait - they much prefer live bait or flies. The line you use makes a big difference- I use 6# Nanofil. Browns love leeches - take your shoes and socks and stand in the water for a bit, then get out of the water and pick them off your legs and put them in a container. Free bait!

Great leech idea. In case having too much fun casting and forgot to get out of water sooner, bring a pint of blood.

nutz4fish Loc: Colchester, CT

saw1 wrote:

Now I LOVE fishin, BUT, I'm not gonna crawl on my hands and knees in Rattlesnake country to catch ANY fish.

I'll second that !