After a recent article on favorite streamer flies and spring fishing tactics was published, I received a good bit of feedback. There were texts, emails, phone calls and more than a few grocery store, post office, restaurant and gas station conversations. Quite a few fish for food sportsmen observed that while fly fishing might be exciting, worms and nightcrawlers put more trout on the table! It’s a fact, but also a matter of taste (no pun intended) of each sportsman’s satisfaction and inclination.
Another faction favored trolling or casting lures and wanted to converse on my ideas and practices with these artificial baits. In fairness to all sides, perhaps a few thoughts and tactics as well as insight into my most used and productive lures, plugs and spoons might be in order. An experienced old fisherman offered an explanation several years ago about which lure or fly was the best, and it was pretty simple.
Roger Shaw of Mars Hill displays a nice trout taken while trolling the Aroostook River. He holds the copper Sutton spoon that worked on this fish and several others that day. (Bill Graves)
Your very best bait is always the one you use the most! Keep putting on an old favorite and it’s sure to catch the largest and the most fish. What it won’t do, however, is work every time, regardless of conditions. That’s why variety is king and it’s always good to try different options until you find the one that works right now.
Artificial baits cover a huge variety of products composed of feathers, plastics, rubber, wood and metal. Let’s narrow it down to those best suited to brook trout, salmon and togue. Many of us have used lures since we were kids, most often casting them with a spinning rod, but occasionally trolling them on small ponds or lakes. Lures are usually smaller-sized metal baits with one set of treble hooks, often gold or silver of various shapes and 1- to 3-inches long.
Lure weights for local game fish run from 3/16 on up to 3/4 oz. There are heavier models but most are just too large for average size fish. It’s important to match lures weight to rod size and rod weight for casting accuracy and ease. Heavier does travel further, but that’s not always the key to success. For trolling lures, the weight and boat speed determine running depth and proper lure action through the water, so the correct size is very important.
Some of my very first lures that I used as a kid are just as effective today on regional waterways. Every angler should have two or three sizes of the original Eppinger Dardevle in red and white, a 1-1/2 to 2-inch gold colored Al’s goldfish, a little Cleo, a chrome/silver and a chrome/fluorescent orange Kastmaster and a small pounded-copper Mooselook Wobbler. There are thousands of lures to select from at local sporting goods stores. Most attract more fishermen than fish, but some are worth a try. Trial and error is the best teacher, but sometimes a bit expensive.
Plugs are another style of artificial bait or lure and while these work on many species of game fish, a few sizes, shapes and colors yield consistent action here in Aroostook. Spring trolling offerings should include a size 7 floating Rapala in orange, black/silver, and yellow perch, these will have two sets of treble hooks. I’ve also enjoyed luck with a prismatic Mirror Minnow, sometimes called a flash minnow and a Yo-Zuri Pins minnow in purple or green haze coloration.
Rebel’s original minnow equipped with three sets of treble hooks is a shallow running plug and the silver/blue and silver/black combo really work. There’s also a Rebel jointed minnow, sometimes referred to as a “broke-back,” which provides enticing action through the water. Salmon respond well to the gold and black version, while brookies react better to the flashy red and silver of the rainbow trout model.
Another type of lure is called spoons, because they were originally constructed from the bowl of real teaspoons and tablespoons, are very productive on larger lakes and rivers. Sutton spoons in all silver or silver/copper are my favorites but very difficult to find and purchase. The size 44 and 61, work every time on the Aroostook River and I suggest size 88, 31 and 33 for local lakes. The action and flash of Sutton spoons at slow trolling speeds prove irresistible to fish.
Williams and Mooselook Company produces a vast array of lures and spoons. Some have been around for years, while others are fairly new. The Mooselook Thinfish in silver or copper works well, as does the Williams Ridge Back and Whitefish models. There are 4 and 6 lures/spoon variety packs available that cover a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, which is a great option for first time buyers.
I’m a fly fisherman at heart, but under certain conditions, it’s use lures and plugs or go home empty handed. A lightweight spinning outfit and small lure can be every bit of a battle as a fly rod, and way better than no action at all! Lures are especially productive for spring fish for a couple of weeks after ice out, so stock up and get ready. if it ever stops raining, we might get a chance to go fishing.
