Collins Lake is loaded after a 2,000 pound trout plant, the lake is 100 percent full, and fish are scattered shallow to deep. Cal Kellogg's number one troll is a pink 6 inch dodger and a threaded nightcrawler on a slow death hook with a pink garlic power egg, slathered in Trigger Scent and run 6 to 12 feet down. A white Trix Worm on leadcore also came on strong, with fish to six and a half pounds.
Is the bite on at Collins Lake right now?
It ranged from slow to good this week with variable weather and a cold front moving in. That said, there is a fresh 2,000 pound trout plant including trophy lightning trout, the lake is 100 percent full, and trout are showing shallow and deep all over the lake. It will go off once the weather stabilizes and the fish get the feed bag on.
What is Cal's number one trolling setup?
A pink 6 inch dodger with about a 16 inch leader to a threaded nightcrawler on a slow death hook, teamed with a pink garlic power egg and slathered in Trigger Scent. He runs it 6 to 12 feet down. This is a slow-troll dodger-and-worm presentation. A variation with a 4 inch pink dodger and a small mini turbo ahead of the crawler also produced.
What soft plastics are working at Collins Lake?
Pink Trix Minnows were producing, then a white Trix Worm on leadcore came on strong and took the six and a half pound fish, fished about 10 to 17 feet down on two colors of lead. A small white tube fly run just under the surface has been hooking planter rainbows too. Soft plastics are working because they hold scent and feel real to tentative fish.
What is the bait bite doing?
Rainbow garlic PowerBait fished off the bottom on a 20 inch leader in 20 feet of water or less is a winning combination. Spike it with Power Powder to make it 30 to 40 percent more effective.
How deep and how fast at Collins Lake?
Run the dodger-and-worm rig 6 to 12 feet down and the white worm about 10 to 17 feet down. These dodger and soft-bait presentations are slow-troll setups, so keep the speed down and let the fish come back and eat when they play with the offering.
Cal's outlook for Collins Lake
The lake is 100 percent full, plants have been heavy, and the fish are just starting to come to life. Cal expects an outstanding spring once the weather settles and the trout get on the feed.
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Collins Lake March 3, 2025 FAQ
Both produce. Cal's slow-trolled dodger-and-worm rig is number one, and rainbow PowerBait off the bottom is a steady bait bite.
A pink 6 inch dodger with a threaded crawler on a slow death hook and a pink power egg, scented with Trigger Scent, run 6 to 12 feet down.
Pink Trix Minnows and a white Trix Worm. The white worm came on strong on leadcore.
About 6 to 12 feet on the dodger rig and 10 to 17 feet on the white worm.
Rainbow garlic PowerBait on a 20 inch leader in 20 feet or less, spiked with Power Powder.
Up to six and a half to seven pounds, plus a fresh 2,000 pound plant that included trophy lightning trout.
Capt. Cal Kellogg.
