To troll minnows for trout, rig a soft plastic minnow like a Trix Minnow on a number 4 ring eye hook and an 8 to 10 lb fluorocarbon leader, then troll it 1.8 to 2.2 mph. Run it clean with an action disc for a darting baitfish action, behind a Turbo Flasher for flash, or two to three dodger lengths behind a dodger over deep water. Cal Kellogg fishes them about 30 feet down on a downrigger over pond smelt lakes. When it looks and swims like a minnow, feeding trout commit.
How do I rig a soft plastic minnow for trout trolling?
Run your main line through a bead to a trolling swivel, then tie on a fluorocarbon leader with an overhand loop up top. On the leader thread two bobber stops, a bead, then an action disc with its stem pointed toward the bait, and finish with a number 4 ring eye hook. Nose hook a Trix Minnow and pop the point out its back so it runs straight.
How fast should I troll minnows for trout?
Troll soft plastic minnows from 1.8 to 2.2 mph, which Cal calls the sweet spot. A trout can swim about 12 mph, so at 2 mph the minnow looks like it is standing still while it puts off heavy vibration and swims erratically like a baitfish in distress. That struggling look triggers the feeding response from rainbows, browns, and king salmon.
What hook and leader do I use for a trout minnow?
Cal runs 8 to 10 lb fluorocarbon leader, usually 30 to 40 inches, tied to a number 4 Mustad bronze ring eye hook, also called a sprout hook. He ties the hook on with a Palomar knot. A Trix Rigging Kit holds the hooks, action discs, bobber stops, and beads for the whole setup.
How do I run a minnow behind a dodger?
Behind a dodger you drop the action disc, beads, and bobber stops entirely, because the pull of the disc kills the dodger swing. Tie an 8 lb fluorocarbon leader straight off the dodger and keep the minnow just two to three dodger lengths back, roughly 13 to 14 inches behind a 4 inch blade. Cal uses a dodger over deep, open water like Shasta and Folsom.
When should I add a flasher to a trolled minnow?
Reach for flash when the water is cold or stained or you just want an edge. Cal snaps a Turbo Flasher between the trolling swivel and his leader, designed for maximum vibration with almost no drag. The flasher is the business card that draws trout in close, then they see the minnow and eat it. He fishes the minnow clean about 80 percent of the time.
How deep should I troll minnows for trout?
Cal often fishes minnows about 30 feet down on a downrigger, marking arches and scattered baitfish on sonar first. Depth is precise. At Prosser he outfished his cousin two to one until the cousin dropped from 25 to 30 feet, then their catch evened out. A 5 to 10 foot change makes a huge difference, so once you find a productive depth, hammer it.
How do I set the action disc on a minnow rig?
Point the action disc stem toward the bait or it will not impart any wiggle. Cal runs it about a half inch off the nose of the minnow and pins it with two bobber stops instead of one, since two stops bind against each other and resist sliding under water pressure. The small bead below the stops keeps them from burying inside the soft bait when you fight a fish.
Watch the technique
Trolling soft plastic minnows for trout FAQ
Cal points to the Trix Minnow, a 3 inch soft bait he calls the most effective minnow imitation on the market when rigged right. It comes in natural baitfish colors plus bright pink and orange, and has proven deadly on lakes where trout feed on baitfish.
Color selection is identical, but the action differs. The Trix Minnow has a tight, minnow like swim that mimics a baitfish. The Trix Worm has a much more erratic action, especially good at low speed when you want maximum movement.
Match natural baitfish colors on lakes where trout eat pond smelt or shad, and reach for bright pink or orange when the fish want a target. On a fall trip at Prosser, pink produced first but orange turned out even better as the day went on, so carry both.
Cal top lines a small orange worm 80 to 100 feet back with just a 3 8 ounce trolling weight snapped in ahead of the leader. That high line often catches the biggest fish of the day. Keep the rod tip low so hooked fish stay below the surface instead of jumping off.
Yes. The soft plastics hold scent very well, so Cal does not hesitate to add a baitfish or corn scent to a Trix Minnow or Trix Worm. It makes an already strong presentation that much better, especially in cold or stained water.
It is a great rainbow trout and brown trout bait, and Cal catches his share of king salmon and even bass on it. Any time fish are keyed on baitfish, a slow rolled soft plastic minnow is a killer presentation.
The bobber stops regulate how far the action disc can slide. One stop drifts with water pressure when you speed up or reel, but two stops bind together and hold position. The bead below them prevents the stops from pulling inside the soft bait, which is a headache to fix mid fight.
