SE Minnesota Trout trip, need some suggestions

[maddog2099]

I'm looking to pick up a couple xraps this weekend, whats everybody's color preference? Should I stick to flashy, or darker more natural colors for the Root and Trout Run? I think we are going to target some Smallies too, as there aren't a lot of places to fish them near me (that I can get to) so it seems like it would be fun.

[goblueM]

i think natural colors are best, but i've caught them on clown and pink, so go with what looks good to you

confidence in your bait is probably just as important as the actual color

[itchmesir]

From what i hear.. I don't know how much of it is true is that trout are light sensitive.. that's why you'll find them under trees or in deep holes on sunny days.. therefor I would stick to natural colors and nothing that gives off too much flash.. stick with colors.. cuz we all know.. big trout will eat small trout

[maddog2099]

Thanks, that's kinda what I was thinking. I'm going to get some PM's tomorrow, and maybe a couple of cranks haven't decided yet. I did hit the motherload today at a local flea market, picked up probably $100 or much more worth of soft plastics, mostly worms, for $5. Also grabbed a couple of crawfish cranks in a natural green and reddish brown. And although it won't do much for a trout trip, I nabbed a Shimano Calisto baitcaster brand new for $20. It's amazing what you can find if you just take the time to look around, I never really took too much time at the flea market before because I was never looking for anything specific before.

[itchmesir]

sounds like ya found some good deals

There are crawfish in the root and other smaller streams in the area.. so they will definitely work

[maddog2099]

Went to Cabela's...dam PM's I wanted weren't in stock so I figure I'll just order them and ship to store...Backordered So I had to get the stupid 50 dollar pack of them Oh well, they will be put to use.

[itchmesir]

Wow.. that sucks.. usually all i use are yellow/red and black/yellow

[maddog2099]

Well they had plenty of the singles, but I was going to pick up a 6 pack, because it's $16 for the 6 pack or $4.50 each for singles, and as I don't currently have any I wanted to get a few more for my bucks and then I can supplement with singles later...oh well, I have a 20 pack on order now with sizes from 1-15 in it.

[maddog2099]

Well, the weekend is upon me, and it looks like it's going to be a wet one. Any tips about fishing Root and Trout Run in the rain, do they still bite, do they bite better? Its been all planned, and the campsite is booked, so hell or high water (which we will probably get) I'm going. Plan to hit the root at or near the campground on Friday night, head up to Trout Run on Saturday morning, and depending upon how well we do/how busy it may be, will decide how long to be there. Probably hit the root in the afternoon again, and maybe head back to Trout Run in the evening, but it will all depend upon our luck at either place.

[anprickette72]

I just fished the Root 2 weekends ago and caught a 16, 14, and a 12 1/2 brown in 1 day of fishing right in front of the campground in Lanesboro. I also lost 3 others that were 13+" . I generally don't use spinners and this time was no exception. I caught them all on a floater crankbait of various sizes and colors. We also tried Duschee and they are in there but they would not even take a second look at anything I threw at them. All in all the Root River is an incredible river for trout and if down there I'd concentrate my time on that stretch of water.

[anprickette72]

My experience with Trout can be good when it comes to rain. If the water in the stream is rising they often go on a feeding frenzy. Once the water is high and stays that way... they usually shut down and you're lucky to get one but when the water starts to come down again they go on a frenzy again. There is no scientific basis for this just what I have experienced in my travels...

Good Luck

[maddog2099]

Well, we missed the feeding frenzy...the trout didn't want to do anything at least for us. Tried PMs, husky jerk, xraps, Mr twisters, and many others...

I had one nice Rainbow on at Trout run, but he threw the hook while flipping in the air. It rained a lot before we went, and I think they did their feeding frenzy and then didn't want anything we could offer. We found 3 or 4 decent to deep holes with quite a few fish in them. The last of which had 15+ fish in it, probably in the 12 and up inch sizing (more toward 15inch or so in my estimation, so in the slot, but that wouldn't matter to me, not a huge deal if I can't keep. Did find a few nice holes though, to check again in the future when hopefully weather doesn't decide to dampen our trip.

The Root produced slightly better, but not for trout. We fished it for a few hours Saturday afternoon and evening, and had quite a few roughfish, including a 3ish pound sucker that my son hauled in without our help or knowledge, it really excited him. Had one decent smallmouth, but overall not too much luck, but the river was pretty high and seemed really fast for that small of a river.

So overall a rather unsucessful fishing trip, but very successful trip for 3 friends gettin together to hang out, and for my son who had a lot of fun just being out and camping. I'll be going back that way hopefully a time or two more before summer ends, and hope for better luck.

[itchmesir]

Yeah the root can shut down pretty quick with all this rain we have been having lately.. I would imagine it's up a bit since its been raining almost everyday in the area for the past week +.. I haven't been that way in a couple weeks

[mark p]

2+ inches of rain around Preston and Lanesboro yesterday. Things had been pretty good, but since the ground was already wet, I bet a lot of this ran off and things are pretty dirty now.