Best baits/techniques for "catch and keep" trout lake fishing

[jmg]

Hi!

Just wondering what some of you veterans have found to be the best ways to get the trout to bite in the Designated trout lakes in the Metro? Worms, wax worms, leeches, trout dough baits, spinners or? Have used worms for most in the past , but also had luck on slip sinker rig with worm/miniature marshmallow combo. Ideas, favorite colors, etc. would be appreciated. Thanks! Heard it was wall to wall anglers at the St. Peter Ponds last weekend. Anybody go there?

[JBMasterAngler]

Best advice would be to hit the lakes before they're fished out, which is usually within the first week or 2 of the season. Any of the tactics you mentioned should do the trick. I don't ever use bait, so if you ever try casting artificials, here's a few lures that should be in your arsenal: various colors of mepps spinners size 0 to 2, small floating minnow raps, small rebel craws and frogs, various colors of 1/4 to 1/3 oz cleo spoons.

[jmg]

Thanks for the tips. Hard to believe the opener is only 2 weeks from tomorrow.

[monstermoose78]

Great info JB. I would add floating a crawler off the bottom 2 feet with a slip sinker

[JP Z]

My best technique from last season was to use a slip float about 5-6' about a jig with a few waxies. It's best if you have a couple folks fishing so you can really tie down the correct depth the fish are cruising faster.

[fivebelow]

i'm confused...as to why Cenaiko lake was open on stream trout opener/ and other lakes like Courthouse isn't open yet?

anyone know reasoning behind it

[mille lacs muskie bum]

Its not open

[fivebelow]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHFdz40s5a8

on this vid on youtube..guy clearly has graphics saying he's fishing 2015 trout opener at cenaiko- only saw about 5 people fishing in background. i was going to say if it's open - i was expecting a lot more people.

[Stick500]

I can't explain that video?? good action though

according to the regs (pg. 15), Summer Lake season for trout is May 9- Oct. 31

[fivebelow]

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/eastmetro/troutstreams/discussion.html

Trout Fishing in East Metro

TROUT LAKES

Cenaiko Lake is located within Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, operated by Anoka County Parks. This basin is a 28.5 acre man-made lake with a maximum depth of 36'. There is ample parking and a walking trail around the lake. Anoka County also maintains a fishing pier on the this lake.

Cenaiko Lake is a designated stream trout lake. This special designation means fishing is allowed only during the stream trout season, and only anglers possessing a current trout stamp may fish here. Fishing for species other than trout is prohibited when the trout season is closed. Consult the Minnesota fishing regulations for the exact dates. Additional restrictions on a designated trout lake include a prohibition on the use of live minnows for bait, limiting anglers to the use of one line with one hook at any time (summer or winter), and a limit on fishing hours between 1 hour before sunrise to 11:00 P.M.

We stock this lake with yearling trout twice each year, once in the spring before the fishing opener, and once in the late fall after the open water season is ended.

Additional information on Cenaiko Lake

[fivebelow]

anyone get out and tried Courthouse over the weekend? any reports would be much appreciated as I did not get a chance to get out there.

[jmg]

Hi! My brother and I were at the courthouse opener. Pleasantly surprised there weren't more combatants. We kept 4 and let 4 more go. Artificials seemed more effective than live bait, since the numerous pumpkinseed sunfish were quite hungry for live bait and seemed to be at all depths reachable from shore. Beautiful weather for the opener. Wish the DNR could stock some smaller numbers throughout the season, since it is a nice venue, esp. for fishing with kids, but seems void of fish after a few weeks. Also wish there would be a couple of satellite toilets. Good luck!

[laker1]

Sometimes they will stock excess trout in trout lakes after the initial stocking,trouble is otherwise they have to bring trout all the way from Laneboro or spire valley 40 miles north of Brainerd. that can get expensive.

I often wondered would we be better of if a little more catch and release or size limits?