Courthouse pond and Holland lake

[walleyedude]

what are some good ways to target the trout on these lakes this time of year? And what do you use in the winter on courthouse since it is a designated trout lake?

[Carp-fisher]

In case you didn't know, trout season for ponds closes October 31st and opens up again Jan. 15. I fished abit on Courthouse pond last week and again yesterday. Had some success using very small rapalas, spinners, flies on casting bubbles, and finally corn under a bobber. The trout were swimming around in the shallows and more or less ignored everything I threw at them, but I did manage several in the 12 to 18 inch range (all but three released). I've never fished on Holland, but ice fishing on Courthouse is a blast. I would start by drilling holes right by shore in the 6 to 8 foot depths. Use very small jigging spoons tipped with waxworms. If that doesn't work, go out to the middle of the lake where its about 50 feet deep...fish jigging spoons or small jigs 2 to 8 feet beneath the ice. It seems as though Courthouse pond is almost fished out on winter opener, but you should still be able to snag into a few all winter. Hope this helps.

[jig n' jerk]

It is already after the open season but I have a few tricks you may like to try next year. First off, is the trout power bait. You put a gob of it over hook so the hook is not visable, then attach a split shot between 1-3 feet up from your hook. Cast it out shallow( 8-25 feet) towards the end of the season and watch your line for signs of a bite(which can be very slight). The fish I catch this way tend to be smaller but you can count on getting a few more then the next method. secondly, I have been experimenting with the jigging rapalas (black back; white sides and belly) off the end of the dock at courthouse pond. I will jig them just like you would in winter right off the end of the dock(I helps to use a longer rod to keep the rap out from the dock further) This technique has produced only a few fish but the size is always bigger(14"+). In fact, I have seen many very large rainbows(20"+) speed up to my lure like they are going to slam the lure only to stop inches short and follow it and watch it for a few seconds and then leave( the water clarity is easily 10 feet on a calm day it is a cool sight to see). Those big trout in there don't get big by getting caught so they are very line shy and spooky. But if anyone has any Ideas to add about my jigging rap technique please feel free to respond. This technique like I said has drawn in dozens of rainbows in the 20+ inch catagory but no takers yet!!

[Steve Foss]

jig:

I use jigging raps for lakers all the time through the ice. And that's in clear lakes, and when they're 15 feet or less below the hole, I look down the hole to see how they're behaving.

First off, lakers are not rainbows, and I don't mean to imply they are.

But lakers that come in on jigging lures like to chase. They'll often come up from 70 feet to smack a lure just under the ice (I see this happen on my vexilar). But when they come in and don't bite right away, they'll sometimes sit and stare, and other times will swim in and out like a shark, swiping at the bait with their tail. I've worked lakers for more than five minutes before they've bitten the rap. Sometimes they leave, but the more aggressively you move the bait, in general, the longer they stay and the more likely they'll bite.

A lot of times I have to work a laker up several times before it'll hit. It comes in at 60 feet, I move the rap up two feet, it moves up but doesn't bite, I move the rap up a couple more feet, it moves up but doesnt' bite, etc. Sometimes it never bites. Other times they'll smack it right below the ice, or high up enough that I can see it all unfold through the hole.

Might try that on those off the dock. When you get a fish in that sits and stares, don't give it time to lose interest. Go nuts with the bait and see what happens.

My go-to size for lakers is the No. 9. What size are you using? I tip mine with a strip of cisco. I used to use small raps for perch thru the ice in Devils Lake, N.D., and would tip the center hook with a waxie or two. I know rainbows like their waxworms, so that's a possibility, too.

[jig n' jerk]

I am not sure on the size but they are about 2 1/4". I have used powerbait on the center hook but that has been it. I can't believe I haven't thought of using waxies,or minnow peices. Thanks for the advice. By the way are those loopers going up North yet? By the way I just got back from the Niagara River and I believe I am spoiled now. 3 steelies from 6 to 8 pounds and one brown trout that was 10.5 lbs. absolutely Nuts!! The guide I used said the Steelies were small to average in size!! I recommend that any trout fanatics go there this winter.

[Heidi]

Where is Holland lake and Courthouse pond. I'm moved to Savage and I aint never heard of dem?

[Duffman]

Holland Lake is in Eagan off of Cliff Rd, Courthouse Pond is behind the courthouse in downtown Chaska.

[Mikinaak]

Hi guys,

It's neat to here from back home ....I lived in Chaska for 15 years before heading to Colorado.

The court house pond can be tough, Can you Guys find "laser jigs" ? Their a type of trout ice fishing jig/fly but tied with very colorful flourescent colors, I like cartruse, lime green, red, and white. Tip them with a waxie or part of a meal worm. But the pond trout are partial to corn and/or night crawlers. Hey good luck.

Its really great to hear from back home, Say hi to Jeff up at cabin fever for me. Mikinaak, AKA Paul Kaiser

[Dragon Fish ll]

That Niagra river is a great river to fish. It was hard for me to beleive that fish do well in water moving that fast. pretty scary. I was in a hotel over the falls for six months on a job once an tryed fishing the whole area. the top of falls the bottom by devils whole and farther up by ontario. also the niagra dam kicked out nice rainbows, Jumbo perch. some huge smallies. an some pretty big sheephead. and the locals said there is a lot of nice muskies. Is that the only river that flows backwards.

[walleyedude]

so has anyone hit holland yet i was hopeing to get out there soon... just wanna here if the bite is going good

[Sifty]

I went past Holand on Tuesday from the looks it did'nt seem as anyone had been out there yet.

Sifty