Home Forums Fishing Freshwater Lure fishing for Trout??

Hi Folks,

I am hoping to try my hand at lure fishing for brown trout on some of the small streams and lakes not too far from my home.

From what I've been told the fish generally seem to be in the 1/2lb to 2lb range, and I've been advised to start off with Mepps in size 0, 1 and 2 on a 5lb line..

I have also been advised to remove the trebles and replace with single hooks using split rings..

Can anbody advise what size and type hooks for each size of Mepp? or should I just copy whats on there? Somebody else suggested using a dremel to trim off two of the existing prongs effectively turning the treble into a single..is there any reason not to do that?

The reason behind changing to singles is fish welfare as the majority of anything caught will end up being returned..

Regards,

Peter

As a side note, Cedar Rapids police arrested a man (whose race is completely irrelevant to the story so shan't be mentioned here) who made exit from the local Wal-Mart with thirty lures concealed in his socks. The story didn't say, but I am assuming that they were still in their original containers.

Hi Pete,

I haven't fished for brown trout specifically with lures, but I have used lures for grayling and rainbows. I like the Mepps Black Fury 00 for grayling as they seem to like most things black. The 00 is harder to find, but it seemed to work better for me than the 0 size. Harder to cast though.

I'm not sure what kind of lure selections you have over there, but I also like the tiny Len Thompson "Platinum" series spoons in a half silver/half blue color. Rooster tails are another one that works well, and they have some models that already have singles instead of trebles.

As to replacing existing trebles with singles, I would just look for singles that are the same size. I think it might be Mepps that you can slide the body up the shaft and the loop that the hook goes on opens up? I could be wrong but I seem to recall that. It makes changing the hook easier and no split rings needed.

SS

Hi Sam,

Thanks for that, I shall have a closer look at a Mepps and see how they are put together..

Re Lures, we seem to get a huge selection, although probably different brands to you..In fact the selection is a completely overwhelming for a beginner like myself..

Do you guys get Flying Condom style lures over there? They are another very popular lure, although mostly for Sea Trout and Salmon.

Regards,

Peter

Pete,

Never heard of flying condom lures, but I have seen "Happy Hooker" lures. Must be the same marketing company.

Forgot to mention the Panther Martin lures as well. They seem to cast pretty well.

Len Thompsons are a Canadian brand. Actually made about 2 hours from my home. You would want a size 6. Here is a link to their website and color patterns. http://www.lenthompson.com/fishing-lure-patterns.html

SS

Pete,

After having torn up the mouth of a nice albeit too small to keep lake trout with a treble hook, I've sworn off the damn things are replace them on every piece of tackle I use. Also the single hooks seem to get hung up on the bottom and on lilly pads less often.

As far as hook size, the gap on the single hook should be approximately as wide as the gap across the treble. The trouble is hook gaps very from manufacturer to manufacturer and between hook styles so its best to compare. I'd say nominally a #6 hook, but compare.

For trout lures my favorites are little cleo spoons in 1/4oz and kastmaster in 1/4 oz. I've found the generally outfish spinners.

Pete Try Panther Martins in size #2 and #4......trust me.

There is no finer trout lure than a #2 Mepps in gold...period. It takes some time to learn the feel of how it should be fished, but when you do it is deadly. The smaller versions work but don't spin as well in my opinion. Learning how to present it is the thing that takes practice. Cast a little up stream and let it sink a bit (depending on water depth and current), then take up slack and give a sharp little tug to get the blades spinning. Keep the line in contact with the lure as it drifts, you may have to reel slightly to do that. You will feel the spinner vibrate as it drifts, this is where you learn the "feel" of the lure- not too fast, not too slow.

You want to have the lure slide through "good" water as it arcs downstream (i.e.- behind boulders and other good trout holding water. Presentation is as, or more, important than the lure.

I favor Mepps, typically in gold or silver and #1 in size. I think a #0 Blue Fox or Panther casts and fishes better than a #0 Mepps, so if you are going small that is a consideration. Can't you just clip two of the hooks off at the bend with side cutters if you want a single?

Pete--- I'm guessing you can find one like this over there. Called a Swiss Lure or Lemax ( made in France ? ) easy but be careful to change to single hook. Tie with swivel --- 9" leader line then the lure. It's a killer ---- Web

Lots of information on this thread.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...9960206/1/Some_guidance_on_spin_fishing_

I'm a Panther Martin guy myself.

If 2 lb Browns are on the menu, consider a jointed Repala.

I've had good luck with Mepps in the past but I'd say for spinners I use Panther Martins almost all the time now. Agreed on the single hook. You can cut off two of the treble hooks or order the single hook models direct from Panther Martin. The single hook models seem to have a little bigger hook but they both seem to work ok.

Thanks for all the feed back!

A local shop has a good selection of Mepps and Vibrax, so I'll give those a go intially..I've also been advised to get a couple of Abu Tobby's and Flying Condoms in case there is a run of Sea Trout.

Had a look at that Swiss Lure (never seen one before) and it seems they are vintage collectables..Some are even finish in mother of pearl..Definitely would not go chucking one of those into the river!

I am also going to try trotting a worm as I know that can work well...

Another vote for Panther Martins over Mepps. Have caught a lot of trout (including browns) with both, but prefer Panthers because they cast better and sink quicker. If single hooks look like the way to go, I just clip off two from trebles. It's a lot quicker and easier, not to mention cheaper.

Have also caught quite a few bigger browns on Rapalas, and not necessarily the jointed model somebody already mentioned, but do prefer the sinking versions, for the same reason I prefer Panthers over Mepps. Rapalas work especially well at night, if fishing after dark is legal.

Another good lure to try for browns is a small feathered jig, pretty much patterned after the fly called the Woolly Bugger. Synthetic-bodied jigs will work too, but browns will hit feathered jigs more readily when they're just drifting, without any action. Or at least that's been my experience. Black, brown, olive green and white have all worked well at various times, and a little Mylar flash doesn't hurt.

Mepps #3. Gold.

If you can't catch 'em on that, get drunk.




Travis

Pete-- Over 40 years ago a young man in my area that was noted for catching 4 and 5 lb browns out of small streams in the area turned me on to the Swiss lure - About $1.50 each at the Orvis shop in Manchester VT. He fished almost every day. Himself and 2 other well known fishermen in my area in upstate NY have often said. "The Swiss lure should be outlawed from fishing the small rivers and streams" Very hard to find now. Web

You need 5 lures

#1 is a #2 Mepps 1/6 oz Chartreuse Stock B2HC
#2 is 1/4 oz Panther Martin Gold/yellow
#3 is 1/4 oz silver/yellow
#4 is a rainbow rapala 2.5 "
#5 is a Hot steel shad rap smallest you can find

I sometimes cast with a wooly bugger on a 5" dropper..about 18" ahead of the lure......it should be outlawed

10at6, thanks; that was very helpful for me too.

I like Joe's Flies.

Black jigs with a safety-pin spinner work well too.