Rouge River Rainbows

[oldbronteguy]

(10-02-2014 11:21 AM)Rayomatic Wrote:  Yesterday I was wading around in the Rouge and saw tons of big rainbows (I think) and carp hanging around a few pools (also saw a massive dead fish that I think was a salmon...see pic).

Came at them from downstream and cast a nightcrawler ahead of them, but no bites. Tried a Mepps Aglia, dropshot with plastic minnow, etc. and still nothing. Was using a bigger hook (#4 or 5 maybe?) and 30# moss green braid.

For fun I walked up close behind and dangled the worm in front of one fish's face, right around its mouth, and still nothing! It didn't flinch.
Try approaching from up stream and drifting your chosen bait into the pool. As Elmer Fud once said "be very very quiet I'm hunting Trout" Try using salmon roe
I also spooked something massive that took off upstream and thrashed violently in the shallow rocks before reaching some deeper water. Judging from its power, I assume it was a salmon. The carp and rainbows didn't spook like that at all unless I got really close or made a racket.

Amazingly frustrating to see so many big fish that I could get so close to I could practically touch them, yet not get a single bite. I'm really new to trout/salmon fishing...what can get them to bite this time of year?