best bait for large rainbows

[Xiphias Gladius]

I'v been fishing the powerbait and marshmallow and worm for a year and I kinda got bored with it cuz it always catches smaller fish. Does anyone know how I could sift out all the smaller hatchery trout and only catch the bigger ones (2-4 pounds) while still using the bottom fishing rig. I was kinda thinking of useing a marshmallow and a minnow or a marshmallow and worm that was bigger. Any ideas?

[zen leecher aka Bill W]

I troll rapalas for larger trout. F5 to F7 works. Husky Jerks in some of the newer colors are good in the F6 size.

[Xiphias Gladius]

I want to still use a bottom fishing rig.

[A9]

Natural baits are going to entice the bigger smarter fish that have passed Powerbait globs many times. Float a worm off the bottom and see if that doesn't help. If that doesn't kick out bigger fish, use a really big nightcrawler and see if any big bows or browns or cutts take a pick at that...

[gpc]

What Sam and Bill said are right on the money. But the only way you are going to catch big trout is if they are actually there. I dont know how they run their stocking programs in Mass. but if they plant tripliods that would be a good lake to start at. A bunch of trout lakes that I fish, I dont even bother going for big trout because I know there isnt any big trout there. Its very possible to catch BIG trout on power bait or power eggs, but if there are no big trout in the lake its out of the question. If I were you either a full crawler and a few mallows or a slip bobber 18 - 20 feet down with a full crawler. But throwing a rapala from shore shouldn't be over looked either. Garlic mallows would be my favorite, but shrimp scent is my favorite. Remember a lot more time will be needed.

[Derrick-k]

Might try a flatfish rig from shore. you cap put a fair amount of weight on and cast realy far. Reel it in veeeeeeeerrrrrrrryyyyyyy slooooooowly use larger sized flatfish like 5x 6x. But like gpc say's if there is no big fish in the lake then its not worth it.

[travislikesfishing]

you can use a nettle thing to blow up worms and put a slip weight on keep it like 1-3 feet off the bottom u will catch less but they will be biggeror corn and worm drop it straight off ur boat to the bottom reel in a couple times and let it sit

[skimpy]

I troll rapalas for larger trout. F5 to F7 works. Husky Jerks in some of the newer colors are good in the F6 size.

I'm with you zen leecher aka Bill W. I also troll Rapalas for large trout. I like using F7's in silver color and in hot steel color. I also do good trolling the smaller jointed shad raps in the Fire Crawdad color.

[carl]

I like the mallow and worm combo also. two or three white mallows(garlic etc..)and
half a crawler with the slip sinker, maybe some smelly gell.
I've done quite well for big triploids and native fish.

[Gisteppo]

Are you guys trolling up-current or down? Im going to hit up a little swiftwater area later this week (after I shovel the boat launch out) where the current is in the 2-3 mph range.

E

[A9]

Troll with the current. Otherwise, you will have to get going atleast 2-3 mph to move anywhere, and your lures and/or dodger/flasher will be going crazy moving up in 2-3mph current.

Feeding fish will be facing the current to get baitfish and whatever else they eat getting pushed around by current. So run your lure the way they will be looking...

[fisherhall]

Where are you guys getting the Rapalas at. Do you prefer a color?

[zen leecher aka Bill W]

I order my rapalas from Cabelas and if I'm after a hot lure in a particular color I usually order 4 of that color so I'll get a good one. My preference is the 402 Clown color.

[Kokonuts]

How do you rig the Rapalas for trolling? Do you use some type of flasher/dodger in front? If so how far behind?

I love to make up different types of trolling combos & have just tried using a large Salmon type spinner (hook removed)
as an attractor with wedding rings, Rapalas, whatever for Large Trout.
I am also going to try making up larger wedding ring types, I guess it will keep me amused during the winter months!

Any tips?

[zen leecher aka Bill W]

I troll them about a cast lengths of line back behind my downrigger ball. No nothing other than the rapala.

[MikeFishes]

Natural baits are going to entice the bigger smarter fish that have passed Powerbait globs many times. Float a worm off the bottom and see if that doesn't help. If that doesn't kick out bigger fish, use a really big nightcrawler and see if any big bows or browns or cutts take a pick at that...

Hey, how do you "float" a worm? I mean, worms sink so you have to either use something to suspend them. Do you guys use those worm inflators? How well do those work?

[A9]

The worm inflators get them off the bottom. They work well, sometimes you gotta mess around with the worm and go through a few before you get a good couple pumps in em. For $3 bucks or whatever they cost me when I bought it, it's more then worth it...

[Kokonuts]

When using one of those big nightcrawlers, how do you rig it?

What kind, size of hook, sinker?

Would it work like the picture that Derrick shows with the Flatfish & the pencil weight?

Ive never tried using bait for Trout, still prety green with this fishing stuff!

[A9]

Pretty easy rig. Just a egg weight (1/4 to 1/2 oz if you really need to wing it out there) and then a small bead to protect the not, then tied to a barrel swivel, and on the other end of the swivel run your leader up to your hook. Anywhere from a foot to 12 feet, depending on where the fish are. I like my leader lenghts to be in the range of 2-4 feet. Hooksize? Size 8 works for me. Just thread the worm on however you do so nd pump it up with air...

Same rig for powerbait as well.

[fisherhall]

Theres lots of different Rapala lures. Which ones do you guys use?