Throughout the U.S. and Canada, from urban areas to remote mountain wilderness areas, there are lakes and reservoirs that offer the opportunity for some deep-water trout fishing – rainbows, browns, brook, and lake trout.
In a new video by Lindner’s Angling Edge, James and Troy Lindner demonstrate the effectiveness of what many ice fishing anglers consider one of the best lures ever created for hardwater walleye, northern pike, and panfish fishing – the Rapala Jigging Rap.
Fishing in 80 to 90 feet of water, James and Troy, hammer one rainbow after another by vertically jigging with the Rapala Jigging Rap.
“There’s a wide variety of lures you can catch trout with,” said James Lindner. “Spoons, ultralight Rapala lures when trout are in the shallows, and prepared baits with bottom rigs. But one of the most efficient means to catching (open water) trout is with an up and down presentation through the water column.”
Swimming in tantalizing circles under the ice or in open water for suspended game fish, the Jigging Rap features a balanced, weighted minnow profile. It features single reversed hooks with a center treble and eyelet. It can be bottom bounced, yo-yo style off the bottom with unbeatable results. It comes in five sizes, from 1-1/4 inches to 3-1/2 inches long, and in 26 color patterns.
“When targeting bigger fish, we like to use a Jigging Rap with a bigger profile,” James added.
Vertical fishing means boat control is essential, whether you’re fishing from a kayak or a fully loaded fishing boat with an electric trolling motor and fish finder.
“It helps to watch fish with a fish locator,” said Troy Lindner. “They can be very touchy. It helps to see how they react to snaps and lifts – to see if there’s a rhythm that they like.”
So the next time you’re looking to connect with some deep-water trout, consider thinking outside the box and trying one of the most reliable ice fishing lures – in the middle of the summer.