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May 06, 2003
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This setup is deadly on trout. It can be fished on the surface or close to the bottom and it works anywhere that you find trout. Fly fishing is divided into 2 categories: Dry fly and wet fly / nymph fishing.
# 1. 90 % of the insects that a trout eats are in the form of nymphs. So this is where you should concentrate UNLESS you see trout taking insects from the surface. (see # 2)
Fill your water float completely full of water, taking care that there are no air bubbles remaining. Slide your line through starting at the skinny end of the float. Next tie on a # 12 snap swivel. Tie a separate 5 foot leader of 2 - 4 lb. test with one of the following: # 12 Zug Bug, # 8 or # 10 Woolly Bugger / green or black, # 12 Hare's Ear nymph, or a # 12 Prince.
Cast out and count. For every second, the water float will sink 1 foot and when it hits the bottom your line will go slack. If you counted to 12, then it is about 12 feet deep. Then reel SLOWLY 1 or 2 cranks and let it sit for 5 seconds and continue this pattern until all the line is in. The next cast you will want to shorten the sinking time by 2 seconds so that the fly covers the next 2 feet up and you continue on each cast to shorten the sinking time until you either catch fish or are at the surface. If you don't catch fish move a little bit down the shoreline and repeat. Once you find the fish, keep fishing at that depth and move down the shore only after many casts don't produce a fish. This way you cover the water thoroughly.
THE BIG MISTAKE THAT MOST ANGLERS MAKE IS TO REEL TOO FAST. REMEMBER: "Stop and go, reel slow."
# 2. Dry flies are fished on the surface when you see trout feeding on the surface. Usually this is only at the first and last hours of daylight. The only difference in the basic setup is to fill your water float half full and use one of the following flies: # 12 / 14 Yellow Humpy, # 12 / 14 Elk Hair Caddis, # 12 / 14 Mosquito or a # 12 / 14 Royal Coachman. NOTE: There are hundreds of flies but these tend to work just about everywhere, but don't be afraid to ask advice from the local tackle dealer.
REMEMBER: "Stop and go, reel slow."
The best method for catching trout here is known as the Floating Bait Rig.
We recommend this setup. The sliding sinker allows the trout to pick up the bait and not feel the weight, which might make the fish spit out the hook. The size of the weight depends on the time of year. In Winter use lighter weights because the trout are closer to shore (warmer water). In Summer use the 1/2oz. weight because the fish are out in deeper (cooler) water.
The most important part of this setup is the length of leader. During Winter the length should be 2 ft., Spring and Fall it should be 3 ft., and Summer it should be 4 to 5 ft. Changing conditions make it important for the bait to float where the fish are. The best way is to ask the Ranger what length is best.
More fish are caught on nightcrawlers than any other bait here at the lake. Use 1/2 of a nightcrawler and wrap the cut end around a size 16 bronze treble hook. Gently blow up the loose end with a worm blower. Put worm in water to be sure that you have put in enough air so that it floats. The other option is to put the worm on 2 of the 3 hooks and put a plain white marshmallow on the 3rd hook. This works very well.
There are several other baits that work very well. Our # 1 jar bait is Sierra Gold because it works better in very cold water. # 2 is Berkley Power Bait. We also use salmon eggs, plain white marshmallows, and Velveeta, cheese. Be sure to ask the Ranger what the hottest bait is right now.
Where is the best spot to fish? Again ask the Ranger because the best spots are always changing. One of the things that they do at the hatchery is teach those trout how to swim and because we were here yesterday we know where they swam to!
If you follow the Ranger's advice and use this floating bait rig, you have a good chance of catching trout!
Important! Please keep everything that you catch, even the little ones. No matter how careful you are in releasing them they always die even though they swam away just fine. Persons caught releasing fish will be asked to leave and will forfeit their catch and permits. This does not cover sturgeon and smallmouth which have special Dept. of Fish and Game Regulations.
When you catch your limit you must switch to bass, catfish or some other species. It is against the law to give your trout away and keep fishing for more or help your fishing buddy finish their limit.
Lastly, If you are not catching fish please check with us. We will do everything that we can to help you catch fish. We will even send you to the "secret spot." We are here to help.
The Trout Teaser minijigs are one of the best "all purpose" fish catchers made. Not only does this lure work effectively on trout but will also catch bass, crappie and bluegill. In fact these little jigs were called crappie jigs until someone figured out that these were real trout slayers. The beauty of these jigs is that in So. Calif. lakes you never know what might end up on your stringer when you cast these fish catching lures. I have even caught channel catfish on them.
These jigs come in various sizes from the 1/64 oz. to the 1/16 oz. These small weights require the use of light spinning tackle and line weights of 4 lb. or less. Here at Lake Cuyamaca we prefer to use 4 lb. test because of the larger trout that are regularly caught here. We also use the 1/16 oz. jig under the premise of "big lures = big fish." However there are many times when the smaller jigs will out fish the larger ones. This is very true in the High Sierras.
Unlike lures that have a built in action, these little jigs require that you give them action. This allows you more versatility. My favorite method is to cast the jig out, count it down until I get to the depth that I want. Next I extend my index finger on my rod hand so that as the line is reeled, it slaps my finger. This gives a methodical jump to the lure that is absolutely deadly. The lake manager caught a 6 lb. 8 oz. rainbow during one of our fishing classes doing just that. If you have trouble casting such a light jig attach a red and white bobber or a rattle bobber 5 to 6 ft. above the jig and it will work as well.
Also deadly is a method which is known among bass fishing as doodling or shaking. Again the jig is cast out and allowed to sink to the desired depth. As the jig is retrieved the rod is shaken in little short shakes and using a stop and go retrieve. Again a very deadly retrieve.
Another effective method is vertically jigging the lure by quickly raising and then slowly lowering the jig. The strike almost always occurs as the jig falls. It is very important to follow the jig down. If there is slack when the fish strikes you will probably miss the fish. Here again try lots of different variations. Most fish cannot resist the enticing action of the Trout Teaser jig bouncing up and down. Sometimes I will raise the rod only 2 inches. Other times I might raise it a 2 feet. Also be sure to methodically fish every depth, from bottom to surface. When you catch a fish repeat that same movement.
There are lots of different color jigs. Two all purpose colors are pearl & gray and pearl. These will catch anything. However, the pink and pearl & orange and chartreuse are the trout tamers.
Catfish are the easiest fish to catch. They eat just about everything. They are not fussy about line size and just about any size hook will work. However, if you follow the method recommended you will catch more catfish.
First tie a # 2 or a # 4 bait holder hook to 6 - 20 lb. test line. DON'T USE ANY WEIGHT as the weight of the bait is enough. Then cut a 2 in. piece of mackerel and put the hook through the skin. The skin helps keep the bait on the hook. Don't worry about hiding the hook because catfish are used to eating things that have bones sticking out. Cast the bait out.
BE SURE THAT YOU LEAVE YOUR BAIL OPEN because, when a catfish picks up your bait, he will take off like a freight train. If your bail is closed he will take your rod and reel with him. It happens all the time here at Lake Cuyamaca. Rangers from the other lakes will tell you that they also hear stories from people who describe how their rod was pulled in before they could react and, 99.9% of the time, a catfish was the culprit.
WHEN THE CATFISH RUNS, COUNT TO 25 BEFORE SETTING THE HOOK. If you don't hook'em cast back out to the same spot because he will come back. When you do set the hook yank the rod as hard as you can.
How do you find catfish? In Summer you will find them in shallow water, less than 10 ft. deep. Look for downed trees, cattails, or rocky areas because, during the day, cats like to hide. During the day you need to move your bait often because a catfish won't move very far, but if you run it by his nose he'll eat it. If you are fishing at night they will use their great taste buds (whiskers) to find your bait so you don't have to move it. Winter is a different story. Find the deepest part of the lake with rocky areas. People don't think that you can catch cats in cold water. One of the best limits (over 50 lbs. for 5 cats) ever taken from Lake Cuyamaca came when there was ice floating on the lake.
BONUS: I have been fishing for over 30 years and my biggest trout was 6-8 and my biggest bass was 12-8 but I have caught a whole bunch of catfish over 20 lbs. Local lakes regularly have catfish in the 40 - 50 lb. range, so your chance for a truly BIG fish is better when you go for the cats.
Trolling is one of the easiest, yet most effective ways to catch trout. You cover a lot of water and your chances of locating the fish are much better.
A lure is cast behind the boat while the boat is moving, at a very slow speed. Ideally the lure should be 75 to 100 feet behind the boat. The rod should be out to one side of the boat or the other. It is not a bad idea to twitch the rod every minute or so. Quite often this will produce a strike.
One hand should always be on the rod to prevent the rod from being pulled overboard when the fish strikes. Turn off the motor as soon the fish strikes and is hooked. The next step is to enjoy bringing the fish in. Net the fish to bring him into boat. NOTE: If you try to lift fish into boat with your rod, 3 things are likely to happen: 1) the fish will wiggle off; 2) when the fish wiggles off, the hooks go flying, sometimes into parts of your body causing pain, discomfort or even serious injury; 3) you break your fishing rod.
IMPORTANT: When you catch a fish, note the spot where you found it and troll through the same spot A general rule is "find one fish and you'll find a bunch of fish."
If you troll around the lake without success then change to another lure. Every turn of the lake change your lure until you find one that works. Sometimes just changing the color will make the difference.
Our favorite setup is a snap swivel tied to 4 to 6 lb. test line and one of the following lures: # 5 orange, clown or firetiger Rapala, gold Little Cleo or Kastmaster, gold Panther Martin or a green, orange or brown Roostertail. These lures are ranked with our favorites first.
Trolling is useful in keeping kids occupied, who might otherwise get bored waiting for the trout to eat bait.
Bullhead cats are the "go to" fish when everything else is playing hard to catch. In other words it is the perfect kids fish. Not only that, bullheads are very tasty. The set up is very simple. Tie on a# 6 bait holder hook. Then pinch on a large split shot about 18" above the hook. Tear an 1 ½" piece from the lighter colored end of the worm. The rest of the worm will live for days in your worm box if you keep it cool in a cooler.
Bullheads are everywhere in the lake. Ask the Ranger where to go. If you don't catch fish in 20 minutes; move, but stay close to where the Ranger said to go. They are there. Just keep moving until you locate the cats. There is no limit. However you must keep even the little ones. There are too many and if we don't thin them out then all we will have is lots of stunted ( little ) fish. So do the lake a favor. Take them all home. Even the little ones are easy to fillet and make great fish tacos. 6 to 20 lb. test line large split shot 18" above hook # 6 bait hook
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