Mineral Lake

[bigdaddy3769]

I was out at Mineral lake yesterday and saw a ton of fish on the finder with a lot of BIG fish. They were all holding around 15 to 25 feet and were not interested in anything I had. I used crankbait, spinners, spoons, dodgers, pop gear, hoochies, salmon eggs, power eggs, etc. with not a single bite. Can someone give me some advice on what else to try? I will definitely get some worms on my next trip, but I'm looking for some good advice on how to get these things to bite.

I'm guessing there is a good mix of brown trout in there with the big fish being the broodstock or triploids they've released.
I will be renting a boat but I don't have a downrigger. I know I was able to get my presentation down to that level but wasn't getting even a bump.

Any and all tips are welcome.

[Toni]

did you use scents? corn? Jigging? Just some ideas.

[bigdaddy3769]

I did use scents, garlic and shrimp scent, no corn. I didn't jig, I will definitely try that. I actually used a Kokanee setup that I learned by reading your reports and watching your videos. It worked on Wapato lake where the fish were this deep too but didn't work here.

[Toni]

I did use scents, garlic and shrimp scent, no corn. I didn't jig, I will definitely try that. I actually used a Kokanee setup that I learned by reading your reports and watching your videos. It worked on Wapato lake where the fish were this deep too but didn't work here.

Got a new video up. We only boated 4 trout but many in the background not wanting anything to do with us. Totally ignored. Then others that came, looked, and left. Others nipped at it. Even drove by a school of perch hanging out in 20-25 feet of water.
Clear Lake, where we were, had a firework celebration on the 3rd where they pull a barge out and do the works on it. We fished it on the 4th. I thought that may have something to do with it.
Try a shrimp/krill scent...but worms may do it!

[bigdaddy3769]

We go to our friend's house on Clear Lake every year for the 4th. I was there and wondering how that would affect fishing. I actually wondered if you would be out there the next day.

I'll get some new scents to try. Thanks!

[Toni]

We got the most bites on Shrimp/krill blend but it was also later in the morning which might have had something to do with it also.

[Larry3215]

I did use scents, garlic and shrimp scent, no corn. I didn't jig, I will definitely try that. I actually used a Kokanee setup that I learned by reading your reports and watching your videos. It worked on Wapato lake where the fish were this deep too but didn't work here.

Got a new video up. We only boated 4 trout but many in the background not wanting anything to do with us. Totally ignored. Then others that came, looked, and left. Others nipped at it. Even drove by a school of perch hanging out in 20-25 feet of water.
Clear Lake, where we were, had a firework celebration on the 3rd where they pull a barge out and do the works on it. We fished it on the 4th. I thought that may have something to do with it.
Try a shrimp/krill scent...but worms may do it!

Very interesting video Toni! Been there done that on the stacking

I thought it was interesting that the school of perch didnt seem to react to you passing buy at all.

Im just about ready to test my home made under water cam. How far behind the cam did you have those flashers and what size were they?

[Bodofish]

I've seen the same thing and I followed a bunch up to the log forest at the end of the lake and they were BIG BROWNS!!!! They would not bite on anything. After a day of tossing everything and the kitchen sink at them I asked a guy at the launch that was anchored up in the middle. He said, "yep, those big boys won't bite on anything you toss at 'em" as he was holding up a stringer of huge browns. He finally told me, you anchor up where you see them, very quietly. Then you drop a worm down with no more weight than a swivel. Let the worm go down to the bottom and if they feel like it, they'll take the worm.
I haven't been back to try it but I've heard that method described for catching Browns before. Most often Browns will not move to the surface or go after a moving bait unless it is an hour before sunrise to just after and just before sunset to an hour after. They're very picky yet predictable eaters.

[Hunter757]

Try worms on the bottom and also I have had good luck using power bait on the bottom. You will need to put in our time but is that not why we fish? Relax and enjoy the piece. I really think the worm is your best best, well night crawlers is what I mean, have a long leader and try to hide the hook best you can and use the whole worm. good luck!

[Toni]

I thought it was interesting that the school of perch didnt seem to react to you passing buy at all.
Im just about ready to test my home made under water cam. How far behind the cam did you have those flashers and what size were they?

The dodgers are 4 inch and it is about 20 inches from the camera. If it goes deeper or the clarity diminishes one would have to shorten it. One of the videos I have done I had a dodger hit a perch (at American Lake)

[bigdaddy3769]

Do you think drifting with a worm will work? The majority of the fish were holding 8-12ft off the bottom, so I was thinking of dropping a worm to that level and drifting with the current.

[Bodofish]

Do you think drifting with a worm will work? The majority of the fish were holding 8-12ft off the bottom, so I was thinking of dropping a worm to that level and drifting with the current.

I think anyway you can get that worm in front of them while keeping them at ease so they bite will work. It's just easier to get the worm down with no weight when you aren't drifting with the wind.