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I'll be heading out on a lake that I've never been on before.... fishing a fish that I've never fished for before.....SO... having said that, it's a small lake... deepest spot I think is about 50 feet or so.... don't know what the bottom is like......if there are any ledges, drop-offs... etc... We'll be targeting rainbows it's stocked annually.... and there's a ton of perch in there too... I think that's all there is in the lake. What depth should I look for the trout to be in?...do they like to hug the bottom or are they usually suspended?..... will they be amongst the perch of off somewhere by themselves?... I've got some tiny jigs that I plan to tip with some Gulp maggots, grubs..... Any help would be appreciated... thanks!

Be there before sunrise if you can. I have had my luck between sunrise and 8:00am on most lakes.

I have also had good luck with small minnows. I would definitly have a small minnow with a small hook on your tip-up. Often I just fish with 2 set lines with minnows.

A sonar will help with depth if you have one.

Hi Fishnsledder
I fish a few stocked bows every winter - same deal, small lake - but no perch in this lake - what works best for me are ............

Earthworms!!!

Seriously - a lively worm on a hook, a tiny split-shot sinker 3' above the worm. Start at the bottom, slow jig for 20-30 jigs, up 2 feet, repeat. I have caught them at nearly every depth.

Another tip - hand auger - sometimes they are swimming just under the ice, power auger will make them spook really quick.

Good luck with the bows!! Hope you ice a few...

thanks guys.... I have a couple things going for me I think... I ended up buying the Gulp earthworms, I have a VEX, and I'll be using a hand auger, I guess I'll just go all over the lake and try to keep my bait away from the perch..... hope there's not too much ice!