Winter Trout in Small Lakes: How to Find The Fish

When you think of fishing in winter, many anglers think of chasing after big winter bass or a limit of panfish through the ice. However, winter can be an incredibly productive time to spend your time going after trout as well, even though they might be a little finicky.

While many species slow down this time of year, trout actually end up thriving. They enjoy the colder water temperatures and become more aggressive rather than lethargic. However, just because they’re more active and aggressive doesn’t mean they’ll be easy to catch. They actually tighten up their feeding windows and become a bit more selective with what they’ll actually decide to feed on.

Small lakes help open up those windows somewhat, as the temperatures stay pretty consistent throughout the lake. This allows the trout to feel comfortable roaming throughout the lake, looking for areas with the right amount of forage and oxygen to start feeding.

In winter, trout are mostly looking to feed on small prey like minnows and insect larvae. This type of prey is usually going to be holding in shallower water (3 to 8 feet), but can also suspend in areas of deeper water.

When it comes to finding the trout in smaller lakes in the winter, there are a few really productive areas to try.

Shallow flats are a great place to look for trout in the winter. They’re typically going to be anywhere from 2 to 8 feet deep. They’re great at holding trout if they have a muddy bottom, since these areas tend to hold a lot of the type of prey they’re after. 

These areas can be especially productive when the temperatures rise slightly, as even a 1 to 2 degree rise in water temperature can stimulate feeding activity more. In general, your best times to fish these flats are going to be during late afternoon warm periods and calm days.

To fish a shallow flat, you can cast or jig small spoons, or use a micro jig paired with your favorite soft plastic. If you’re using jigs, you can do some subtle jigging, with pauses mixed in. Don’t be afraid to suspend your presentation above the bottom as well, since trout may see that and take the opportunity to come in for a big strike.

Weed lines and areas with other vegetation are another solid place to try for winter trout. These areas produce oxygen and tend to hold a lot of the prey that trout are after. This is especially true for minnows, as they’ll use the vegetation as cover. A large school of minnows is going to be a great opportunity for a trout.

To fish these areas, you’ll want to try to fish the edges of the weed line or above the vegetation. You can do this with small plastics or live bait on jigs most effectively. If you’re fishing open water, you can try casting spoons along these edges as well.

Drop-offs, points, and transition areas are key areas to look for when fishing winter trout. These areas are typically going to be best anywhere from the 6 to 15 foot depth range. These areas work so well because they allow the trout to quickly move between depths. 

They can move up shallow to feed, and move back down to deeper water where they may be more comfortable on any given day. These areas also allow for ambush feeding, which many trout do when possible.

These areas are going to be best fished with a jigging technique. Spoons are incredibly effective, but tube jigs and other minnow-style soft plastics on a jig can work well, too. You’ll want to try to work your presentation on the edges of these drop-offs, allowing trout to come up and ambush them, or strike on the way back to the deeper water areas.

Deep basins are great when you notice the trout are holding deeper or are suspending in the water column. Different bait blooms like to concentrate in these areas, making it an ideal place for suspending trout to swim through for an easy meal. This is especially true if the water is super clear in the lake that you’re fishing.

In deep basins, you’ll want to try smaller tungsten jigs or trout spoons tipped with small live bait (like waxworms) or small soft plastic baits. Drop your presentation to the depth you think is holding fish and do some slow jigging, raising your bait a few feet up and pausing before letting it free-fall back down. In deep basins, sonar is going to be your best friend for figuring out what depths are best for these winter trout.