Having graduated to using artificial offerings, I discovered a group of local fishermen at Eagle Lake back in the early 90's who consistently landed large beautiful trout all day long using a weighted casting bobber and a small lead head jig hook tied with a shimmering feather that looked very much like the Tui Chub minnow that thrived there. 

Now these guys fished from the shoreline in November and December and used a spin cast rig with an 8'-10' rod so they could wing it out far where there was a little drop off and fish cruised all day long.

I started tying these marabou jigs using size 10 hooks and 1/80-1/32 oz head weight. My favorite color was the natural wild turkey marabou feathers and the ones from the East Coast seemed to get the most action.

I started using this technique in other lakes and even in some trout streams with much success. I even noticed that bass also took this jig as well and other pan fish.

Now after some experimenting with color, size and depth, I started to do really well at Goodwin Lake on days where dragging the depths with heavy T-14 was not producing and my arm and shoulder needed a rest. I pulled out my floating line set up that I always brought along on the tube and with a tiny indicator of almost any style or brand as long as it didn't sink with my jig or small fly, I started to land fish after fish regularly when I found a good spot (I stayed there for awhile too).

Color, of course, and size are important and you should change these and your depth until you find the right combo. On some days, especially when the wind is up and a nice chop is on the water, you can fish a little shallower, but I like the 8'-10' range most of the time (any deeper and you will have trouble landing the fish). Stay where you can see the bottom and especially along all the bushes and tulle patches. Fish love to wait and ambush when the fly or jig is right up close. With the wind and your float tube control, you can troll slowly and keep things in a good location for maximum strikes and hook-ups. I also find that with still water conditions, go small with red copper john's or hare's ears, scuds and midges as well. Two fly combos are effective as well. Always use a small split shot halfway between the fly and the indicator unless you are using a jig with a little built-in weight.

In the shallows you can also just cast this same rig and strip; often you will see the indicator disappear before you feel the strike. In the later hours when the sun is low and getting dark, black jigs work really well and the fish really fly out of the water when hooked most all the time and, with a light floating line, you are less tired and the fish fight a lot harder with multiple jumps.

So remember to stay out of the middle and really deep water, move slowly and quietly, and make as few false casts as possible. Be patient and allow the jig or fly to make as natural of a drift as you can and you will most definitely be catching rather than just fishing.

Steve (Trouty) Rudzinski