The PowerBait Game

I went to Twin Lakes the other day for the first time (I live on the West side of town and don't like driving out that way although I did it many times when I was younger to play golf - Indiana, Chestnut Ridge [nice to see it again], Manitou and Murrysville.) I got there slightly after seven but never saw anything till the fog lifted around 10:00. The post - "Twin Lakes Insult" (fishing for crappie and perch) got me going so I decided to go and sate my curiosity about the place. I went to the lower lake first and started throwing my crappie jig. I asked three fishermen about where to fish for crappie and nobody could tell me. Working my way around the dam I caught two beautiful trout on my crappie jig under a float. No crappie or perch. Then made my way to the upper lake. After strolling along the shoreline (no crappie or perch) I noticed that about 90% of the fishermen were using Powerbait on the bottom. I saw three dead trout in the water no doubt gut hooked on Powerbait and "released". How many more in the water that I couldn't see? 
My point is get off your arses and spin - crimp your barbs, or put a jig under a float and jig for trout. It's so much more fun catching a trout this way. You cover more water, you're moving and the trout never swallow a jig or spinner - release is much easier and it's not so boring. Have some fun!

From above post
(My point is get off your arses and spin - crimp your barbs, or put a jig under a float and jig for trout. It's so much more fun.catching a trout this way. You cover more water, you're moving and the trout never swallow a jig or spinner - release is much easier and it's not so boring. Have some fun)
 
 
I agree. You can see the same thing at North Park Lake. It is great to have year round fishing, but it seems like a waste to catch and kill fish which are not being utilized. I'm not an expert on bait fishing; but if there are more fish friendly ways to catch and release fish while fishing with bait I think we should make the effort to use them.

Big Steve
With the tagged fish, Twin is nothing but an outdoor Bingo hall. I've seen more than 20 floaters at one time on the upper lake at the corner of the dam opposite the outflow.

you make a good point. Watching all the guys sitting there silent, motionless, waiting for a hit is pretty reminiscent of the feeling I get seeing hundreds of people staring blankly at slot machines.

fisherofmen,Although I seldom use bait such as power bait I would think that by using circle hooks guys would eliminate most gut hooking. As far as jig depth, in lakes I keep changing depths from 12" -5' I use a small bobber & don't feel that it spooks Trout or panfish at all,I think that they come to investigate the splash,possibly thinking it is another fish rising. I normally use a 1/64th oz.jig. Sometimes I use those Crappie bobbers that have bbs in them to attract fish.   sam

Thanks, I'll give this a try.

mr.crappie
fisherofmen,Although I seldom use bait such as power bait I would think that by using circle hooks guys would eliminate most gut hooking.

Ive tried this with circle hooks and power bait. Trout still just swallow it and got gut hooked. The best way ive found out about not gut hooking a trout it would be fish with a hook that has longer shanks or bigger hooks.

fisherofmen376
Just saw this now. I'd have to agree. I've been guilty of gut hooking a few, and I set the hook within two seconds of the first bounce on the rod.
It's not worth it to fish this way.

How far of a distance between bobber and the jig? And do you let it sit or twitch it a lot? I always wondered if the bobber would spook the fish because it caused too much commotion.

This is one of my go to set ups (mostly pan fish, but works great on trout).  Just like steelhead, the distance varies and twitch or sit varies.  Sometimes they want it near the bottom, other times 2' down, other times 6" down.  Sometimes they require you shake the heck out of it, other times a twitch here and there, other times it needs to be still.  Sometimes you need some scent (gulps) other times hair jigs without any motion catches their fancy.  It's pretty easy to change depths and retrieves.  Changing out jigs is just like any other fishing changing out lures or flies.
 
I find that most fish in lakes, don't mind the sound of splashing bobbers, many it excites.  I've had pike & large mouth come up and take my bobber, leaving the jig below.  I've caught trout, perch, crappie, gills, large mouth and pike, all with hard twitches making a good top water commotion, then they grab the jig below.  Same thing works with a 1/64 or 1/32 jig head and fathead, meal worm or chunk of crawler.  Two of my favorites are the Cheech's Low Fat Minnow or Clouser.
 
Many times, I am reeling in fast and jigging like a twitch bait.  The bobber is only there for weight and keeping the jig above the weeds I am fishing over.
 
I'm sure if you get a non-circus hole up on the tribs, the hard twitches would attract them as well.  They're so spooked from the gauntlet, that you need to limit the noise.