The reservoir near me has a decent population of cutthroat trout.  When they are feeding on the surface they are relatively easy to target, but it's the dog days of summer and by the time I get on the water they're in 20-40 ft.  I've been trying different Kokanee and walleye trolling techniques but haven't had any success deeper than 10'.  I don't have down riggers.  Right now I've got one rod rigged with a 3 way, one with a dodger and one with a bottom bouncer.  I'm going out tomorrow.  Right now I'm planning on trying 2-3oz on the three way rig with either a walleye worm harness or a Kokanee harness with cocktail shrimp.  If I can find my drop jigs, I may try that as well.  

 

I've tried heavy underspins, blade baits, lipless cranks, spoons, deep jerks and flukes with limited to no success.  What has worked well in shallower parts of this body are dropshots with live crawlers.  

 

Hello Montana Basser,

     Down here in Texas around San Antonio there are a couple of lakes where they have stocked freshwater redfish.  They can run up to 20#'s 5-15#'s is more the norm.  They are brawlers when hooked.

     Like your trout in the summer up there they go deep, 18-25'.  I have found using a deep diving crank baits (Strike king 6XD) or similar and removing the hooks. I tie a short 6' piece of line (17-20lb test) off of the middle line tie on the crank bait and run a 3" - 4" grub off of it.  I can get it down to 25' using 20-30# braid. The wobble of the crank bait transmits to the grub and give it added vibration.

     I'm not sure how fast your trolling for the cutthroat and what is the expected size.  I normally troll about 2 mph.  But I think you might be able to do the same thing there with 20' diving crank bait and lighter braid maybe 15#. It's a poor mans down rigger.

     What kind of set-up's are you using to troll? Spinning or bait casting? How big are the cutthroat?

Not sure if that is going to be any help to you. and good luck in your hunt for Cutthroat.

FM