g man46 Posted January 7, 2004 Share Posted January 7, 2004 I am going to Canada for my first lake trout ice fishing excursion in March. I was wondering if anyone could help me out as far as what kind of gear to get. (rod/reel, line, lures, bait) Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renneberg Posted January 7, 2004 Share Posted January 7, 2004 Hey G man46, I moved your topic to the BWCA forum. The guys in there are the ones to talk too when it comes to lake trout fishing.http://fishingminnesota.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/001947.html ------------------"Study to be quiet" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uffdapete Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 g manPut a post on the Rainy Lake thread for Fishmeister - he's had a lot of experience trout fishing in Ontario.I can get you started on a few basics. I like a stout baitcasting ice rod with a Garcia 5500 or similar with a minimum of 12 lb. clear/low vis. mono. Some guys go with 14 or 17 lb. depending on the size of fish you're into.Electronics - beg or borrow or buy a Vexilar or comparable locater if you don't have one - I'd leave my tackle behind before not taking a good locater - that's my opinion.Tackle - we've done good on a white 4" tube jig with a red "nose" over a 3/8 - 3/4 oz jig and tipped with 3-5" shiner or rainbow minnows. Fishmeister will have a lot more advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaid21 Posted January 15, 2004 Share Posted January 15, 2004 I agree with Uffdapete on this, a vexilar will up your chances considerably. Often times you'll see lakers chasing after suspended cisco's halfway or further up the water column. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knoppers Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 g-man I disagree, there is no electronics that will help, lakers feed about once a month, and if they are interested, they will absolutly pound your lure.we use power baits almost exclusively, if it be tube jigs or northland rattle jigs, they both work great.I and all my buddies use about 10 pound test line, usually sensithin, or anything that will have a smaller diameter size. and always use a good reel. I use a baitcaster on a premium rod.we will be heading up to kenora for our annual laker trip, and I will be using everything mentioned. glow color seems to work good. good luck, at least there is plenty of snow this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishnutbob Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 g-man, I just returned from crow trout fishing, I fish with a vex all the time but if you dont own one and the people going with have them they can tell you what depth the fish are at. Look at my post on the Canada forum 39 trout. One in are group didnt have a vex and he caught just as many trout. Most were right off bottom, but in march that can change they could be high then a vex is a must when you fish 50 60 ft.I hpoe ypu have a good sled with all the snow now and slush Mar will be a bear. Do get a good stiff rod and as uffdapete said a good baitcaster the line seems to work better on the baitcaster Gander mountain has stiff trout rods only 9.99 I bought a 34" and a 28" I used P-line 12lb and vanish 14lb in fluorocarbon line. And white tube jig 4" Berkely was our best bait . Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Foss Posted January 26, 2004 Share Posted January 26, 2004 I've caught lakers I had to tease and work for more than two minutes, fish I wouldn't have known were there if it weren't for the Vex. By "working" I mean that the readings from the Vex enabled me to figure how aggressive/non agressive the fish was, and to tailor my presentation to get the fish to bite. Doesn't always work, but if I hadn't known those fish were there, odds are I'd not have gotten some of them to hit. I do agree, though, that an aggressively feeding laker will pound darn near anything no matter how you work it, and electronics aren't helpful in those cases. Sure makes it fun, though, to see that big red band sprinting up to your lure. ------------------"Worry less, fish more."Steve Foss[email protected] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal Posted January 26, 2004 Share Posted January 26, 2004 I've lighten up on my rod and reel. I've dropped the cue sticks for a 34 inch Polar Lites heavy glass rod. I use a 2000 Shamano Sprirex (off one of my summer rigs), and 12 lb mono. Basic tackle is a 3/8 jig to which I attach a wire stinger and use a 4 inch tube. White has been the standard but I have been have some luck with the clear yellow. I tip the main hook with a chunk of cisco. I use 3/4 oz red/white -black/white - yellow/white bucktails. I also use 3/4 oz white, pink and chartruse airplanes. I also suspend a whole cisco on another rod at about 25 feet. The jig-tube produces the best.I use a vexilar. Most of the time I never see the fish before it hits but, I do catch more trout by using the vex. Sometimes the trout will come in just above the jig, maybe 3 to 4 feet. I crank it up to and sometimes even past the fish and POW! I would say that this occurs 30% of the time. Other times I'll have a hook up and the fish will get off. The fish or a companion will still be in the area but, at a differnt depth. I drop or raise the jig or depending on my vex reading and usually I get a second chance. [This message has been edited by Animal (edited 01-27-2004).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Foss Posted January 27, 2004 Share Posted January 27, 2004 Animal: I use the same rod, although my Shimano is a 4000 series spooled with 14 lb, in case I get a whopper that wants to spool me, in which case the extra capacity of the 4000 is good. I put on a barrel or ball bearing swivel and use a 3-foot fluorocarbon leader, too. Gotta love that rod. One of the best around, and only $12! I've had similar experiences reeling up to and past marks on the Vex. Those lakers LOVE to chase. Plenty of guys dink around with minnows and bobber or jig like they're fishing walleyes, when they should be very aggressive. I've fooled with lakers for more than 2 or 3 minutes at a time, reeling up and jigging wildly, lowering the lure, coming back up, all that over and over again until provoking a strike. ------------------"Worry less, fish more."Steve Foss[email protected] [This message has been edited by stfcatfish (edited 01-26-2004).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g man46 Posted January 27, 2004 Author Share Posted January 27, 2004 Man, I can't wait. March won't come soon enough!!!!!I agree, fishing without a vexilar, to me, is like leaving a rod behind. Where can I get these ciscos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal Posted January 27, 2004 Share Posted January 27, 2004 Ciscos should be in the frozen foods section of your local bait shop. Gman46 ---What lake(s) are you going to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g man46 Posted January 27, 2004 Author Share Posted January 27, 2004 Lower Manitou. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal Posted January 28, 2004 Share Posted January 28, 2004 I've fished the Lower M, but only in late May. It is loaded with trout. I've also fished Essox for trout & smallmouth. Are you guys camping out or staying at a resort or cabin? I've fished the lakes on the Cedar Narrows road for years. Vista is also a good trout lake. I fish Rainy Lake quite a bit and stay at Taylors Cove. Ed Taylor, owner of Taylor's Cove, likes to ice fish and talks frequently about the Manitou and says that he always has great fishing up there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g man46 Posted January 29, 2004 Author Share Posted January 29, 2004 We are staying at Barker Bay resort. This is the first time we have gone and done any trout fishing through the ice, so we don't really know what to expect. We will let you know though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g man46 Posted January 30, 2004 Author Share Posted January 30, 2004 One quick question....If the lake is loaded with trout, is it like other lakes loaded with fish? (lots of fish, few big fish) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animalal Posted January 31, 2004 Share Posted January 31, 2004 I haven't been to upper manit in 20 years, I was only fifteen. It had to have been 30 below zero. The fish were 6 to 10 pounds with the bigger ones running 15 to 16 pounds. I only went once, but hope to go back someday. The person that took me with, had caught a 24 pound trout and a 21 pound northern the trip before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal Posted February 2, 2004 Share Posted February 2, 2004 G-Man I would say the breakdown for this lake is 70% 5 to 6 lbs (fish smaller are rarely caught-at least by our boat)25% 7 to 12 lbs5% over 12 lbsI think the biggest we have had in my boat has been about 25 lbs, but I hear that others catch a lot of 30 lbs fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Johnson Posted February 2, 2004 Share Posted February 2, 2004 Here's a picture of fishnutbob's crew with a few lakers... Good Fishin,Matt Johnson ------------------First Choice Guide Service [email protected]IceleadersCatch-N Tackle and Bio BaitMarCumStone Legacy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renneberg Posted February 2, 2004 Share Posted February 2, 2004 Nice lakers guys!------------------"Study to be quiet" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g man46 Posted February 3, 2004 Author Share Posted February 3, 2004 No matter what fish it is anything over 5lbs is going to be fun through the ice!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal Posted February 3, 2004 Share Posted February 3, 2004 GMAN46 Be sure to post when you return. I would be interested in hearing how you did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g man46 Posted February 3, 2004 Author Share Posted February 3, 2004 I certainly will. Has anyone ever fished muskies during the summer? (On Manitou) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Johnson Posted February 11, 2004 Share Posted February 11, 2004 fishnutbob and a trout... Good Fishin,Matt Johnson ------------------First Choice Guide Service [email protected]IceleadersCatch-N Tackle and Bio BaitMarCumStone Legacy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g man46 Posted February 12, 2004 Author Share Posted February 12, 2004 Nice fish! After seeing the movie that's on the main forum, and these pictures, I am ready to leave NOW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishnutbob Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 g man46, go get those big trout, their waiting fr you. Lost's of slush on the lakes, load lite and fly. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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