Ice Fishing for lake trout

[BigFish1]

I'm going to Canada in January to fish lake trout. I've never done this before and was wondering about what rod/reel combo's, line, and lure selection. I've had a hard time with finding a store with the stuff I need. Can anybody give me some suggestions on what I need and where I can find it. Thanks in advance!

[Capt.Blaine]

Where are you going up there? Check out the Duluth-BWCA forum, lots of talk on there about Lakers.

[LeeMB]

if your going thru Winnipeg, Cabella's or WholeSale sports should have what you need

[Jim Hudson]

Bigfish...

The laker phenom is becoming increasingly more and more popular. For good reason, its fun.. But, do know, it is also addicting!!

Here is a short article I wrote awhile back on the Lake Trout game.. Laker Article

For store to get you set-up in this game.. Check Thorne Bros or Marine General..

Good luck,

[Fred_Bear]

Wholesale Sports (old Sportsman's Warehouse) in Fargo has a good selection for tube jigs which is what you should be using the majority of the time if your going to Canada. Reeds always has a good selection too.

Do yourself a favor and get a rod thats designed for lakers. You'll want one that is over 40". They're tough to find, but TB makes an awesome laker rod and there's a couple in the Mr. Walleye series.

[harvey lee]

Check out Jason Mitchell's Laker rod on his HSOforum.

You may want a couple different rod lenghts or actions if you plan on using different jig or lure weights.

I have three but one can go with just one rod.

[BigFish1]

Im going in mid-January to Browns Clearwater West Lodge. Is anybody fished there?

[Mike Stark]

check this out.

and this.

[trapperdirk]

Well your getting some solid advice here and although I could give my own spin on it for the most part it has already been well covered .

Now I'm surprised the #1 all time consistant laker and whitey taker in Canada was never mentioned . Yes there truly is one and its called the Williams whitefish icefishing spoon . You will be hard put to find any serious laketrout angler who has not an arsenal of these here in his tackle box . Yes we use other jigs and spoons too but the Williams will always reign supreme .

TD

[FearNoFish]

Look for a lure called a buzzbomb they are the bomb for catch nice lake trout I have found them online and in Canada but have never found them here in MN. If any one knows of them to buy local I am running low. I will be heading to Ely for the trout opener.

[NoWiser]

Here is my two cents. The first time I went to Canada I brought up an entire tacklebox full of junk. I tried tip ups, buzz bombs, airplane jigs, sonars, jigging raps, etc.... Tube jigs, hands down, outfished everything. The best has been a 4" glow tube with blue flecks in it, and a 1/4 - 3/8 ounce tube jig head inside it. For the past few years my laker tacklebox is literally the size of two decks of cards. I bring 4 tubes, pre-rigged with the hooks in them, and leaders already tied on and nicely coiled up and attached to swivels. That is it. There is absolutely no reason to bring anything else up where I fish. A tube is usually good for 8 or 9 trout, so I typically go through 2 or 3 jigs in 3 days of fishing.

A longer, heavier rod is a good idea. Bring a spare, especially if it is a cheap graphite rod, because they tend to explode when you are fishing outside and its -30 out. For line I use 15 pound PLine with a 15 or 20 pound fluorocarbon leader. Braided works fine too, but freezes up on the spool in those frigid temps which is why I no longer use it.

Drill lots of holes, have fun, and if you've never hooked a laker through the ice before, hold on TIGHT!!!