Lake Trout Rig - Newbie Question, HELP!!!!

[PTocko]

I'm hoping to get some info from some of the Lake Trout experts out there. We have a cabin up north and I have decided to equip myself with a Lake Trout "rig" and maybe getting out the couple of times we're up there. I have two main questions -

1) Braid or Mono (or other)??

2) Steel leader??

I purchased a St. Croix Premier Heavy 32" and I will use one of my 1500 series spinning reels. I know, I know - ideally I should have a rod with a reel seat and a level wind reel. But this is not something I want to go whole hog into because I will not be using it but a few times a year. Any opinions on the above (or other insights) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the help and think ice. Paul

[Will]

I use a super braid with a mono leader. Super braids work well in deep water cause they don't stretch. I attatch a ball bearing snap swivel to cut down on line twist.

[Fred_Bear]

That should be a good rod, I've actually been thinking of getting one as an extra rod mainly for friends to use because of the price.

I also use braid and just tie straight to the hook. There's no need for a steel leader. Some people use mono or fluorocarbon leaders but there isn't really a need for it as lakers are not by any means line shy. If it's cold and you're fishing outside heavier braid will ice up pretty bad. That's when a lot of people use heavier mono as that won't ice up as bad. I use 10 lb power pro because it is the best braid for not iceing up and isn't really any worse than mono.

[NoWiser]

That setup should work out just fine. I have a buddy with the same rod and he has caught many lake trout with it.

As far as reels go, the spinning reel will work fine, I prefer them over a baitcaster. One thing you may want to try is take a couple of the reels you are thinking of using and throw them in the freezer. Then test them out to make sure they still work smoothly, the anti-reverse still works, etc... It may save you some headaches on the water.

Mono or braid will work just fine. If you are planning on fishing outside I would recommend heavy mono (15 lbs) and if you are planning on fishing in a house, the braided will work alright. I have switched to 15lb P-line with a 20 lb fluoro leader and use this setup exclusively. As Fred Bear mentioned they usually aren't line shy, but having the swivel and leader helps reduce line twist problems. (I don't like my tube jig spinning when I'm trying to hold it still) Be sure to get a good quality swivel that is plenty strong, though.

Oh, and about only using it a few times a year...... Once you hook your first lake trout, you will forget about every other fish that swims under the ice. Have fun!

[Casey Sunsdahl]

I have switched to 15lb P-line with a 20 lb fluoro leader and use this setup exclusively. As Fred Bear mentioned they usually aren't line shy, but having the swivel and leader helps reduce line twist problems. (I don't like my tube jig spinning when I'm trying to hold it still) Be sure to get a good quality swivel that is plenty strong, though.

Oh, and about only using it a few times a year...... Once you hook your first lake trout, you will forget about every other fish that swims under the ice. Have fun!

I agree.. I stripped the braid off eveything for trout.. Mono for me even on tip ups..

[KG243]

I am hooked and have never even caught one!

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

You'll like that rod. As mentioned braided line freezes up if fishing outside, and I wouldn't even consider a baitcaster with braid. That would be a nightmare if it is below freezing.

[Bran32]

I use flourocarbon because of the low stretch only in 10lb though! Did alot of deep water lake trout fishing in the mountains of Colorado (80-110 ft) before I moved up here! No stretch is key! But braids are a pain in the cold!

[Will]

Everybody talks about braided line freezing in the cold. Don't most of you fish in a heated house most of the time? Same question for the $500.00 ice fishing suits?

[Fred_Bear]

Everybody talks about braided line freezing in the cold. Don't most of you fish in a heated house most of the time? Same question for the $500.00 ice fishing suits?

I literally have never fished lakers inside of a house before, thus the need for a $300 (not $500 but thanks for the exaggeration, it makes me feel important) suit. Too much can go wrong pulling a portable 50+ miles per day, and one can be a lot more mobile with no portable. I'm not a fan of having to pack up camp every time I move spots which is usually around 5 times a day and one can also drive drive the snowmobile a lot faster without worry about the portable dragging behind.

I guess it kind of depends on your fishing style and the conditions one is fishing in, but I am yet to fish in conditions that forced me inside (with the exception of morning and lunch breaks )

[Will]

Packing up camp consists of about three minutes worth of work using my portable ( not exagerating) and thanks for the snarky "exageration" comment.

[Fred_Bear]

You're welcome. And thank you for clarifying this time.

EDIT: Awesome avatar Will. I've never noticed it before but that thing is seriously disturbing. Haha gave me a good laugh.

[caseymcq]

Check this out:

Inland Lake Trout Gear & Tactics

There is a ton of information from a bunch of people that fish lake trout quite often.

[NoWiser]

I don't even bring a portable on my laker trips up to Canada. I did a couple of my first times but its way too big of a pain for that type of fishing. If I don't mark a fish, I'll often move every 10 minutes or so, so a few extra minutes per time adds up by the end of the day. Also, when you are 30 - 40 miles from the nearest help and hit a giant slush pocket, you don't want anything slowing you down. Getting stuck is not only a pain, but can be dangerous. The last couple years on our January trip the temp when we go out in the morning is hovering around the -30 mark and it usually doesn't get above 0. Staying warm isn't as much of a problem as one would think, but keeping your line from freezing is. Only 29 days to go until I leave for my first trip!!

Good luck PTocko, and let us know how you do!

[PTocko]

Casey - thanks, I found that string last night after I posted this. Between the info I got here and that thread I feel a bit more ready. I do plan on fishing in a house so I think braid will be okay. I would love to fish outside more but I have fingers that have been frostbit a few too many times and now they hurt when it get's much below freezing if I don't have gloves on. Doc said next time I may lose some parts so I fish almost entirely inside these days. I'll probably spool up some 15lb mono and carry the spool with me just in case. I'll use a good swivel and probably use a little mono leader (again 15 lbs). Thanks again for helping out a newbie - I do appreciate it. See you on the ice. Paul

[Surface Tension]

I hope your getting your Laker fix before the Burntside Bash but for a late season Laker itch be sure to Check This Out

I use both 10lb mono or power pro. I use a level wind spooled with a braid on a Jason Mitchell Mackinaw rod inside the house.

Line freeze is a problem with the braids. When you read the link Casey provided you'll note that you'll be fishing the entire water column. That'll mean coming up fast at times to trigger a Laker to hunt and hit or it could mean dropping down just as fast. To do that you can't have a braid freezing up on you. For the times I'm outside hole hopping the levelwind spooled with 10'lb mono is what I prefer. Why only 10lb you ask? The line dia does not interfere with the weight lures that'll I'll be downsizing to. While some of my Lake Trout arsenal are heavier jigs, just as many are smaller and of coarse lighter. I want that jig to drop as it is intended to. I also want absolutely zero line coil during the drop and at rest. Lake trout can smash a lure but they also can hit very light.

When that happens they will not hang on for long so even the slightest amount of coil is not welcome. With both braid and mono I use a barrel swivel to attach main line and leader and to prevent line twist. When you use a leader you'll want to pay attention to its length. Too long you won't be able to grab a laker out of the hole with your free hand and if your in a house too long a leader won't work either. I'm changing up lures constantly and find that a small snap lock works well. That gives you fast change ups but your also not messing with your leader length by constantly retiring.

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Oh, and about only using it a few times a year...... Once you hook your first lake trout, you will forget about every other fish that swims under the ice. Have fun!

Aint that the truth! Any ice fishing trip for me prior to trout season is a practice run pretty much.

I like having my house set up as a base camp. I don't have an ATV, so I access my laker spots on foot. I get to the area I'm going to fish and set up my shack in a good spot, get that all dialed in and then go out and cut as many holes as I can. When I'm done, I'll go back in the shack, get a tip-up set up and out, come back in and cool off/warm up and work my shack for a while. Then I get out and hole hop for a while, and come back to the shack once I'm frozen. . If it's slow, I'll pack up and move on, or wait them out, depending on my motivation and history of the spot I'm fishing.

I also prefer spinning reels. I do a lot of open water jigging for lakers as well, so I just use the same reel year round. I like 8-10lb mono or 15lb Fireline. (9 times out of ten I roll with mono).

Like Frank, I use a snap lock at the end and a swivel to minimize line twist. My lures of choice are Chubby Darters, Lindy Buckshot rattling spoons and white tube jigs.

Good Luck!

[Fred_Bear]

I don't even bring a portable on my laker trips up to Canada. I did a couple of my first times but its way too big of a pain for that type of fishing. If I don't mark a fish, I'll often move every 10 minutes or so, so a few extra minutes per time adds up by the end of the day. Also, when you are 30 - 40 miles from the nearest help and hit a giant slush pocket, you don't want anything slowing you down. Getting stuck is not only a pain, but can be dangerous. The last couple years on our January trip the temp when we go out in the morning is hovering around the -30 mark and it usually doesn't get above 0. Staying warm isn't as much of a problem as one would think, but keeping your line from freezing is. Only 29 days to go until I leave for my first trip!!

Good luck PTocko, and let us know how you do!

You just took the words right off of my keyboard.