Lake Trout?

[The_Vex_Man]

What would be a good lake to start a lake trout career at? I have never gone lake trout fishing but really want to start. Any ideas on which lake would be the most productive for a first timer would be great.

Thanks

[Steve Foss]

Check out two other HSO forums. The BWCAW-Duluth-North Shore forum and the Vermilion-Ely forum. Most of the laker lakes in Minnesota (including Lake Superior and inland laker lakes) are covered by those two geographic forums, and with inland laker season opening next Saturday, there's a lot of chatter going on right now.

You'll also see some threads about gear, tactics and locations. Most of the lake trout talk on HSO goes on in those forums.

[Transporter]

I am partial to Lake Superior, lots of fish, bigger fish and less pressure. Either the south shore in Wisconsin, or preferably the Canadian bays along the north shore that freeze earlier.

[JBMasterAngler]

One thing to note, alot of good winter trout lakes aren't very easy to access. If you have a snowmobile your options will be alot greater I would say the 2 most popular and easiest lakes to access are burntside lake in ely and gunflint lake in grand marais.

[leech~~]

You can also try Big Trout up in Cross Lake or Grindstone by Sand stone but the trout are not as large as the border lakes.

[thatoneguy]

Big Trout would be the closest to me. I've never fished lakes in the winter only when I g up to Ontario in the summer. If I went to big trout, what kind of depth/structure would I look for? Would the lures I use in the summer (big northland buck tail tipped with a sucker) work in the winter as well? I'd love t get after them, even if they weren't huge.

[leech~~]

Big Trout would be the closest to me. I've never fished lakes in the winter only when I g up to Ontario in the summer. If I went to big trout, what kind of depth/structure would I look for? Would the lures I use in the summer (big northland buck tail tipped with a sucker) work in the winter as well? I'd love t get after them, even if they weren't huge.

When I fish Big Trout which is a few times a year because I can't make it up to the border lakes as much during the winter as I would like. I use about the same lures I use for Walleye and have caught them in 25-90' feet there. You just have to get out there and keep moving and trying. I would go with a lower stretch line as it's hard to set the hook at 90' feet! But, I have caught most of mine in shallower water on that lake.

[reinhard1]

this winter i will fish grindstone [as a do most of the time anyway] for lake trout. the largest lake trout i have seen cought was 15 lbs. and that was years ago by my brother [open water]. you can get lakers there for the table. there are some large lakers in there but so far they have eluded me. but to have a lake with lakers and rainbows and browns so close to the cities is a real bonus. good luck.

[The_Vex_Man]

Can you get a four wheeler out on gunflint easily or is there too much snow? How does one access Superior in the winter and how far out can you fish?

[Steve Foss]

Can you get a four wheeler out on gunflint easily or is there too much snow? How does one access Superior in the winter and how far out can you fish?

I don't know about Gunflint conditions, but you'll probably get more responses if you post that question in the BWCA-Duluth-North Shore-Lake Superior forum. Most years there's little or no safe ice for walking out on the Minnesota side of Superior, let alone ATVing. Out of Ashland/Bayfield, Wis., on Chequamegon Bay and the Apostle Islands, most years you can get out with some type of vehicle.

[leech~~]

this winter i will fish grindstone [as a do most of the time anyway] for lake trout. the largest lake trout i have seen cought was 15 lbs. and that was years ago by my brother [open water]. you can get lakers there for the table. there are some large lakers in there but so far they have eluded me. but to have a lake with lakers and rainbows and browns so close to the cities is a real bonus. good luck.

reinhard1, maybe you and I can hookup for a day on Grindstone some time this winter? I usually use a sled when fishing there do you have one?

[KG243]

We should do a small get together on grindstone as I live on that lake in the winter, but yet to catch a laker on there.

[thatoneguy]

I'd make the drive up for a little get together...sounds like a fun way to learn the ropes of laker fishing

[harvey lee]

Check out the Burntside Bash for a laker trip.

Looks of fun and there will be many there to show you some tips on icing these great fish.

http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubb...ash#Post2444951

[quijibo]

Come on down to Colorado, we're infested with Lakers.

Adam

[JBMasterAngler]

I got an e-mail from gunflint lodge yesterday saying the ice conditions are good (although he didn't specify how thick), and there wasn't much snow out there. So my guess is you'll be able to get on with no problem from the public access. I'll be in grand marais for opening weekend (on different lakes though), so I'll know more then.

[thatoneguy]

Sounds like a blast, but I have company coming that weekend and won't be able to make it.

[reinhard1]

i would love to hook up. i do not have a sled but do have a wheeler. my email is [email protected] i can give you my number. maby we can get mabr to come but i know he is busy with work and you have to take that when you can. good luck.

[reinhard1]

i would like that also. do live on the east or west side? anyway, i will post when i come up or if you have a specific day in mind send me an email and i will give you my number so we can better plan. i'd like to bring up some fresh venison kilbasa and fry some up on the ice. my email is on leech's post above. good luck.

[leech~~]

i would love to hook up. i do not have a sled but do have a wheeler. my email is [email protected] i can give you my number. maby we can get mabr to come but i know he is busy with work and you have to take that when you can. good luck.

Sounds good, at work now but will email later tonight. I have talked to mabr about Laker fishing and how it can be sometimes slow and he said it may not be for him, but maybe we can rope him in to trying it some time with us?

[KG243]

reinhard1 I meant I live on the lake during ice season as it is the main lake I fish. But still it would be fun to get some guys together and see what we can come up with.

[leech~~]

I'd make the drive up for a little get together...sounds like a fun way to learn the ropes of laker fishing

thatoneguy, not sure if you know that Grindstone lake is over by SandStone MN and It's a bit of a drive from Walker. But if a GTG gets planed and you want to come great! It's shorter then me driving to Ely, but I'm still going up there!

[reinhard1]

lol. good one. i've been told that once or twice. there are a couple of places i fish that i have done ok at for lakers. i probably catch more rainbows than anything. but in deep water you can fish the smelt line and catch just about anything including the smelt and they go up to 10 in. there. there are times when it's a tough bite, but that's true anywhere you fish. keep in touch. email is [email protected] good luck.

[leech~~]

Grindstone does have some of the largest size Smelt I have ever seen anywhere. They maybe a little bit mushy then some of the smaller ones though? I caught one with a smaller Swedish pimple jigging for Lakers last year!

[reinhard1]

my brother brings down this guy from duluth once in a while and all he wants are the smelt. he smokes them, so we give them the biggest and we keep the small ones for frying. i used to keep the bigger ones for pike but cant do that now. but for a nice meal, small spoon and minnow head or like you did with the pimple will do the trick. good luck.