Lake Trout

[aiathompson]

I’m looking for some advice on tackle and equipment for ice fishing Lake Trout and/or Trout. I've been ice fishing for 20+ years and geared towards walleye, perch, crappie and panfish. Now that family life has slowed down with fewer kids activities, I have more free time on the weekends and can travel further. I’m looking to make some trips to the S.D. Black Hills, Colorado, Montana, Michigan and other locations for Lake Trout and other types of winter trout fishing.

For those of you who regularly Lake Trout ice fish, what type, length, or action of rods would you recommend? I assume some of my heavier walleye rods would work for Rbw.Trout.

What about tackle? Again, I would assume some of my larger walleye tackle would work, but I’m sure there is other more appropriate tackle.

Any other advice on tackle and equipment for Lake Trout / Trout fishing?

[ammoman16]

You're actually going to probably want to use lighter gear than that for the rainbows unless you're consistently getting into really large fish. I typically use light and ultra light rods and 2-4 lb test for rainbows. My single favorite lure for catching rainbows is a #2 Swedish Pimple. Lake trout is a completely different ballgame though. You're heavy walleye gear will work ok unless you find big fish. A medium heavy rod anywhere from 36-48" with 10-15 lb line is about perfect. With the depths that you tend to fish them at, I would strongly suggest braided line in order to get good hooksets. This can present a little bit of a problem when fishing outside, so it can be nice to have multiple rods. As far as lures go, there are tons to try. Spoons, tubes, airplane jigs, and bucktail jigs tend to be pretty consistent producers. Some of the stuff you already have for walleye can be used but you will also want to have some larger tackle in the box so you can figure out what they're looking for on that particular lake/day.

[Wanderer]

Ammoman's summary is spot on. There are so many other things to say about lake trout fishing it would be hard to cover in just one post though, so check here

and here .

These have been some staple threads for HSO members to get to know lakers - in MN at least.

[MN BassFisher]

I typically use my longer rods for Lakers. 28" as the minimum and up to 36". I have everything from Medium to my smaller Laker lakes and then have Medium Heavy and Heavy action for when I hit the big fish lakes. As far as tackle goes I use a lot of tube jigs, up to 3" in length. Dynamic Lures HD Ice can work, PK Lures Flutterfish worked well for me last year too. Oh and atleast in Colorado they seem to like a jig tipped with a piece of Sucker meat.

[centralmnguy]

I recently got into laker fishing last 2 years...sure is a good time come the end of feb. and march when walleyes are done and the weather is a little warmer! I have had some luck using spoons like the viking spoon, weasels and slender spoons...baitcasters, jigging raps and anything that flutters and glides will work. Looking forward to trying the tingler spoons this year. Even a tip-up with a rainbow chub has worked and have heard big suckers work good also. I just use my wallleye rod med. action with 10 lb. test and most your walleye tackle will work.