lake trout lake? and tips

[cfreund]

what is a good lake in Minnesota to fish lake trout. i am a beginner and need some tips on where to go and how to fish them. i have fished them in the summer on lake of the woods, but i would like to fish some on the hard water near home.

[Mike Stark]

There are lots of lake trout lakes in the Ely area. Burntside and Snowbank are the two most popular that are outside the BWCA. There is some very lake trout fishing inside the BWCA. Some you can hike/snowshoe/ski into. Others are farther into the wilderness where getting there via dogsled is the way to go.

The Gunflint area also has a lot of lake trout lakes. Then there is Lake Superior. There are some true giants in Lake Superior.

[Jason Hamilton]

Though I can provide little in the way of specific lakes in MN, I can try to help on finding and catching them.

Ideally if you can find a lake map that will help you plan your attack, failing that often the shoreline will give away what is happening under water. Look for points, sheer rock walls, saddles between islands and often overlooked, the mouths of shallow bays. Start drilling holes from 20 to 60 feet covering your chosen structure and get the Vex in the hole to look for fish. Lakers will cruise anywhere from bottom to the ice, suspended fish are nearly always willing to hit. This is where a flasher is truly indispensable. I start with baits like Lindy Darters or lipless cranks and rip those to get fish to move in. If they won't immediately eat a white (or other color) tube jig with a minnow is usually lake trout kryptonite!

My best luck to getting lakers to commit comes by getting them to chase vertically in the water column. Use your Vexilar and get trout moving up and down, often 20 or 30 feet chasing baits, they are predators that love to chase prey.

There are not many fish that can match a laker through the ice for fight, good luck and lets see some pictures!

[cfreund]

so where on lake superior would be a good place to start fishing lake trout right out from Duluth. What access would i be able to go out of. Thanks for the tips so far!

[Jim Hudson]

Duluth is usually iffy for Lake Trout. When it does freeze up it can be good. For more consistant ice formation and fishing, you have to travel this way to the Bayfield area by the Apostle Islands.

Usually, we get ice going around the middle portion of January to mid-March. Lots of space to fish, from right out in front of Bayfield to sometimes 20+ plus miles into the islands.

Like stated, good spot for some big fish.

[cfreund]

so what are some other good lakes in Minnesota for lake trout and where on the lake would i fish them.

[Jon Chapman]

Big trout lake near Brainerd holds some dandys if you can catch them.

[Matt Breuer]

Big Trout like Jon stated, and the pits around Grand Rapids can be good. Canisteo holds some dandy fish up that way. There are also lakers in Grindstone down by Hinkley... Numerous others through the state, but those are 3 big ones in various areas.

[cfreund]

i have fished Grindstone several times with no luck but i want to try the pits near grand rapids what would be the best pit to fish? what would be the best baits to use and where on the lake would i start fishing?

[Surface Tension]

This thread is a compile of member input of Inland Lake Trout Gear & Tactics. That should give you a big head start chasing Lake Trout.

[cfreund]

Is caribou lake in itasca county any good for lakers?

[Surface Tension]

Not really. Way to many homes/cabins and easy access for such a small lake. Then considering there are not many lake trout lakes in that area doesn't help spread out the pressure for those looking to scratch the Laker bug.

A small lake trout lake off the beaten path in the BWCAW would do OK.

If your looking for drive to laker lakes think bigger water with less pressure. Don't let lake size intimidate you. Knock the size down by studying lake maps for areas that are likely to have trout stuck to them.

[cfreund]

what would i look for on lake maps saddles between islands, and humps?

[Surface Tension]

Yes along with benches, walls, and points.

Lake maps of Northern Mn are lacking for detail but they'll give you an idea.

Once you fish a spot, go to work and start drilling. You'll hoop around that area and your

sounder will give you a better idea of what your on.

[cfreund]

Thanks for all the tips!!! any other things i should know about fishing lakers through the ice??

[cfreund]

if i wanted to go fish lake superior by Duluth or Two Harbors where would be the best place to get on the lake at?