Mobility for Lake Trout

[Tim Moore]

This topic comes up every year in regard to ice fishing for lake trout. I know people on both sides of the fence. Some like to set up, chum (it's legal in NH), and fish the same spot for hours. Then, there are those, like me, who move around constantly. If you fish for lakers, what side of the fence are you on?

[Putn'am ondaLine]

I tend to do a little bit of both. I usually spend more time hopping as I tend to get more fish that way. When the weather makes being in the elements brutally unbearable, or if I'm tired and lazy; I'll set up shop in a recent hot spot and try to call em in. It also depends on who I'm with, I much prefer to fish with people that like to move around, but some people I take out would rather be comfortable than catch more fish. Usually I will get them set up on a "good spot" and hole hop around trying to mark fish. If I see some before they see any, I'll move the pop up to where I marked the fish and continue to hop, or settle down and fish with them.

[Scott M]

I'll go both ways. If I can cut lots of holes and move around, I'm mobile.

BUT, I've been on a Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness kick for hardwater lakers the last couple years. Inside the BWCAW, power augers are prohibited. That means cut a few holes and work a piece of structure or two and if its nasty weather, set up and call them in.

In all honesty, I've had equal success doing both. It's like still-hunting or stand-hunting deer. Both work well when applied correctly.

[Surface Tension]

Typically I'm on some sort of structure so I'll drill the area while someone or myself checks depth. Pick a spot and setup. The tip-up always gets set first and then thats usually at a different depth on the structure. If I'm not at least getting lookers the little voice says change lure and or it's action. Could be I've been there before and know its a proven spot. I'm less likely to move then if it were a new spot. That tip-up, is it out fishing me? Its either in a better spot or the lake trout want a still bait.

Knowing that lake trout turn on and off and if I've gone past that window with nothing I'll start hole hopping to the holes drilled earlier.

When I do that I give a hole no more then 5 minutes. I'm not waiting for lake trout to move to me like I would at my initial setup, I'm moving to them. More times then not if that move does pay off your hit right away and a high percentage of that time a lake trout will come charging up and hit on the 1st drop.

If that area is dead then I'll do a complete bugout. I'd like to be packed up and gone in 2 minutes or less. Yeah I have a disorder that doesn't like any down time between packing and setting up again. Having your gear organized and staying portable makes this easier. If a shelter is needed I use a flipover. I rack my Nils in a digger rack and flasher in rear basket on the sled. Tackle and rods stowed and secured good in the flipover, you don't want to making popcorn in the Otter when darting to the next spot.

Chess game, trials and tribulation, cat & mouse, thats why we do it.