Early Season Lakers

[Hawks]

I am taking an early fly-in trip this year to Springpole Lake. My usual trip to this paradise is in July when the Lakers are 90'plus. This trip will be May 28-June 4 and I hear that the Lake Trout are in shallow water. Can anyone provide some tactics on how to target these fish this time of the year. Am I best off throwing spoons, jigs, cranks? Any direction would be greatly appreciated. How shallow do they get...5', 10', 15'? I just don't know where to begin.

Thanks for your help.

[Hawks]

Thanks Eastwind...sounds like you have found an effective way of catching Lakers. Good luck on your trip tomorrow. Let me know how you do.

[Hawks]

Continuing on this subject, do you think the Lakers would be attracted to areas with current? The lake I will be fishing has several sets of rapids, walleyes and pike are abundant in these areas...any chance the early season Lakers will be as well?

[Eastwind]

First, I have to tell you that I have a lot more experience fishing Eyes, Crappies and Northerns than Lakers. That being said, I will share the info that I do have based on limited experience. My friend in Colorado fishes Lakers in current just out of a lake every June. The friend that I am going to Canada with this weekend has told me that a good spot for ice out Lakers is near incoming water. His theory is that the Lakers seek out the warmest water that they can find in order to feed agressively after ice-out. Last year we just started to troll towards an area that we saw from the air having incoming water. We started about a quartermile from the incoming water and were cathing fish so fast that we never bothered togo all the way to the incoming water. We also fished Lakers in Northern Sask. within days of ice-out four years ago. The guide that we hired brought us to an island that was within 1/8 mile of shore with a sharp dropoff all around it. We trolled just over the dropoff in as circle around the island. In two hours five of us limited out on 5# to 8# lakers. That is basically all of my knowledge/experience with Lakers in the early part of open water season. What has your experince been with Lakers early in the season?

[Hawks]

Eastwind--I have no experience with early season lakers. The only time I have fished for this species is the middle of July in 100 plus feet of water. I am very excited to hook into a couple of these fish using a more traditional approach.

I think I should be in good shape considering all of the rapids I will have access to. Hopefully I will catch a random laker mixed in with all of those tasty Walleyes. I know the Pike will be around the current as well. Should be excellent fishing!

Let me know if you think of any other ideas for targeting Lakers. My trip is exactly one month from today.

[Eastwind]

When I get back from this weekend I might know twice as much about catching ice-out Lakers than I do now. I will post on Sunday night or Monday to let you know how we did and to share anything new that we learn.

[Eastwind]

My friend and I do an ice out Laker trip the first weekend in May. Hey, that's tomorrow isn't it, cool. Anyway, we just troll the shoreline in 10' to 20' of water with crankbaits. Last year we got everything on silver and black Rapallas. Floating #5, #7 and #9s. Also Shad Raps #5 and #7s. We really got a lot of strikes as we went over bars that extended from shore. How that will change in four weeks I do not know. Good luck!

[Finns]

Hawks; I'll be across the trees from your lake the day you come out! Birch Lake for the third time. The cabin burned down over the winter so we'll be staying in tents (brrr).

The most lakers we've caught have been in protected, calm bays with shallow running shad type baits. The lake is so big we haven't found any serious incoming water.

Hope the ice goes out soon. Finns.

[Hawks]

Finns,

Great to hear you are familiar with the area. Have you ever portaged into Springpole from Birch? We have thought about making our way over to Birch many times. From the looks of the map, it is a HUGE lake. How is the fishing there? Are there any Muskie or Small Mouth present? How about big fish?

If the water is way up from last year, I would strongly recommend you getting into Springpole. There is a set of rapids coming into the lake that is absolutely full of fish. We backtroll up the current with floating raps and catch eyes until our arms get too sore!

Sorry to hear about the cabin burning down. Might be a cold trip in the tents! I would love to hear more about Birch and any travels into Springpole. Good luck on your trip!

-Hawks

[Finns]

Hawks; Birch is so large we haven't got to the other cabin that Green's has on the lake!

Fish are bigger than I've experienced in the 13 years we've been going north. No muskie or smallies but with the lakers, walleyes and northerns we don't have time to worry about the others. We had a hard time getting our limit of 18" and under walleyes last year because the average was over 20".

Got a message from the owners that the lake is still iced over so no cabin yet. We are the second group going in so the kinks should be worked out by the time we get there. Finns.

[Hawks]

Sounds like a great problem to have Finns! I think we may have to give portaging into Birch a try. It would be fun to explore some new waters for a day. Do you have any experience with the portage area?

What do you guys use to fish for Walleyes, Northerns, Lakers?

For Walleys, we primarily jig with 3/8 ounce jigs with skirts and salted minnows. Last year we pulled some spinners near weedlines and did very well. Our favorite and most successful tactic is backtrolling up rapids/current with floating Rapalas. Most fish we catch in the current are large (20-26" Walleyes with the occasional lunker). For Northerns we primarily cast spoons (Johnson Silver Minnow is magic, bigger the better!)crankbaits and spinnerbaits. I would say we have taken our biggest pike with spoons and spinnerbaits. Not too difficult to catch pike in numbers. We are trying to get better at finding the larger fish. As for the Lakers, we have not had the luxury of an early season trip to catch them in shallower water. My usual trip is in July and we catch them in 80-plus feet. I absolutely love getting a bite in that deep of water, but they are pretty scarce that time of the year. I am super excited about finding a few of these guys in shallower water. They put up an excellent fight and are an absolutely beautiful fish. Do you have any advice for locating the shallower lakers and what type of tackle/presentation do you use?

Good luck on your trip Finns, Memorial weekend can't come fast enough!

[Outfitter17]

There are still a few openings this spring at the outposts, bring your own boat $50/night per person up to 7 people. call for more info 807-226-1237.

------------------

[Finns]

Hawks; Are you pumped yet! What two more days? The third of the month for our start of driving. Fly in the fifth. Heard anything about water level? They're bringing a tent in for 10 of us to sleep in at Birch Lake. Who cares, it's an adventure. Good luck. Finns