lake trout

[troutchaser]

Just wondering if anyone has tips for chasing lake trout without bringing all of the downriggers etc. I would like to have a chance at tying into one without all of the hassle in the backwoods.

Thanks in advance!!

Tight Lines

troutchaser

[pegleg]

We have fished for lake trout a number of times on our trips into Canada. Even on lakes we didn't know if lake trout existed, we caught some and it was fun for a break from fishing for walleyes and northerns.

What worked for us was using bigger jigs fishing in the deepest part of the lake that we could find. Drive around the deep holes with your depth finder and if you see a flash on the screen start fishing. Occasionally we would bring in large frozen shiners or smelt if you could find them to put on your jig. We even caught northerns in 70+ feet of water.

[Shorelunch]

I've fished for trout a couple of ways. Like pegleg said, look for deeper water with structure on your locator. When you mark fish, we drop heavy jigs 1-2 oz (with hair and sometimes tipped with a minnow head) down to the bottom and then reel up. Do this over and over.

Otherwise we slowly troll spoons where they're suspended. We use muskie gear for both versions. Have fun.

[srj]

Pegleg is right on. Fishing lakers is my absolute favorite in Canada--especially in the summer. Before the lakes thermocline, you can catch them with many presentations in fairly shallow water. But after the thermocline sets up, they go deep. Big jigs--1 1/2 ounce and up get you to the bottom quickly. Some people "jig" there baits but we usually burn the jig back to the surface. I prefer Kenkatch jigs--bucktail jigs made for lake trout. We keep the hooks very sharp and pinch the barbs down. White is always a good color to start with. Sure is fun when that old lake trout crashes that jig on the way up.

[troutchaser]

Thanks Everyone!! Just one question: Do you need to let your jig go all the way to the bottom, or can you just drop it down until you are sure that you have gone past the fish? the reason i ask is becuase last year i graphed all kinds of fish holding at about 60 feet, in about 150+ feet of water.

Thanks Again

troutchaser

Tight Lines

[pegleg]

I would bet that what you are seeing at 60' are either whitefish or tullibee. We caught all of our lakers 5' from the bottom or they would hit it as you were realing up but they probably followed it up from the bottom. Try a real small jig with a fat head or worm to see if you could catch a whitefish.

[troutchaser]

Interesting, I never thought about the whitefish. Once again thank you for the information!

troutchaser

Tight Lines

[bmc]

Last August, 4 of us fished a lake up by Kenora for lakers and did OK, considering it was white caps, wind, and cold the whole time. We used in line weights with the chain and swivel on the ends, a cowbell, and then a strip on spinner with a frozen ciscoe. We were graphing suspended fish about 20-40 feet down over 80+ feet of water. We did graph alot of fish schooled up on some sharp drop offs in the 50-70' range but couldn't stay on top of them to try vertical jigging. We'll be up the first weekend in June so it should be a good time, hopefully the fish will be up shallower and more accessible. 2 days of laker fishing and a day on the famous Dogtooth in search of a monster 'eye. I can't wait.

Brian

[troutchaser]

We are heading up to Harmon Lake in the middle of July. I hope we can find some lakers. Good luck on your trip!

troutchaser

Tight Lines

[trapperdirk]

Wirelining or leadcore is also another option if you have level wind trolling reels .

TD

[troutchaser]

I thought about that, i just wasn't sure i wanted to bring yet another rig with me!

Thanks