Trout through the ice

[splat]

I'm sure this has been discussed at length on this site before, but I'm too lazy to search.

Anyway, I have an opportunity to chase some trout this weekend, but have never fished for them through the ice. The lake holds both lakers and rainbows. Any hints and tips you guys could share with me? Preferred bait? Anybody use Gulp baits?

Thanks.

[Eastwind]

Splat,

For Lakers, use 4" white Berkley Power Tubes over a 1/2 oz tube jig.

[fisherking01]

Yep, one bait, go with the 4" white tubes, wanna try something else, check the posts in Canada, and Trout forums. have a blast!!!

[Quickstrike]

you should also check the duluth/bwca, we have a ton of info on lakers and streamers through the ice. i agree that tubes work, but we've been doing the best on swedish pimple style spoons tipped with smelt. Other baits to consider are airplane jigs and jigging raps. For lakers you are going to want to find structure near very deep water. Lately, I have been looking for water around 15-30 ft deep up on a point or midlake hump, although you can also try deeper if those depths don't produce. When fishing shallower water the fish ussualy come in on the bottom while being more likely to come in suspended the deeper you move. Lakers are very aggressive this time of year so you should jig that way, make them chase it all the way to the bottom of the ice if neccessay and you will get some explosive strikes. For rainbows, they can be found almost anywhere in the lake. I would also start by looking for structure. Some people may disagree with this technique, but i fish bows right under the ice (within 3 feet unless I mark a fish further down). it sounds strange but the results we've had this winter don't lie and it is a blast to watch a 20+ in bow smack a jig right before your eyes. For the bows i like small plastics like mini mites, shrimpos, and ratsos. small ice flies,small jigging spoons and jigging raps can also work well. I tip my jigs with a waxie or two and wait for the fun to begin, good luck and let us know how you do.

[hip_hop_fisherman]

The custom jigs and spins demons tipped with a wax worm are the ticket for me for Rainbows through the ice. I'm hoping this cold weather improves things a bit, the bite has been pretty lousy for us so far this season.