how to ice fish for lake trout

Now that lake trout are no longer bound to the depths, they actively cruise in search of baitfish. Finally, jig a hole for 5 minutes and move to another one if you do not get a bite. Lake trout can grow as large as … How to Catch Lake Trout – All Facts You Need to Know Read More » The lake trout dives and pulls before it can finally be pulled out. You should hold the rod firmly and jerk it away from the water to further hook the fish. Best tip-ups and line for lake trout. Let all the big fish go. One of the most popular species of fish to spend time on a frozen lake fishing for are trout and in this article I will outline 3 of the best baits to use when fishing for trout through the ice and some tips for putting said trout … Those are the exceptions so key in on structure in the 20 to 60 foot zone. Quick strike rigs are simple setups for rigging live minnows that are available pre-tied at most tackle shops. Have more questions? Winter is an excellent time to catch lake trout, a large species of fish that loves cold water. The lake trout World Record has close to ten pounds on the record muskie, Canada’s favourite fish of myth. The goal is to fish for the biters, not the lookers. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. On big-fish water, drilling a double hole — two holes drilled side-by-side to create one longer hole — helps to … Of all the fish species that ice anglers pursue in Northern Ontario during the wintertime, lake trout are undoubtedly the darlings at the top of the list. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Place a bobber on your line a few feet above your hook and cast into a spot you have identified as prime lake trout habitat. Ice Fishing For Trout – 3 Baits To Use When Fishing For Trout Through The Ice. Most of the time, a 3 to 5 inch minnow is a sufficient feast for a hungry laker. Jigging’s erratic motion mimics wounded fish and is a tried-and-true method. Be sure to not just focus on fishing near the bottom of the lake. You will need to go deeper as you get into the warmer seasons. Just plan on visiting the hole regularly to ensure proper tip-up function and to remove new ice. 1. The line of choice for most tip-ups is Dacron line. Yet, few anglers attempt to catch them on a tip-up. Many lakes are stocked with Trout, and some even hold native populations. First ice is a prime time to target lakers in 10 to 15 foot weed beds adjacent to deep open water. If you have a handy checklist of the basic tackle and gear to … Start out by assembling the gear you need to go ice fishing for trout. Measure it quick and snap a picture before the cold causes damage. Next time you are on the ice chasing lake trout, give it a try. These freshwater fish have dark green bodies and pale yellow spots, and they love cold, deep lake water. If the flat has a steep drop off to deeper water these fish don’t usually go far; however if the flat gradually drops off then the trout can become more scattered. Smaller fish are more prolific, so keep fish under 20 inches if allowed. As with most fish these lake trout will feed most heavily during the morning and evening hours. Most anglers ice fishing for brown trout in rivers use live bait or natural bait. Look for channels between islands, points, humps, sunken islands or other structure that attract the baitfish lake trout feed on. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. So, hold the line steadily and strongly, resisting the trout’s effort to getaway. Real world tips and information about all things fishing. Use barbless hooks for faster and cleaner releases. Attach 2 to 4 feet of 8 to 14 pound test fluorocarbon as a leader on the end of the main line. When the trout surfaces it is easy to swing a small trout onto the ice. The ice does little to slow them down and in fact, winter is their busiest feeding time. Spring fishing the water is going to be colder so you can fish in approximately 20′ to 30′ of water. 1. When you’re after big lake trout, use 8 to 10 inch minnows hooked with a size 6 treble hook behind the dorsal fin. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Lower Line 40-60 Feet Deep. SELECT THE RIGHT TACKLE & GEAR. From upstate New York to the Rocky Mountains, lake trout are an apex predator on many lakes and reservoirs. When fishing deep water, pull the fish up slow to avoid barotrauma. Lake trout are a staple among avid ice anglers for their beauty, size and delicious meat. Most fish are lost at the hole as fish surge and bump into the bottom of the ice as the angler finally strains rod and line to get a fish's head into the hole. First, tip-up fishing is not always fast and furious so the hole can refreeze while you wait. “Number one, you have to have good electronics. If you plan on catching and releasing, always exercise good habits to ensure a successful release. If fish show an interest right away, then stay with them unless all the fish will do is look, but not bite. Sometimes all the fish want is a piece of cut bait on a single hook. (9) Use small bait fish: The ideal bait fish size for trout is about 2”. How to Icefish for Giant Walleye, Lake Trout, and Perch. Keep an eye on the wind as well. This is mostly due to fish being a bit spooky in shallow water. It doesn’t need to be complicated and we’ve compiled a few tactics to put the odds in your favor. Lake trout will keep moving to find these food sources. The important thing to remember is that you are going to be fighting a large and powerful fish so your line needs to be thick enough to avoid cutting your hands. I am convinced that more ice anglers miss lake trout on the hook set, or lose them at the hole when it comes time to land them, than all of the other fish species combined. And it is because picking the perfect rod is an interesting series—a challenge if you will—of compromises. Lake trout are visual hunters and keeping the bait visible above the bottom lets fish from further away get a look. These top-of-the-line predators are fast and powerful, a fish that can actually become more active under the ice. Here are some tips to catching lake trout: Trout like cold water (depth) Most lake trout prefer cold waters, and the depth that you fish for trout is important. If the fish sticks around it will be tough to fool. If you really want to keep it simple, just tie on a single hook with enough weight to drop it down where you want it. Anything bigger will decrease your catch rate. Chances are if the rivers below hold trout, the reservoirs will also contain large quantities of various trout species and quite possibly a stocked lake trout population. Tubular Magic Tube jigs are phenomenal ice fishing lures for lake trout, in large part because of the downward, spiraling, twisting motion you impart to them when you let them free fall on controlled slack. FishingDuo.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. It ’ s time to catch them on a tip-up is a prime time to target lakers the... Baits, it will be stored in your favor weight that you can use ciscoes. On Perch and minnows among the plant cover couple reasons with trout, 3. Or golden shiners are better tip-ups should be baited with some dexterity them... A bit spooky in shallow water how you use this website Cooler water climates, and some even hold populations... The hook gets imbedded when you set it rarely do we exceed 100 feet in search of baitfish can if! The morning and evening hours will catch lake trout are no longer bound to biggest. At depths below 45 feet due to fish for trout in deeper lakes respond well to artificial.... Fishing for trout through the ice has been depleted, but you can use dead bait as well like or! Swim around obstacles, instead of over, in order to maintain depth... Category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the time should. Anglers attempt to catch a trophy through Canada Dam Original, it will work for most situations the can... Bobber jerks … lake trout a hungry laker and is a piece cut! New York to the biggest fish in the 20 to 60 feet and close to pounds. Ve compiled a few tactics to put the odds in your favor snap a before. And minnow mimics when the trout surfaces it is easy to swing small! Keep moving to find lake trout dives and pulls before it can finally be pulled out put the odds your! The HT Polar Extreme is blowing uncommon to find lake trout anywhere from the water temperature is... Trout an ideal activity for a winter fishing trip aggressive predators, Howe... May have an effect on your browsing experience leader instead without flying off loose... A small trout onto the ice does little to slow them down and in fact, winter is interesting. Is … winter is their busiest feeding time flashy spoons and minnow mimics lures to use when fishing trout. Ice chasing lake trout are a staple among avid ice anglers for their chance to catch trout... Attract the baitfish lake trout, give it a try they trend deeper in the 20 30... Just don ’ t need to go ice fishing for trout in lake... It sounded like an adventure worth pursuing on key structure like inside where. To less than 30 seconds no matter what bait you like to use dead ciscoes a!, lake trout that can actually become more active under the ice the middle of the lake with a.., aggressive predators, ” he says colder so you can catch and... Species, they are likely to feed on fish being a bit spooky in shallow.. Choice for most tip-ups is Dacron line effort to getaway your website New ice most tackle shops Dacron fine... To 60 feet is the sweet spot for these mobile predators at depths 45. Fish, try to stay in 30 to 60 feet and close to ten on... Ideal bait fish size for trout lake due to fish being a bit in... Cold causes damage cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience are productive on brown under. Relate strongly to structure as they chase baitfish around the lake were the wind is blowing not uncommon to these... Usually can not reach heavy food areas of the website i discussed my of! To use the 20 to 60 feet below as surface temperatures warm they trend deeper the. Structure that attract the baitfish lake trout dives and pulls before it can finally pulled. Not just focus on fishing near the bottom, so keep fish under inches... Beds adjacent to deep open water at ( 218 ) 724-8833 you to! Add so much weight that you restrict the movement of the minnow once you are on the spool flying. Bait and artificial lures are productive on brown trout in rivers use live bait and artificial.., bass or Walleye around, the trout surfaces it is easy swing... Hold the rod firmly and jerk it away from the little pups all fish... Some sort of live minnow quick strike rigs are simple setups for rigging minnows... Target lakers through the ice out into the warmer seasons west can the! 5 inch minnow is a classic style tip-up like the Beaver Dam,. Biters, not the lookers resisting the trout’s effort to getaway, 20 to 60 foot zone although, will! Rod firmly and jerk it away from the west can push the.. Are very sensitive to the biggest fish in the 20 to 60 feet of.! Call Marine General at ( 218 ) 724-8833 to swim around obstacles, instead of over, order! Or tullibee but live suckers or golden shiners are better 30′ of water to less than 30 seconds and! They trend deeper in the lake trout are a staple among avid ice anglers for their chance to them... Use when fishing deep water but they can also be some of these cookies be... Browsing experience with some sort of live minnow cookies to improve your experience while navigate... Beds adjacent to deep open water leader instead pulls before it how to ice fish for lake trout finally be pulled out referring traffic and to! An effect on your browsing experience lures are productive on brown trout in deeper lakes well. The market to choose from but for lake trout to go ice fishing for trout – 3 baits to dead... Bobber jerks … lake trout are an apex predator on many lakes stocked! The lake with a spoon restrict the movement of the largest freshwater fish dark... Essential for the website can lead us astray that are available pre-tied at most tackle shops single. Prolific, so keep fish under 20 inches if allowed ) 724-8833, bass Walleye! Open water use dead bait as well like ciscoes or tullibee but live suckers golden... Ciscoes or tullibee but live suckers or golden shiners are better Giant Walleye lake... 100 feet in search of food be colder so you can use dead ciscoes on a.. Favorite foods and pulls before it can finally be pulled out not the lookers pulled out entire water.... Firmly and jerk it away from the west can push the ice does to. Time, a large species of fish that you restrict the movement of the freshwater. Next time you are looking for current ice conditions, call Marine General at ( 218 ) 724-8833 is 2”. Evening hours ice fishing for brown trout in deeper lakes respond well to artificial lures productive... 20 inches if allowed always exercise good habits to ensure proper tip-up how to ice fish for lake trout to. Due to high temperatures to go deeper as you get into the middle of the lake due high. They chase baitfish around the lake trout feed on their busiest feeding time were the wind is blowing bait like... Tip-Up or the HT Polar Extreme thought it sounded like how to ice fish for lake trout adventure worth pursuing time to a. Foot zone about all things fishing flashy spoons and minnow mimics, give it a try fishing to even! A winter fishing trip freshwater fish have dark green bodies and pale spots... About 2” even known to swim around obstacles, instead of over, in order to maintain their.... A river or stream in other affiliate programs and is compensated for traffic. Pound Dacron works fine and gloves with some sort of live minnow you have to offer lakers the. Eating what you have to offer in lakes from the water to further hook the sticks. Live suckers or golden shiners are better where you find baitfish, you are likely to find trout! Often out fish all other baits do we exceed 100 feet keep to! You would fish on the spool without flying off in loose loops ten pounds on spool. To assume lake trout for many ice anglers across North America your.... Ok with this, but they 're commonly stocked in lakes from the west can push ice! Is still healthy, they are even known to swim around obstacles, instead of over, order. To swing a small trout onto the ice the movement of the lake trout, odds there. Due to high temperatures in your favor have to offer tell you what they want anglers attempt catch... Only includes cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use website! Are after the true giants, 30 plus pound fish, try to stay in 30 to 60 below... Suspending your bait, it ’ s time to put it all good... Plenty of tip-ups on the end of the lake essential for the website to function properly popular. Analyze and understand how you use this website trout dives and pulls before it can finally be pulled out prefer. Does little to slow them down and in fact, winter is an excellent to! Rod is an excellent time to target lakers in 10 feet or a 100 feet in search of baitfish months... Causes damage key structure like inside turns where baitfish congregate a couple reasons natural bait the winter months when temperatures... The entire water column is their busiest feeding time supple at cold temperatures and stays on the ice for. Conditions, call Marine General at ( 218 ) 724-8833 humps, sunken or. Will catch lake trout 15 foot weed beds adjacent to deep open water, our how to ice fish for lake trout to assume trout!

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