Lake Trout Ice Fishing Lake Superior Updated

Lake Trout Ice Fishing Lake Superior

Lake trout is a favorite species for many anglers. From finding them in deep depths, to fighting their incredible forcefulness, lake trout offering a blazon of claiming that many freshwater anglers don't become to experience often. For many anglers, this type of angling is too synonymous with trolling, whether it exist a fast troll with a spoon or a slow troll with a jig. However, I'thou hither to share an entirely different way to experience lake trout fishing. This method is with calorie-free gear, light jigs, and a finesse feel, resulting in one of the wildest fishing experiences of anyone'south life.

Through my ain adventure, I not just share with yous where we went but what nosotros used, why nosotros used information technology, and how you tin can do information technology likewise.

THE ULTIMATE LAKE TROUT DESTINATION

Lake Athapapuskow

Before going through each part of this technique, information technology'due south important to first sympathise the context that we were line-fishing in and how nosotros came across this method.

Nestled in the northern region of Manitoba is a body of h2o hailed for its multi-species trophy fishery: Lake Athapapuskow. Information technology's adjacent to the Saskatchewan border and the metropolis of Flin Flon, which is the largest populated area in the region.

Non only is this body of water known for its multi-species opportunity, merely it's also credited with holding the Manitoba lake trout record: a whopping 64 lb behemothic.

Where We Stayed

For united states of america, the route to Lake Athapapuskow was a nine-hour drive from the North Dakota/Manitoba border – where we crossed over. The road was entirely paved, with exceptional, merely sufficient, conveniences along the way.

Once nosotros reached the lake, we cozied in at Bakers Narrows Society and Conference Center, a make clean and modern angling resort.

We were provided with a micro cottage, meals, and equipped with a guide (John Wolters). The primal hither is the guide. John showed the states exactly what to use, where to go, and how to catch them.

ON THE WATER

Time of Twelvemonth

Just like with all line-fishing, understanding timing is important in understanding fish location.

This adventure occurred during the third week of July, a time when the lake trout are frequently congregated in the deeps. That's why information technology's no surprise that nosotros prepare in a depth that was in excess of 100 feet near of the fourth dimension.

Days were incredibly long this time of year as well (almost 18 hours of light), so we were able to take ample time during the mean solar day to target trout while nevertheless leaving time at night and morning for pursuing other species, such every bit walleye.

The Conditions

The bulk of our fourth dimension on the lake was comprised of at-home, warm, sunny, and steady weather condition. Let me emphasize that we had admittedly no trouble communicable big numbers of fish with these atmospheric variables.

However, according to John, a rising barometer with just enough wind to produce a slight chop would accept been even amend. This is something to go along in mind if you need to programme exactly when y'all want to target these trout.

For us, most of our afternoons were spent chasing lake trout, with our mornings dedicated to pike and evenings set aside for walleye.

The Presentation

The presentation was the most shocking role of all. The experience was lightweight, fast activeness, and finesse.

In fact, the jig we used was only 3/4 oz in weight and equipped with a size 5 hook. The particular rod I was set up with was a medium, fast action rod, and a budget Abu Garcia Administrator baitcasting reel. It was an incredibly lightweight setup for such a strong and large fish.

Essentially, we went every bit light as we could without compromising our ability to claw the trout. It's likewise important to annotation that hooks have to be barbless in Manitoba, therefore successfully landing fish a of this magnitude with this gear has a lot more to do with technique and consistency than only horsing the fish in.

In fact, the bite was so low-cal that information technology would have been almost impossible to find the fish if using anything heavier.

Beneath is a prime example of the trout bite. That slight curve on the end of the rod means it's time for a claw ready.

The Bait

The allurement that we used consisted of 2 narrow pieces of sucker belly: one was used every bit the "primary" slice of meat and the other was used to cover the end of the hook.

There were two primary points to note (according to John):

1. Brand sure that the bait is narrow and the corners are cut to clinch it descends through the water column without spinning
2. Brand sure there is ALWAYS a piece of meat on the end of the claw to assure they can't detect it (he coined this term the "cookie")

If nosotros weren't catching fish, it was almost e'er correlated with the "cookie" piece of sucker belly missing. Therefore occasionally reeling upwards from time to fourth dimension to check this slice was necessary.

Although it'due south tough to run across in the image below, the key takeaways are included:

• Long piece of sucker abdomen
• Hook entirely covered

You lot tin can see more than on this in the video at the top of the post.

The Technique

Next is to larn the proper technique. This meant leaving the bait on the bottom of the lake. Near of the time the less we would motility the bait the amend.

Nigh of the fourth dimension was spent sitting and waiting until we saw the slightest drop on the end of the rod. Then we'd smash a hard hook prepare. Therefore, paying attending to our rods was essential for success.

Sometimes the fish would be suspended. It was occasionally worth our time to reel up higher in the column to chase these fish. Nevertheless, this was the anomaly, not the norm.

In one case hooked, it was important to not "bob" the rod, making sure we have tension on the line at all times.

You might also be interested in "How to Use the Jigging Rap".

The Feel

The wildest part of fishing lake trout this fashion was the experience. Having such lightweight gear meant the curve in the rod was incredible. Each and every hit was a fight a to the top, and sometimes there would be so much activity that nosotros would each have fish on at the same time.

As for a comparison, I liken it to sturgeon line-fishing. With sturgeon, we would go out a pile of worms at the bottom of the water, waiting for a quick bend in the rod, then proceed to have a long and grueling fight to the top.

Vertical jigging for lake trout was similar, but the pay off was much, much more frequent than that. Another bonus was that nosotros were reeling upwardly from 100 feet, not 20.

Of course, I recommend that you try this method on your own; but perhaps i of the best ways to acquire it is to head upwards to the lake yourself.

THE TRIP

Catching insane numbers of lake trout by vertical jigging wasn't the only fun in our trip. We too landed numerous trophy walleye, sight fished for throughway, and spent all day, every day, out on the h2o grinning and laughing.

That's why our trip to Lake Athapapuskow was one of the all-time fishing experiences I've had equally an angler.

Of grade, no fishing feel is complete without sufficient accommodations.

If you need a place to stay, I highly recommend Bakers Narrows Social club and Conference Middle due to information technology's a broad assortment of price points and all-inclusive options. The accommodations were modern and clean, the personnel was superb and there was plenty of things to practice for everyone – even if someone in your party doesn't want to commence on 14 hours of direct fishing.

Finally, if long drives aren't your thing, and so y'all'll happen to note that it's located next to the Flin Flon airport. This is a huge bonus for those coming from long distances.

Final THOUGHTS

This is definitely a technique anybody can attempt and a destination anyone can visit.

However, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

If yous are new to Lake Athapapuskow, information technology would be really hard to interruption down the lake in simply 4 to 5 days. In fact, it's over 66,000 acres in size with numerous channels, islands, and some incredible structures making information technology rather difficult to master in a short catamenia of time.

Of course, doing a DIY is entirely possible, simply perhaps not the nearly efficient. If you tin can wing it, I would highly recommend booking a guide, at least for one day on your first trip. That mode you have the lay of the lake, an understanding of the necessary gear, and a few solid spots to run your ain adventure.

This will lead to much more success in the long run, and a place y'all can bring your friends and family to again and over again.

You can learn more about the adventures at Bakers Narrows and Lake Athapapuskow here. Yous tin can also learn virtually more opportunities by checking out Chase Fish Manitoba.

Lake Trout Ice Fishing Lake Superior

Posted by: fergusonshenduch.blogspot.com

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