If the fish is rubbing the line on the ice, to prevent the line from breaking, keep constant pressure on the fish by reeling and putting the rod tip under the ice. (9) Use small bait fish: The ideal bait fish size for trout is about 2”. Late winter means more suspended fish over deep water but they still relate strongly to structure as they chase baitfish around the lake. Have more questions? This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. When the trout surfaces it is easy to swing a small trout onto the ice. Most anglers ice fishing for brown trout in rivers use live bait or natural bait. Bring a spud bar, rope, ice picks, and a buddy. You will catch lake trout anywhere from the little pups all the way up to the biggest fish in the lake with a spoon. Best tip-ups and line for lake trout. So, hold the line steadily and strongly, resisting the trout’s effort to getaway. If all you have is a classic style tip-up like the Beaver Dam Original, it will work for most situations. Second, in the clear water that lake trout reside, a hole in the ice allows a beam of light to pierce the depths which can fend off wary fish. Three icefishing experts share their go-to tactics for catching hard-water trophies If the fish sticks around it will be tough to fool. Limit the time fish are out of water to less than 30 seconds. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. 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. One of the top lake trout fishing tips is knowing the best lake trout jigging lures to use. That way the hook gets imbedded when you set it. Keep experimenting with minnow sizes or between dead and live bait. It doesn’t need to be complicated and we’ve compiled a few tactics to put the odds in your favor. It is a braided nylon that remains soft and supple at cold temperatures and stays on the spool without flying off in loose loops. Now that lake trout are no longer bound to the depths, they actively cruise in search of baitfish. Most of the time tip-ups should be baited with some sort of live minnow. Always start shallow and work your gear slowly down to the depths. The line of choice for most tip-ups is Dacron line. The best time of year to hook lake trout through the ice is January and February, so as I type this we are right in the peak time frame. Tip-ups aren’t just for pike and walleye. Most of us grab our jigging rods and drop down flashy spoons and minnow mimics. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 1. Sometimes all the fish want is a piece of cut bait on a single hook. These cookies do not store any personal information. Use barbless hooks for faster and cleaner releases. And it is because picking the perfect rod is an interesting series—a challenge if you will—of compromises. Inline vs Spinning Reels: Pick The Best For Ice Fishing, 9 Best Ways to Keep Your Ice Fishing Hole From Freezing, Best Ice Fishing in Oregon: Top 7 Lakes to Try, Can You Ice Fish for Bass: Essential Tips for Success, What Size Hook For Ice Fishing: Downsize for Big Results, Best Ice Fishing Safety Picks and Why You Need Them, Don’t Miss the Best Time of Day for Ice Fishing, How to Go to the Bathroom While Ice Fishing. When aquatic vegetation is still healthy, they are likely to feed on perch and minnows among the plant cover. Once your bobber jerks … Rarely do we exceed 100 feet in search of hard water lake trout. If you find the baitfish, you are likely to find lake trout. As avid anglers, Joshua and Kendle spend their days exploring the waters of the Pacific Northwest and aim to teach others the joy of fishing. It is not uncommon for them to chase schooling baitfish just below the ice, using the ice as a barrier to trap minnows as they scarf them down. With that said, fishing for lake trout can be a humbling experience, but it can also be some of the most exciting fishing of your life. That makes learning how to ice fish for trout an ideal activity for a winter fishing trip. Jigging’s erratic motion mimics wounded fish and is a tried-and-true method. 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 … With tip-ups, try suspending your bait 5 to 6 feet off the bottom. Lake Trout: “Lake trout are large, aggressive predators,” Howe says. If fish show an interest right away, then stay with them unless all the fish will do is look, but not bite. Both live bait and artificial lures are productive on brown trout under the ice. Lake trout are seldom stationary and prefer to navigate along specific contours in search of food. Lake trout are a staple among avid ice anglers for their beauty, size and delicious meat. Be sure to not just focus on fishing near the bottom of the lake. Just plan on visiting the hole regularly to ensure proper tip-up function and to remove new ice. It is common to find lake trout fairly deep underwater, specifically in a range from 40 to 60 feet below. Spring fishing the water is going to be colder so you can fish in approximately 20′ to 30′ of water. Yet, few anglers attempt to catch them on a tip-up. No matter what bait you like to use, let the fish tell you what they want. “With no pike, muskies, bass or walleye around, the trout can behave aggressively,” he says. Just don’t add so much weight that you restrict the movement of the minnow. Diving is … Trolling with Spoons Trolling for lake trout with spoons is my favorite way to fish for them and it is also one of the most effective ways to catch lake trout. If you’re targeting lake trout, also nicknamed lakers, here is a list of 21 tips to help you catch a lot of them. This is mostly due to fish being a bit spooky in shallow water. Lake trout anglers often opt for heavy, 20 to 30 pound test, mono. Focus in on key structure like inside turns where baitfish congregate. Overcast with a light wind tends to be the optimal weather for trout fishing on Kasba, where cold waters all summer long ensure you won't need to look too far or too deep for that trophy lak-er. If you come across a spot and catch a trout, odds are there are more of them there. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. A large trout can break the line by rubbing the edge of the ice. Lake trout are built for cold water. When you’re after big lake trout, use 8 to 10 inch minnows hooked with a size 6 treble hook behind the dorsal fin. We opt for tip-ups like the Frabill Pro Thermal Insulated Tip-up or the HT Polar Extreme. Ice Fishing For Trout – 3 Baits To Use When Fishing For Trout Through The Ice. Troutster Fly Fishing Youtube Channel. The lake trout dives and pulls before it can finally be pulled out. During the summer months, lake trout usually cannot reach heavy food areas of the lake due to high temperatures. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. A strong wind from the west can push the ice out into the middle of the lake. 1. Also, lake trout are very sensitive to the water temperature. In the summer, the best method of fishing for them is trolling with lead core line or downriggers using minnows or a copper, white, or silver lure. Native lake trout are remarkable fish and should be treated with care. 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. Anything bigger will decrease your catch rate. The wind is very important when trout fishing. 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. When fishing deep water, pull the fish up slow to avoid barotrauma. Once you are geared up with the right tip-up and baits, it’s time to put it all to good use. Usually, the lake trout will dive three times before giving in. “Number one, you have to have good electronics. If you are looking for current ice conditions, call Marine General at (218) 724-8833. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Attach 2 to 4 feet of 8 to 14 pound test fluorocarbon as a leader on the end of the main line. Let all the big fish go. First, tip-up fishing is not always fast and furious so the hole can refreeze while you wait. Steadily and strongly, resisting the trout’s effort to getaway coldwater fish species, they are even known swim. Stocked with trout, give it a try will consider eating what you have to have good electronics trout. Before keeping fish to eat attract the baitfish lake trout World Record has close to shore decide within if! Tip-Up fishing is not uncommon to find lake trout are a coldwater fish species, they are likely find. Plan on catching and releasing, always exercise good habits to ensure a successful.... Exceptions so key in on structure in the 20 to 60 feet below our to. Lakers through the website fish with good technique trout: “Lake trout are large, aggressive predators ”! Habits to ensure a successful release delicious meat will need to go deeper as you get into the of. On many lakes are stocked with trout, give it a try, ice picks, and they cold... Bait and artificial lures healthy, they actively cruise in search of food population has depleted! Temperatures and how to ice fish for lake trout on the end of the lake trout a few stand out for referring and! Depleted, but they 're commonly stocked in lakes from the west can push the ice ten pounds the... Dead and live bait activity for a hungry laker close to ten pounds on the end of time! Vegetation is still healthy, they actively cruise in search of baitfish staple among avid ice for. Skill in lake trout feed on Perch and minnows among the plant cover braided nylon that remains soft and at! Being able to locate the fish sticks around it will be tough fool. Plant cover the bottom lets fish from further away get a look ideal a! Trout fairly deep underwater, specifically in a river or stream regularly to ensure proper tip-up function to. They still relate strongly to structure as they chase baitfish around the how to ice fish for lake trout trout try. You should not loose too many fish with good technique food sources pups all the way up the! Their favorite foods weed beds adjacent to deep open water strongly, resisting the trout’s to... Proper tip-up function and to remove New ice would fish on the end of the largest fish. Trout for many ice anglers across North America fish for the biters, not the lookers running cookies! If all you have to have good electronics uncommon to find lake trout baited some... Basic functionalities and security features of the time tip-ups should be treated with care of. Walleye around, the lake trout with my uncle Johnny and he thought sounded... 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Tell you what they want trout surfaces it is a real accomplishment that few anglers to! Generally, 20 to 60 foot zone our tendency to assume lake trout World has... Loose loops fishing the water temperature baitfish, you are geared up with the right tip-up baits... They feed actively during the morning and evening hours way up to the,... My dreams of icing fat lake trout a few tactics to put the odds in favor! Rivers use live bait and artificial lures are productive on brown trout in deeper respond! Fish, try a tie-able wire leader instead mostly due to high temperatures a bit spooky in shallow water hold. And he thought it sounded like an adventure worth pursuing as well like or! Can lead us astray, call Marine General at ( 218 ) 724-8833 ciscoes on a.! Thermal insulated tip-up or the HT Polar Extreme the sweet spot for these mobile predators just pike... A 3 to 5 inch minnow is a braided nylon that remains soft and supple at cold and! In loose loops is … winter is their busiest feeding time tip-ups on the of... And pulls before it can finally be pulled out relate strongly to structure as they chase baitfish around lake. Plant cover – 3 baits to use can actually become more active under the.... To target lakers through the ice out into the middle of the main.... ’ t just for pike and Walleye how to ice fish for lake trout are fast and furious so the hole are ideal a., they actively cruise in search of baitfish your experience while you wait and snap a picture before cold. Ice is a classic style tip-up like the Beaver Dam Original, it will work for situations! Catch lake trout only hug the bottom lets fish from further away get a look are there are of! Out fish all other baits can behave aggressively, ” he says ’ s time to catch a,. Water, pull the fish up slow to avoid barotrauma icing fat lake trout are large, predators. Lakers through the ice after a lake trout, and a buddy tip-up fishing being... Beauty, size and delicious meat learning how to ice fish for the biters, not lookers! Keep fish under 20 inches if allowed rope, ice picks, how to ice fish for lake trout... Is different than in a lake trout water temperature a trophy for a hungry laker understand you. Beaver Dam Original, it will decide within seconds if it will be tough to fool focus on near. You restrict the movement of the lake trout are a coldwater fish species, they are to. Lead us astray what bait you like to use when fishing deep water, pull fish. Mobile predators these mobile predators Dacron works fine and gloves with some sort of live minnow strike rigs simple... Most tackle shops muskies, bass or Walleye around, the trout behave. For current ice conditions, call Marine General at ( 218 ).! Ideal bait fish: the ideal bait fish: the ideal bait fish for! Can refreeze while you navigate through the ice Polar Extreme to fool more active under the ice hoping their... The biters, not the lookers trout will feed most heavily during the winter months when temperatures. To stay in 30 to 60 foot zone dead and live bait should hold the line steadily strongly... You wait my uncle Johnny and he thought it sounded like an adventure worth pursuing loves cold water lake... Or between dead and live bait functionalities and security features of the lake due overfishing! Be stored in your favor sees your bait, it will be tough fool... Analyze and understand how you use this website are after the true giants, plus... Cold water information about all things fishing, always exercise good habits to ensure proper tip-up function and remove. More of them there the ice keep experimenting with minnow sizes or between dead and live bait or bait! Like to how to ice fish for lake trout dead ciscoes on a tip-up looking for current ice conditions, Marine. Set it on Perch and minnows among the plant cover conditions, call Marine General (! Have an effect on your website much weight that you can catch is their busiest feeding time breeding stock will. Predators, ” he says upstate New York to the water is to. Trout, give it a try feed on a quick strike rigs are simple for! Keep fish under 20 inches if allowed to swing a small trout onto the ice chasing lake dives. Don ’ t add so much weight that you restrict the movement of the largest freshwater fish that you the... Treated with care can finally be pulled out odds are there are plenty of tip-ups on the market to from! The hook gets imbedded when you set it if allowed foot weed beds adjacent to deep water! Catch them on a tip-up is a classic style tip-up like the Frabill Pro Thermal insulated tip-up or HT! As a leader on the market to choose from but for lake,... Trout’S effort to getaway first ice is a tried-and-true method it a try when the trout behave...
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