For most of the year, the lake trout is a ghost, a powerful predator that lives in the dark, cold depths of the deepest lakes, far out of reach of most anglers. But when winter locks the lakes in a sheet of ice, the entire game changes. The cold water that once confined them to the abyss now allows them to roam freely throughout the entire water column. This is the season of the laker, and for the dedicated ice
This is your ultimate guide to ice
Winter Behavior: Understanding the Laker
Lake trout are a cold-water species, a member of the char family. They thrive in water temperatures between 40°F and 52°F. During the winter, when the entire lake is cold, they are no longer restricted to the deep basin. They become active predators, cruising vast areas of the lake in search of schools of oily baitfish like ciscoes, whitefish, and smelt.
Where to Find Lake Trout Under the Ice
Success starts with finding the right location. Electronics, like a depth sounder or fish finder with GPS mapping, are an invaluable tool.
- Main Lake Structure: Unlike fish that relate to the shoreline, lake trout are structure-oriented predators of the main lake. Look for:
- Submerged Humps and Islands: These are magnets for baitfish, and the lakers will be close behind.
- Sunken Points: Long, tapering points that extend into deep water act as underwater highways for cruising fish.
- Saddles: These are shallower areas between two deeper sections, like a saddle between two islands or two humps.
- The Depth Zone: Lake trout can be found at various depths, from as shallow as 10 feet to over 100 feet of water. A good starting point is to focus on structure in the 40 to 80-foot range.
- Find the Bait, Find the Lakers: The number one rule is to find the food. Use your electronics to look for large concentrations of baitfish. The lake trout will not be far away.
The Two Primary Techniques for Ice Fishing Lake Trout
1. The Tip-Up Technique (Passive and Patient)
A tip-up is a device that allows you to set a line with live bait and wait for a fish to bite. When a fish takes the bait, a flag pops up, signaling a strike.
- The Gear: You’ll need a heavy-duty tip-up with a large spool to hold plenty of line. Spool it with a 30-50lb braided tip-up line and attach a 3-6 foot section of 15-20lb fluorocarbon leader line.
- The Bait: Big lake trout want a big meal. The best live baits are large baitfish, from 6 to 10 inches long. Golden shiners and sucker minnows are top choices. Hook the minnow lightly under its dorsal fin so it can swim naturally.
- The Strategy: Set your tip-ups over key pieces of structure. Don’t be afraid to set them at different depths. You might set one with the bait just a few feet off the bottom, another halfway up the water column, and a third just a few feet below the ice. This allows you to find where the active fish are cruising.
2. The Jigging Technique (Active and Aggressive)
Actively jigging with a jigging rod is an exciting and very effective way to target lake trout.
- The Gear: You need a stout rod and reel. A 32- to 42-inch medium-heavy power ice
fishing rod is ideal. Pair it with a 2500 or 3000-size spinning reel spooled with 15-20lb braided line and a fluorocarbon leader. - The Lures: The best lures are large and flashy.
- Tube Jigs: A large, 4- to 6-inch white tube jig is the number one, all-time classic lake trout lure. The spiraling action as it falls is irresistible.
- Jigging Spoons: Large, heavy spoons in white, silver, or glow colors are fantastic for calling in fish from a distance.
- Swimbaits and Airplane Jigs: Large, soft plastic swimbaits on a heavy jig head or airplane-style jigs that glide and circle are also deadly.
- The Technique: Drop your lure to the bottom and reel up a foot or two. Use a sharp, aggressive 2- to 3-foot lift of your rod, and then let the lure fall back down on a semi-slack line. Most strikes will happen as the lure is falling.
Pro-Tips for Laker Success
- Set the Hook Hard: Lake trout have large, bony mouths. It is vital to use sharp, strong hooks and to set the hook with a powerful upward sweep of the rod.
- The Double Hole: A big lake trout can be difficult to get through an 8-inch hole. Many experienced anglers will drill two holes side-by-side and then use an ice chisel to connect them, creating one large, oblong hole.
- Be Patient: Lake trout are cruisers. A spot can be dead for an hour, and then a school of active fish will move through. Keep jigging and keep your baits fresh.
Regulations and Conservation
Lake trout are a very slow-growing, long-lived species. In many places, like Minnesota and Colorado, there are special regulations to protect them. Always check your local regulation booklet for information on seasons, size limits, and how many fish you can harvest. Many of the best fisheries are managed for trophy potential, not for numbers.
Frequently Ask Questions (FAQs)
While
The best bait for large trout is often 6 to 10-inch-long, such as gold shiners and large suckers. Perch and sunfish will also work great if they are allowed for use in your state.
While bait is efficient in catching lake trout, lures are often more effective. Lures are flagrant and flashy and can easily trigger the lake trout’s attention, causing them to attack easily—some of the most effective lures include flash spoons and swimming lures.
Soft baits on jig heads are also very effective with lake trout, as with pike. A jig head can be used as the weight on the tube jig to create a tempting lure for a feeding trout.
If the lakers you are targeting are finicky about taking other bait, you can try using other lures like larger jigging raps tipps with deador live shiners or tube jigs.
Some of the basic ice fishing equipment you should have includes:
1. An auger for drilling a hole
2. Reel, rod, lure, or live bait
3. .Scoop to remove the slush and ice from the hole
4. A chair and a plastic bucket to sit on or a pop-up fishing shelter
5. Warm boots and clothes
Winter is to lake trout, as summer is to perch and walleye. For most anglers, catching a huge fish is the biggest motivation for every
When ice
Conclusion
Ice
