Ice Fishing the Big Pond

[scifisher]

Hi everyone

I'm starting this thread just to collect some of the information on fishing Lake Superior when the ice is good enough to go out. As of now, I'm planning on going out tomorrow and I'd like to see what other people have to say in regards to what I should try. With that being said, I'm going to post a species list and if you have any idea how to fish for that species through the ice on Superior, please post it here.

I realize that we probably have lots of this information all over this forum, but the ice is good NOW. People who want to go, need to go NOW. It's been a few YEARS since I've been able to get out on the big lake, thus it makes sharing some of this stuff rather imperitive.

Anyway, let us know what depths, what baits, and maybe a spot or two to catch...

Salmon

Lake Trout

Loopers

Herring

Whitefish

Walleyes

Pick one or all and post what you know. Lets take advantage of the good ice while its there!

scifisher

[traveler]

Just an ice update here...the open water moved as far as the pumping station by yesterday afternoon, but stalled there. Plenty of guys still out today off the lester/brighton beach area; I assume it's still good ice there. Actually looked like a party out there this afternoon with the weather warming up a little. Must have been 50 people out there...think I'll have to go tomorrow too! As for the fishing, I'm no lake trout guy, but for the loopers in close, bring an assortment and try it all! I've caught loopers thru the ice on: plain hook and minnow; plain hook and waxie; every ice jig imaginable, with and with out waxies; looper jigs, with and without waxies; jigging spoons (rarely) crawlers, suspended and on bottom; spawn; and I'm probably forgetting a few! More biters fishing high than low...be quiet/still in shallow water, watch your shadow, or better yet keep it dark in the house; set up on snow rather than bare ice,(kind of hard right now). When you set the hook on a fish in shallow try to bring him right up and in (I have my gaff right there) and don't let him turn down and away. Probably 2/3 of my ice loopers are in the house in under 10 seconds after they bite. The ones that aren't, maybe 2 or 3 plus minutes of fight, with the advantage to the fish. 4 lb test/6lb fish/ice edges...not a real high percentage game there, although I guess I still manage to land a good percentage of those fish too. I guess thats a wrap:)

[SKIPPERS KID]

Well just watch the weather to see the wind direction, to see if it is SAFE to try then worry about the fish you are targeting Trout on the bottom and the rest are suspended well it will be try-el and air at first but you can make it work just watch your graph it will tell you a lot, I now I did not help much but you will see them and you should be able to adjust to what is going on at the time it is happening. I hope you have a safe outing and fish biting on your rod .

[Northlander]

Boy Scifisher you dont ask for much do ya?

[Surface Tension]

Off 21st you'll be looking for suspended herring and coho. Know your fish ID because there'll be small Chinooks there as well. In the past I've done well in 45-70' of water.

Keep on the small side on your jigs. White 1/32 oz jigs with twister tails tipped with a crappie minnow or waxie has worked for me in the past.

Off the river mouths coho and loopers. Jigging spoons like Pimples, Go Devils tipped with a cub head or waxie are just a couple lures that work. At either location your gear is pretty much the same.

Lake Trout, I've heard 120-140' of water has been producing. At that depth you can get by with the same heavy action laker rods and reels you use inland. Pick one of the super braids for line with a mono leader and swivel.

You can use some of the heavier lures you'd use on inland lakers. #7 Pimples and the larger Airplane jigs will work fine at those depths. If you have a rod setup for bobbing in deep water you can use the heavier 2-3 oz beetles and piggy backs with cut bait but I don't think its necessary. Having those heavier weight lures combined with deep water which in turn creates a lot of line resistance, you have to match your rod to that. Soft tips and not a lot of backbone in a rod will be a bummer to jig all day. I know my inland laker rods are on the heavy side and aren't suited for those heavy lures weights. You'll be concentrating on the bottom but you never know what might come through suspended.

I'd have a rod setup just for those high fliers, most likely coho or herring.

Thats the condensed version but enough to get you started.

[scifisher]

Quote:

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Boy Scifisher you dont ask for much do ya?

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Heh, I need all of the help that I can get. My ice fishing game has traditionally been pretty poor and I'm playing catch up with you guys!

I don't have the right equipment for Lakers it looks like, but I do have equipment for the other stuff. After seeing everyone out there yesterday, that really piqued my interest!

Weather is supposed to be good today, but not tomorrow. Get out while you can!

[JustinG]

I will bet that you can go to Gander or anywhere right now and get outfitted for Laker fishing for under $100-In fact, I know you can. Alot of places are already having clearance sales on ice fishing gear. There is still alot of ice fishing left!!

Justin

[Tom Linderholm]

The are having clearance sales, but unfortunately with the Lake Superior ice conditions they have been pretty much picked clean of Laker equipment. At least MG has been.