North Shore Trout

[Hayes033]

Hi Guys,

The old lady and I have a long weekend trip planned to stay at the Surfside this next weekend to celebrate our anniversary. We both have never been north of Duluth and are excited to see the beauty of the north shore and lake superior. I have always lurked these forums and read about the winter trout fishing opportunities that the north shore had to offer. I have always wanted to try it having never caught any form of trout on hard or soft water. I tried to read as much of the archives as possible to avoid asking the same annoying "internet scouting" questions that get asked all the time. With my research I think I have narrowed it down to two lakes around the Finland area. Echo and Hogback. They both seem close to the resort, the road and relatively small, that would allow for me and the wife to walk out hand pulling the portable. My worry is the more I read about fishing the North Shore it seems depending on the year that slush can be a major problem. I am hoping that maybe some of you who live in that area would be able to help me out here and let me know if ice fishing for trout is even a possibility with this years winter conditions? If I can get out on the ice my strategy so far is going to be try and find 5 to 6 feet of water and set up with a jigging spoon and waxie.  If anyone has any critiques to my plan or has any tips or tricks to icing a trout I would love to hear them!

I appreciate any feedback!

Nate

Edited February 12, 2016 by Hayes033

[JBMasterAngler]

It's supposed to warm up pretty good this week, so slush could definitely be an issue. The good news, echo lake is literally right on the road! And the shorelines drop down very quickly, so you won't need to be doing much walking. Lots of splake in the lake.

[leech~~]

Echo is a deep bowl like 50' right in the middle, so go around all the edges. The far side from the road maybe you best bet.

[Surface Tension]

If I'm after Brook Trout I have a tendency to stick close to shore.  Any rock out croppings catch my attention.

If the lake has Rainbows I'll get my holes drilled and hop from one to the other.  Often over weed beds reefs and deep water.  More times then not I'll fish on top just below the ice.

[reinhard1]

Don't forget Divide lake as well, as it's near the road also and easy to fish.  it also has splake and rainbows in it.  Hogback is also next to the road.  If you can walk ok on the ice on Hogback [concerning slush or deep snow], I would go through the narrows directly across the lake and fish on the right side as you enter near the old railroad pilings near shore in 5 feet of water or so.  Otherwise the other part of Hogback is ok also.  If there is nobody around you could just walk a few feet out on the lake and stay shallow.  Most rainbows will cruise the shallows.  They are constantly moving so be patient.  There will be more coming.  Small panfish jigs with a waxie will work.  Even a plain small hook with a waxie works when they are fussy.  I've heard some good reports from Echo also.  Nice warm up coming, so enjoy the beauty of the Arrowhead!!.  good luck.

[Mnfisher]

2 of us caught 3 decent rainbows 2 weeks ago on Echo.  Slush was no problem then.  There is a nice walk down area with a little pull off for parking down from the main landing about 2/3 of the lake down.  I know Echo is fished pretty hard the 1st couple of weekends.  We didn't see any Splake while fishing.