How to fish BWCA lake trout?

[stillhunter]

Am heading north of Brule mid-to-late August. Any advice on how to catch lakers? I am an avid smallie chaser but have not fished for lakers before. Would appreciate any pointers. I have been reading Michael Furtman's book but am not aware that the fish have read it! )

thanks in advance
Stillhunter

[Surface Tension]

Fishing Lake Trout in mid August out of a canoe, you'll be looking to vertical jig.
Bring a sounder and lake map to locate mid lake structure and vertical walls. You'll be fishing a minimum of 50' so get spooled with a 10 or 12 lb super braid. A shorter heavy action rod is a must. You'll need something to hold your canoe on that structure and I've found 200' of parachute cord works good. Use a mesh sack like a laundry bag with a rock in it for a BWCA anchor. Any winter heavy Lake Trout jig or lure will work but stay away from the swimming jigs, they don't work so good if your drifting at all. Trolling spoons like a Kroc work vertically jigged but tend to foul themselves more often.

[stillhunter]

Thanks ST, appreciate the advice.

Stillhunter

[RowShow]

I've had luck in July using a Johnson's Silver Minnow. Try to find the steep dropoff's (along side the cliff's etc.) and canoe up and down the area. Good luck!

[Voyage North]

Try going deep with some of the Mann's 30+ lures.

Good colors that worked for us have been the blue/white and the silver/black.

When you drag them behind you as you troll, they almost feel like you already have something on, but they get really deep.

Put them in a rod holder and do a slow troll. If that doesn't work, do a faster troll and get them down deeper.

------------------
John and Lynn O'Kane
Voyageur North Outfitters
Ely, Mn 55731
1-800-848-5530

[bwtrout]

i've had good results using dipsy divers with a flasher or cowbells and a spoon or stick bait (blue, silver, and gold rapala countdowns are my favorites). cabela's makes a nice heavy duty plastic clamp-on rod holder. 50 feet of water always seems like a good place to start late summer? lure jensen's site has a handy depth cart for the dipsys.

[coldwaterfan]

stillhunter: I've found that pink ladies and what's called, I believe, a fish seeker(or finder) diver with orange and silver spoons work very well behind a canoe. Personally, I've found that the cheap fish seekers/finders($5.99 from cabelas, I have not found them at Gander or Marine General) are easiest to use behind a canoe. They are on cabelas' web page. Unlike dipsies and pink ladies, these divers have different holes on the leader side and main line side that allow you to set depths and once they reach that depth they kinda plane out and have much less drag (easier to paddle with, which might be nice in a canoe . Just make sure that you use a snap to attach the diver to your main line(DO NOT USE A SWIVEL). The group I went with almost always had these in the water when we were traveling on lake trout lakes in the Quetico. It's a good way to cover ground and pick up some lakers: they are capable of going down to 20-100ft! You can locate fish and their depths which might help out for jigging. Seeing that they are 5.99 a piece it would not hurt the pocket book to pick up some of these in addition to other divers that you have or might purchase. Good Luck and have fun!

[coldwaterfan]

One more thing I forgot about:
Change speeds. We picked up a majority of our lakers when we would paddle fast for awhile and then slow down. I think the fast paddling attracked them and slowing down triggered the bite. A good depth finder, like the boundary waters Vexilar, also helps and will keep you from losing some divers. I hope this helps.

[hus]

We were on the Quetico Man Chain the week of July 4th. Most of the lakers we caught were on Risto or Shad Raps trolling behind the canoe. We did catch one in 30 ft jigging a twister tail on a half oz jig.

We were surprised to catch lakers trolling Raps that late in the season, but the cool June weather must have kept them on the shallow side.

We also picked up some very nice walleyes with the Raps.

[Casaloma]

Even if my post # is small I guided trips from all Ely entries (sp?) for over thirteen years.
Take bottom bouncers, pair them with flutter spoons. Gold & watermellon seem to be good late season colors.
Keep in mind that this season is behind. 45' to60 feet is a depth you'll find lakers in August off your lake edges & island points. Look for palm size gravel - giving structure -
I've seen pounders come up that way as well as trophies on a 9" foot 'croix. 3/4 to 1& 1/2 bouncers will do the trick. Watch out, because, big pike will folow the bait to the surface..... Beauty!
-0Get wet - CLoma

[stillhunter]

Thanks all for the info. Looking forward to the trip. The past few years I have been going in late Sept/early Oct. This will be my 1st summer trip.

Thx again
Stillhunter