Lake Trout Trip?

I’m trying to plan a Laker trip, but don’t know where to start. What’s the best time of year and locations to get on a solid bite? I know my area (Alexandria) like the back of my hand and there will always be certain times of the year when the bite is flat out guaranteed to be good. I’m looking for someone with that info on Lake trout. Any technique but down rigger trolling. We’re up for traveling just about anywhere.

Thanks

You could head to Superior in a couple weeks when the ice has been blown out and run dipsies. 20 footers would be about as deep as you’d need to go. I’d launch in the Duluth Harbor off Garfield or head to MqQuade. With the late ice this year the water will be very cold and your lakers will stay shallow. The lakers should still be concentrated in that area too.

Flin Flon area of Manitoba. Long drive but worth it roads are good and gas all along the route. We fish Lake Athapapuskow and have always done well. Several over the years up to 42″ and lots of masters. This lake the most effective way is to jig in deep water and then letting it sit right in the mud. The lakers bite fishing like this is usually light like a Walleye and in the deep water you have to give it the TV hookset to drive the hooks into those hard mouths, great fun! Been there for a week of fishing from 2nd week of june to 4th of july and always caught fish and cannot say one week is better than another for lakers. Early June expect northerns in the 39″ to 41″, biggest caught 45″ (but not by me so is does not count). Closer to July northerns seem to disappear and the walleyes start biting with a very realistic shot at 30″. Always stayed at Paradise lodge and they have treated us well. Good Luck!

Hi Joe, I’m glad I spotted your post because I’ve been looking for somebody to hook up with for a laker trip! My favorite place for lake trout is the NW Arm of Pipestone Lake, just a short distance north of Emo, Ontario. As soon as possible would be a good time to head up there. I don’t even own a downrigger so that’s no problem. In the area’s I’ve fished up there at this time of year we never had to go much deeper than 25 feet! That’s right! I did say 25 feet, believe it or not! We caught most of our laker’s up there while trolling. Banana plug’s like Flatfish or Luhr Jenson’s Kwikfish worked very well. Also had good luck using Sutton Spoon’s.My own go-to favorite was the Spoonbill Rebel. You will be good to go as long as whatever you are using is bright and shiny! Jig’s also work very well. You can use any color you want as long as it’s white! It work’s best if both fishermen have depth finder’s to use when jigging. Just like you do when you are ice fishing. I’ve never caught any big one’s up there. My biggest was probably about 10 lbs. That doesn’t mean that they aren’t there. There are big one’s to be caught. After I’ve finished this post Joe I’m going to drop you a PM with my phone number in it so you can give me a call if you have any interest in pursuing this any farther. Sound OK? At the very least, we can always tell each other bigger and better lie’s, eh? DIRTBALL2

And if for some reason Canada doesn’t work out for either of you, Ely has some nice trout lakes outside and inside the BWCA, with the same style fishing you’re talking about Keith. Just another option to consider.

Thanks Keith, but I think if I was going to drive that far I’d love a legitimate chance at 20+ pounder. I do appreciate the offer though.

I’ll have to check out the Flin Flon option too

Hey Ben do you get some big ones in the BWCA?

If you decide to try athapapaskow pm me and I will let you know all I know about it been going for 15 years.

Don’t know if you followed the confiscated world record tip-up laker this winter, but that was on the Canadian side 100 feet or so from the BWCA line.

I have been to Pipestone Lake twice in the winter. It is a fun lake, but anything over 15 lbs is unlikely. There are some lakes near Pipestone that have consistently produced nicer fish, but they are tough to get to in the summer.