LOTW Tips/Secrets

2 to 3 oz bottom bouncer with one of BFT’s new spinner bait rigs. You will want to run crawlers, so buy the crawler harness style.

Go to the “Garden” and fish the reefs…..Follow the launches…….Hope you got a big rig……That water gets rough up there……..

Orange is generally the go-to color with hammered gold and glow running a close 2nd and 3rd for color choice in blades.

Lot’s of BIG fish to be found on the reefs that time of the year. Generally, the bigger fish will be deeper on the reefs, down to 35 to 45 fow. Focus on depths from 15 to 30 fow to start out with.

Again, be carefull, you are doing a big run to get to the reefs across open water that time of the year……Play it safe, because a 15 mph wind will generate 4 swells real FAST!!!!! Sometimes up to 6 footers…….

Shane and Mitch!! Goodluck

Thank you Gary. Any other info? it seems to me that most people don’t talk about LOTW. Please help.

It is fairly simple to be honest……Again, the lodges up there will have launch boats heading out and the lodge should also be willing to tell you where the bite is and how it is happening.

Again,
This time of the year, most of the boats will be heading out across the lake to the reefs. You basically want to head up to the “Garden” Island and also fish the west side of “Big Island”. Here, you will find scattered reefs, ranging from a few rocks to massive structures.

Work the reefs that are closest to the islands, as that is where most of the fish will be spawning close to.

I think that some of the guides up there are starting to down rig with cranks too, if you don’t have down riggers this is pretty easy to do, just run a three way. Use about a 1 ounce weight with about a three to four foot leader after the weight to the crank bait not quite as fancy but it gets the job done just the same. Good luck

Thank you Trashman and Gary for the help. I can’t wait to leave. Is the Garden in Canadain territory? I won’t be purchasing a Canadian fishing license, strictly Minnesota license. Any last minute tips would be great. I hope that the wind won’t be a factor, we are running a 17ft crestliner w/ a 25hp honda. Thanks again. Mitch

The Garden is in US waters, but it is going to be a haul to get there……we are talking about a 15 to 20 mile run across open water………If you don’t have a marine band radio, I would recommend fishing closer to the south shoreline and some structure around there.

If you would like to stay a little closer to the South shore try a crawler in about 10-15 fot early then move deeper later in the afternoon 30-35. People doing that seem to be doing well.

And Gary is right. If you don’t have a marine band don’t venture too far. This lake can get pretty ugly fast. Especially with a north wind.

Good luck and have fun!