Lake Trout

I’m looking for some advice on tackle and equipment for ice fishing Lake Trout and/or Trout. I’ve been ice fishing for 20+ years and geared towards walleye, perch, crappie and panfish. Now that family life has slowed down with fewer kids activities, I have more free time on the weekends and can travel further. I’m looking to make some trips to the S.D. Black Hills, Colorado, Montana, Michigan and other locations for Lake Trout and other types of winter trout fishing.

For those of you who regularly Lake Trout ice fish, what type, length, or action of rods would you recommend? I assume some of my heavier walleye rods would work for Rbw.Trout.

What about tackle? Again, I would assume some of my larger walleye tackle would work, but I’m sure there is other more appropriate tackle.

Any other advice on tackle and equipment for Lake Trout / Trout fishing?

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For those of you who regularly Lake Trout fishing, what type, length, action of rods would you recommend? I assume some my heavier walleye rods would work for Rbw.Trout.

What about tackle? Again, I would assume some of my larger walleye tackle would work, but I’m sure there are other more appropriate tackle to use.

Any other advice on tackle and equipment for Lake Trout / Trout fishing?

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Sounds like your really setting yourself up to have a blast. Lake trout fishing is addictive, especially through the ice. I started doing it 5 years ago and now it’s all I think about when I’m not thinking about ice fishing for walleye or crappie..

For inland lake trout, walleye gear will be very useful. The longer the rod the better and you really want something fast and rigid to slam the hook home as needed.

I use a lot of the largest jigging raps, bigger spoons, and tube jigs. White, glow white and more white are my favorite colors, but other colors will work.

I prefer to use casting reels, but they have more freeze-up issues than spinning. I use braid whenever possible.

Tackle size, type, and color will vary by lake or area, it can be good to find out what has been working best currently in your target area. Same goes for stream trout in lakes. For rainbows, splake, brookies, and browns, I use crappie size jigs with a few waxies or spikes loaded on. Or small 1/16-1/8oz spoons, like slender spoons or the vmc tinglers or tumblers tipped with a minnow head or waxie. I prefer a medium light action for rainbows etc… and a heavy action for lakers. Check regs wherever you are going to be fishing, trout lakes tend to have the most strict regulations.

18″ UL noodle rod with 1# line.

I use live and dead bait rigs. I fish anywhere from 15-100 fow depending on time of year and the weather conditions. Lakers are real fun they tear line off, spool your tipups in 30 seconds and aren’t bad table fare! I’ve caught 20 pound fish on light tackle so you don’t need to spend hundreds of bucks on equipment. I like using tipups with 10 pound leaders.

I fish alot for rainbows here in Colorado, I use a perch pounder (DH custom)/ TUCR QT and Thorne bros perch sweet heart. For line I like 4lb Pline, as for jigs anything seems to work from small ratso to large raps. Good luck to you

As a Lake Trout outfitter/guide in Montana, I encourage you to check out our web site and Facebook page for some info on Montana trout fishing. We are happy to help do it yourselfers and our sites usually offer some good tips and timely info.

There are some outstanding lakes to ice big Lakers and big rainbows in our area, and the lakes we guide on are of course, good lakes to start YOUR search on

The biggest thing I will say is, lake trout and rainbows will tax the best drags…use a quality reel and let it do it’s thing. Make sure you know how to tie good knots and keep your hooks SHARP. Lakers have a hard mouth and you will be setting hooks in deep water. I fish braid anytime I am deeper than 40′

Good luck and hope to see you in MT!