I’m one of those guys that likes to take people to spots that produce regularly, but in my free time I’m always trying to find new spots. Yesterday I got out after some Lakers for the first time this season after working the Stream Trout bite on a few lakes over opening weekend. We got a late start as I was meeting up with friends who had commitments in the morning, so we didn’t get set up on the ice until a bit after 1pm. My buddy had a spot he wanted to show me and the whole drive there I was shaking with excitement! I picked up a TUCR LTP earlier this year and I have been just itching to get some slime on it. After setting up, hopping holes and spending an hour or so trying to call in fish I opened up my Nav App and saw a rock pile on an inside turn heading into a medium sized bay no more than 1000 yards away. I told my friends I had to try it out, so I drove the T100 over there and drilled 4 holes between 20-40 feet of water. 2 minutes after hitting the second hole a mark came like a streak of lightning off the bottom towards my #4 red Jigging Rap! At that point there was little I could do to change the Lake Trout’s mind, in less than a second the Jigging Rap was T-boned and my new LTP was doubled over! I spooled my Sedona with 10# Sufix832 with an Invisiline 8# leader, the hookset was solid and the 28″ Laker was under matched on all accounts. After checking my leader for nicks, I decided to drill a few more holes around the 30 foot break. Less than 30 minutes had passed since the first fish of the season and I was still working that downsized red Rap, when another mark raced off the bottom. I remember thinking to myself, “this fish is already done for” right before it slammed my offering! A smaller fish, I could tell, but she wouldn’t give up easy. 5 feet below the ice she began to death roll, twisting the line around her body and knotting it at her tail. It was work getting her into the hole tail first, but after a bit of luck I got her on top of the ice for some quick photos before releasing her for another day. She taped in just above the 25″ mark and much healthier than the first fish. I had finally stopped shaking with the anticipation of feeling the strength of a nice Laker on my new rod, but My satisfaction is far from quenched! I’ll be out again today, tomorrow and through the weekend hoping to trick a few more fish into smiling for the camera!
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