IceMan- Here in Minnesota we head to the Quetico Provincial Park in Canada do do just what you are asking, fish lakers at ice out. We are unable to bring in salted smelt as the laws for transporting such bait from MN to Canada has changed. What we do is troll (in our canoe’s_ in anywhere from 9 to 15 feet of water. The lakers around here are usually really shallow at ice out. My favorite lures up the are a chrome Heddon Hot and Tot. Or a Wally diver, also in chrome. Hope this helps.
John
I have good luck on a white HJ10 Huskyjerk on 4/10 fireline trolled back 120-150′ for the shallow fish,
If i’m looking for the deeper fish i 3-way with a 4oz bell sinker on a 5′ dropper and a 6-8′ leader to the HJ10 or a silver blade and beads with 1/2 a crawler,
I have fished as deep as 90′ with this set-up and just crush the lakers in Canada, (easy 20-30 fish a day 
)
we just drive around with the big motor and look for marks on the bottom around the ends of points and mid lake humps and pull the area 
one more thing they hit it HARD so hold on 
well when you get there if water temps are 50 deg. or under the fish will be at the surface anywhere on the lake!
still troll over the deep water you will be surprised! at this time trout dont relate to structure so much as they do to the surface!
some times they will be shallow but over a certain depth of water! troll spoons and stick baits in chrome, gold silver, maybe having some orange, blue or green in them! 2with these cooler temps you should catch them right at the surface or within a few feet! you may need to let out a lot of line since they will spook from the boat! gives them time to move back by the time your lure gets there!
once temps start to warm up start to fish over deeper water using 3 ways, dipsy divers, etc. to get your presentation down! use the same baits just run them deeper! pay attention to where you mark fish(what depths) then try running your bait a few feet above them!
good luck!
In-line spinners and standard rapalas work well too.
all great tips thanks… the spinner and crawler deal is something I never would think of… could run a pair of these behind the boat with the trolling motor while casting a jerkbait…
I got a box of minnow baits that should troll well… thanks again, hope to have some pics here late april…
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