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Every angler loves a good challenge, especially if that challenge includes catching delicious fish. Lake trout are among the most popular fish in the Northern America. Due to overfishing, their number has rapidly decreased. However, there are plenty of them throughout the waters of the US and Canada. Here are some tips on how to improve your overall success with catching this delicious fish.
Tip 1: Choose a Good Bait and Quality Equipment
There is no use in buying cheap equipment and trying to achieve a miracle. Instead, opt for quality equipment, and you’ll be able to see an improvement and better results. First of all, use a light action rod. It should have a 4 to 6-pound test line. The lighter the line is, the less friction there is with water. Lighter lines are better for casting further and deeper.
ADVICE:
- Some specimens can reach up to 35 pounds of weight. If you’re fishing in waters which are notorious for having big Lake trout, bring a heavier rod.
- Using an open faced spinning reel is optimal when catching trout. Make sure you put the reel on the rod and mount it, so it faces the right direction.
- The best hooks for this operation are numbers 6 and 10.
These fish are known for feeding on a vast variety of local species. The best lure is the one that can mimic their natural prey. If you’re not familiar with the optimal lure in that particular area, go ahead and ask the locals. The best way to get a hold of a fishing area is to communicate with the local anglers.
ADVICE:
- If you’re using artificial bait, weightless lures and spinners are your best choice.
- Add aluminum foil or shiny pieces of metal onto the hook.
If you’re planning to use live bait, minnows, salmon, and night crawlers are your best choice.
The Importance of Equipment
Catching trout depends on your ability to find out at what depth they’re located. For an accurate reading, you’ll need a quality fish finder. These devices are pretty affordable nowadays and can be used by anyone, regardless of their previous experience. Many come with a quality sonar and high-tech technologies such as CHIRP, Down Imaging, DownVu, GPS, and so on.
Having a GPS in your finder is a great benefit if you like catching trout. With the GPS integrated into the device, you can mark certain waypoints and come back whenever you want.
For example, if you had a very successful day, mark the position on your fish finder’s display and come back tomorrow to the same spot.
Tip 2: Use Simple Techniques
Jigging
If they are concentrated in one particular area, try jigging for trout. You can use either a spoon jig or a bucktail jig. For the bait, you can use a minnow or a piece of meat.
Drop your line to the bottom of the lake and start slowly bringing it up while jigging the line so that your bait looks like a wounded fish looking to emerge on the surface. This technique doesn’t require special rods or equipment. Make sure that you use light jigs (1/2 ounce to 3/4 ounce). Also, this method works best for boat fishing.
Trolling
Trolling is best when they aren’t concentrated in a group, but rather scattered around the lake.
Trolling is a pretty easy technique, and you’ll get a hold of it within minutes as long as you follow the instructions. Trolling is nothing else but moving around to find fish. However, make sure to use a depth finder and a fish finder to make the process easier. This technique can be done from the shore as well as from the boat, as long as you can cast the line deep enough.
ADVICE:
- The type of the rod is irrelevant. However, you should use a spinning reel with a weighted line. Attach the weight to the line, cast it, and drag the hook along without it coming to the surface. The weight on the line is determined by the season and the boat speed. You can use a spoon or a light lure. On the other hand, you can use live minnow as well.
- Use your finder in the middle of the lake to find a suitable spot for trolling. Once you reach the desired depth, start trolling at low speed. Going very slow is the crucial element for successful trolling.
Watch the Line
The ability to know how big is the specimen that’s biting the line is a crucial factor for success. Large specimens tend to swim away slowly after biting. There is not much you can learn in theory about this method; it all comes down to sense. Small fish will frantically swim away which makes the line vibrate in a quick motion. Once you feel the bite, pull the rod upward for about 1 to 2 feet to make sure the hook is in.
ADVICE:
- Keep the rod above your head when reeling the fish out of the water
- Put it in a cooler immediately or return it back to the water
Tip 3: Where to Find them?
A lot of anglers love fishing for trout, and that’s why its population has been decreased. It’s not that easy to find trout, but there are some tips we can share with you and help with the issue.
North America
25% of the world’s trout population can be found in Ontario, Canada. However, it can be found as far south as Kentucky. In the latest decades, they have also been introduced to lakes in Asia, Europe, and South America. Southern US is not an optimal habitat for them because they like colder waters as oppose to the warm waters of the southern USA.
Cold Waters
Because these fish like colder waters more, you’ll have a better chance of finding them in deep cold waters compared to shallow warm waters. Check your local lakes and find the deepest spots. It’s a good idea to start from the deepest spots and move up to shallower waters. If you want to avoid all the research-related hassle, simply ask your local anglers about good fishing spots.
The Season is Irrelevant
You can catch trout throughout the whole year. However, during the summer, they can be found in deep and cold waters whereas, during the winter when the ice forms on the surface, they can be found in shallower waters as well.
Once you find a good spot for fishing, visit that same spot next year during the same season. This type of fish tends to return to their favorite place every season. The worst season for fishing is probably in the middle of the summer.
Choose Good Spots (Shore Fishing)
Lake trout love being near natural drop-offs, ledges, and gaps. Water tends to be much cooler and deeper near these areas. Although this advice can be applied to boat fishing as well, it’s especially effective if you’re fishing from the shore. Instead of casting your hook randomly, find a natural ledge and try casting your bait for a few times. You’ll see that you’ll get way better results than with random castings.
