Fishing Tackle for Lake Trout Fishing
Fishing tackle for lake trout must be rugged and dependable. If catching numbers of fish is your primary goal, then casting the shallow tops and sides of rocky reefs in the 3-6 foot range is your best bet. You'll hook into some fish and have some nice fish follow your lure back to the boat. This can get to be very exciting fishing!
Any number of casting techniques will catch fish that are using the top of the reef during the day. However, this is an excellent time for fly-casting streamers on ultra-light tackle for lake trout. Should you hook a fair-size fish on light tackle, you'll be in for a major fight!
Day-in and day-out, a medium-heavy baitcasting outfit with 10-12 pound test line and a quality baitcasting reel with an adjustable drag will handle all your casting efforts.
A 7-foot spinning rod with medium-heavy action works well, but such fishing rods are designed to throw lures that weigh less than an ounce. A high-quality, ball-bearing snap swivel will keep line twist to a minimum. Steel leaders are not necessary when fishing for lake trout.
When shallow, these fish are active, aggressive, and will chase down big lures! Yellow Five-of-Diamonds, the classic red-and-white Dardevles and the other lures listed on this page are productive choices. Silver seems to be a popular finish among many lake trout anglers.
Since you will encounter lots of rocks, I recommend using a fishing line that is highly abrasion-resistant. I use Berkley Trilene XT and am very happy with its durability and hook-setting strength. Whether casting or trolling, it's common for lures to bounce along the tops and sides of reef areas and they will often get wedged between rocks. While you can usually work your lure free from this type of snag, your line takes a terrific beating.
Each time you snag the rocks, carefully inspect your line immediately above the lure. Run your fingernail down the line to search for damage. Often the mono is nicked, shaved, or very abraded. If any damage is detected, break off and retie your line before the next cast or trolling pass. You never know when the next laker may become a true test of all your tackle!
Trolling Tackle for Lake Trout
Let's take a look at a very dependable trolling outfit for lake trout. A good combination would be a 6-7 1/2 foot medium-heavy action baitcasting rod with a stiff butt section, but good flex in the tip. Many "Flippin Stick" models meet the requirements nicely. While there are many fine baitcasting reels on the market, it's best to use a reel specifically designed for trolling. A few solid choices would be a Penn 109, Ambassadeur 6500, or one of the new line-counter reels designed for freshwater applications. Spool your reel with a good quality line, in the 17-20 pound test range.
Trophy-size lake trout have one thing in common: they all like big lures. While traditional spoons produce their fair share of fish, two choices really stand out. The Rapala Floating Minnow F18 (7 inches) and the Helin Flatfish in the T60 size (6 1/2 inches). These lures represent a big meal! The big Helin Flatfish wobbles back-and-forth approximately 3 to 4 inches. Now that's some serious action!
Top Lake Trout Fishing Lures
- Helin Flatfish
- Dardevle Five-O-Diamonds
- Red & White Dardevles
- #4 Mepps Spinners
- Lucky Strike Spoons
- Large Rapala Minnows
- 1 1/8 oz. Johnson Silver Minnow
- Doctor Spoons
Lake Trout Fishing Tip | Suspended Lake Trout
In many deep lakes, lake trout school near bottom where the water temperature is in the low 40's. These fish are tough to catch. The catchable fish are likely to suspend in 50-70 feet of water and will dart shallower to feed on baitfish. These lakers are much more prone to bite than their bottom-hugging cousins.
