Lake Trout

[Bmarsh]

Looking for some advice on tackle for Lakers.
Work has brought me to central Utah so I'm going to spend some time on Fish Lake and not sure tackle wise what I should be set up for. Biggest fish I have ever tied into through the ice was a 8lbish hybrid out of Henry's up in Idaho.

Is 8lb mono going to be heavy enough if I am using reels with good drags on them? Usually fish 6 lb for everything through the ice and never had a problem with break offs with the reels I use.

How heavy of a rod is a must?

What size jigs are best? Small (Think Ratfinky on size 8 hook), or larger 2.5" - 3" tube jigs?

Thanks in Advance, if anyone is down in Sanpete and wouldn't mind a tag a long to show me the ropes I wouldn't turn down the invite.

Worth starting shallow and rip some perch out and then use them for cut bait?

8" Holes going to be plenty big if I get lucky and tie into a pig?
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[one8sevenn]

Is 8lb mono going to be heavy enough if I am using reels with good drags on
them? Usually fish 6 lb for everything through the ice and never had a problem
with break offs with the reels I use.

8lb mono can catch lake trout. If you decide not to change put a heavier leader on it. Catching big lakers at fish lake is not as common as it is as the gorge. It can happen, but you are more likely to catch big lakers in a 10-12 lb range in my experience.

How heavy of a rod is a must?

I would think so, it depends on the depth of water that you are fishing. If you are fishing 80 ft + then you want enough backbone to get a good hook set.

What size jigs are best? Small (Think Ratfinky on size 8 hook), or larger 2.5" -
3" tube jigs?

2-5"-5" jigs in an assortment of colors tipped with sucker meat. I like glow, chartreuse, and motor oil colors the best.

Worth starting shallow and rip some perch out and then use them for cut bait?

Perch meat works for splake pretty well, but I have only caught one mac on it. Sucker meat seems to be a better choice of meat.

8" Holes going to be plenty big if I get lucky and tie into a pig?

If you expect to catch a lunker then drill two holes next to each other and connect them together.

Hope that helps
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[Bmarsh]

Thanks for the reply, it helps since its more info than I had before

Might have to take a trip to Scofield and stock up on a few suckers to use.
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[ntrl_brn_rebel]

Most people fail to realize something very important when ice fishing lake trout. Lord knows I learned the hard way.

8lb test is plenty good with a good reel in the open water, but in the open water, you have a net......that is the difference.

I have watched a lot of guys including myself a number of years ago hook good fish through the ice to quickly realize that fish isnt going to just stick his head through the hole and at you. Break offs with fish just under the ice happens a lot, that 8lb test mono getting rubbed back and forth on the ice wont last long......and the best drag on earth wont fix it, especially if you are fishing thick ice and you get a fish swimming away near the surface putting a 90 degree bend in your line.

A lip grip, or a good buddy heloing land the fish in the hole can sure help as well.

Dont get hung up on bait either Bmarsh, its overrated for big lakers, good presentation and jig methods with no bait catches the big guys.
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[tmas]

In my experience...
The trickiest part of catching any fish but especially lakers in deep water is getting a solid hookset. I use a custom built ice rod that is about 40" long and has a sensitive tip but lots of backbone. I also use 15lb braid with a 6ft 10lb fluorocarbon leader. This gets rid of the stretch that mono has when you're down deep, and even lets you feel those subtle strikes a lot better. I absolutely hate losing fish and this set up gives me the ability to sink a hook into the hard laker mouths. I change the flouro leader after landing any good sized fish through the ice...better safe than sorry.
Like rbl said, when you're after the big lakers, leave the bait home and learn to give them the presentation they want. It takes a lot of practice (and I need a lot more) to figure out how to present it. Your fish #'s might drop without bait, but you'll be more likely to hook a toad.
Good luck, thoes lakers are addicting.
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[Bmarsh]

Funny to see that setup using braid and mono. I read rebels reply this morning and was thinking of using a flueger reel I use to chuck raps on a big rod I use up on the snake that's loaded up with 20 lb spider wire and do a 10-15 lb fluro leader for the exact reasons you gave. Ill give it a go. Only thing ill need to pick up is some bigger tube jigs and start the learning process. Love targeting a new species and the challenge. Looking forward to it. Thanks for the info fellas.
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