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Rubber band trick. Pull out 10-15 ft of line above where you would normally set your line on the trap spool. Take a cheap very thin rubber band and loop it thru itself onto the line then wrap the band around the spool. Then wind the 10-15 ft of line back on the spool, so when the fish grabs the bait and runs when the line spools out the rubber band will set the hook. If the fish has any size it will break the rubber band but the hook will still be set.
How big are the smelt you are using for bait? We have one reliable place around me but I was out on Friday and was getting smelt that were like 8". I will certainly hang those for pike but they seem much too big for anything but the largest of salmon.
The lake I fish has too many salmon, and they encourage people to keep their limit. This year, I will make a concentrated effort to use a jig pole on one of my holes, and keep track of time jigging, and numbers caught, and give an honest report. Thinking of various Swedish pimples tipped with smelt, and plain jigs tipped with smelts.....we'll see. If I use a 10" auger do they still count🤔
What is an average size salmon in Maine? I know it depends probably on the lake and other things. But I'm from Pa. There is no salmon to speak of around here. Wife likes salmon cakes. Me not so much. No, I will probably not come up to Maine to fish for salmon. But I think it would be neat to say I caught a salmon through the ice or open water. I'm 71 so I doubt I will be back in Maine to do it. Things starting to wear out. LOL! In Pa. my friends and I mostly icefish for panfish. Crappies. Bluegill. Yellow Perch. Have been to your state up by Caribou. Went turkey hunting in the spring a couple years ago near there. Yes, I was successful. Enjoyed the time and the locals. Does not matter how you catch them. Just enjoy the time you get to do it and with your friends.