I usually fish for Lakers in NH,ME and VT.I use a polar trap but any laker set-up should have a light trigger, 15 to 20 ft leader(I like 6-8lb flouocarbon),size 8/6 hook(circle,scud/shrimp,octopus) red or gold if possible,good swivel between line and leader(additional swivel halfway down leader when using smelt-"personal prefrence")and just enough split shot to get your bait to bottom.I fish 3-5 feet from bottom.Bait - What the forage species are in the lake - lakers will feed on.Where I fish,smelt are the main forage species, and therfore we use smelt;but some fisherman will swear by small suckers. Big Lakers are lazy,and presented a meal they don"t have to chase will attack.Smelt,Suckers,Big Shiners,Whitefish will fit in a lakers mouth.Try and find deep water off a shoal area or a sunken deep water island.For additional info
www.fishontario.com(laker articles)and if you are going to try suckers
www.catcherman.com/ice fishing/tips/PUNKIE
Good Luck - Good Fishing