rookie to trout fishing help

[jiml]

So here it is....I htink I have finally decided to cut the apron strings and branch out from icing bass pickerel and pike.  Want to go for some lakers this year.  Think I have targeted a good lake to hit that has lakers and is 80 feet deep in some spots.  I have good tipups with large spools cuz I've heard you have to fish lakers deep.

1.  How do I find the lakers in a cold deep water lake?
2.  Hook size?
3.  Leader typr?
4.  Hook size?
5.  Best Bait?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

[Litchfield Fisher]

Not sure how big of lakers you are talking but my set ups consist of a 8 pound test 6' floro leader attached to the main line with a small size 14 or smaller swivel, and attached to a number 4 or 6 snelled hook via another small swivel.  Add small split shot as needed to get your bait down.  I use smelt mainly but suckers work well to.   Look for your touge try to find sharp drop offs particularly around points, or other areas with anomalies things such as a sudden change in bottom structure, an area of debris on the bottom, or any other structure that is going to hold bait.  Don't be afraid to fish shallower either, a lot of our touge last year came in less that 30 feet of water, also don't be afraid to try setting traps up off the bottom, the touge are going to be where the bait is, if there is a school of smelt 20' off the bottom, guess where the touge are going to be.  Good luck

[Pasquatch]

You can find lakers practically anywhere, but here's a place to start.

-Try starting in 30-60 feet of water, and consider setting tipups at several different depths to help you figure out what level they are predominately running at.

-I use a small hook (#14), but that's a lot smaller than most guys will use. A #8 is probably a good size to start with, and then you can experiment as you'd like.

-For leaders, I use 8-10 feet of 4 or 6 pound mono. Attach to the main line with a good barrel swivel.

-I use 3-4" shiners for laker, but smelt are a great option if you have access to them and they are legal where you fish.


I hope that helps.


Best,

Wes

[stripernut]

Where are you going to ice fish for lakers? There is no where in MA that you can Ice fish for lakers (legally)...
If you are running to NH I can send you to some good spots.
Allan

[jiml]

Where are you going to ice fish for lakers? There is no where in MA that you can Ice fish for lakers (legally)...
If you are running to NH I can send you to some good spots.
Allan

I am definately going to NH for the Laker trip.  Was thinking Lake Tarleton or Silver Lake for the first attempt.  But would be up for any suggestions if you want to send to me in a PM>

[natep24]

-I use 3-4" shiners for laker, but smelt are a great option if you have access to them and they are legal where you fish.

how do you hook the shiners or smelt to your hook? do you go through the lips or the belly?

[Pasquatch]

Through the back, right behind the dorsal fin. Try not to hit the backbone!

[thessalaker]

32-36" medium action rod, baitcaster or spinning, with 20lb power pro ice, 2' 20lb florocarbon leader, ball bearing swivel.
my 5 go to lures, for any lake, any day, any where would be:
7" lucky strike canoe spoon, pearl white with large red dot
4" mooselok, white with red dots
large blue/silver hammered little cleo
4" williams whitefish silver and gold hammered finish
white 4" berkely power bait tube jig.
any more lures are a bonus, but those 5 will catch anything you are going to catch.

Jig in 25-40 ft of water, ideally, but if you want to venture into deeper water, jig 20-25 ft from the top, as feeding trout cruise after smelts and herring at that depth. 

on my still line, i use a fishhawk, 15 - 20 lb florocarbon, split shot 1' above ocotpus hook, smallish, with dead smelt hooked just ahead of the dorsal fin so it hangs horizontally.
set 3-6 feet off bottom with this.
let the fish take line till it stops, wait it out, and set the hook shortly after it takes line again for the 2nd time.

that should do it.

[Fish-On-VT]

Litchfield nailed it