Emerald shiners for Lake Trout???

[Hunter]

I'm kind of new to the ice fishing world could someone tell me if emerald shiners(icicles) are any good for lake trout bait??

[hunters08]

yes larger emeralds work great!!!!!

[icedauber]

We use them all the time on the king.

[jimski2]

Boats drifting the mouth of the Niagara River catch Lakers and Browns all winter long using emeralds. A 3 way rig, 6 foot leaders, 6 # test flourocarbon leaders,  emeralds hooked through the nose and a light sinker to hold bottom. A 20 laker on 6# line is something to remember. Last year a 30# brown was taken, see "The Great Lakes Fisherman" magazine, January 2006 issue.

[NYFishFinder]

Depends on what lake your fishing.....Smelt is your best bet for lakers if the lake allows it. 

[AD]

Boats drifting the mouth of the Niagara River catch Lakers and Browns all winter long using emeralds. A 3 way rig, 6 foot leaders, 6 # test flourocarbon leaders,  emeralds hooked through the nose and a light sinker to hold bottom. A 20 laker on 6# line is something to remember. Last year a 30# brown was taken, see "The Great Lakes Fisherman" magazine, January 2006 issue.

I got a 15lb laker there last year on a emeralds.   Seems that lakers do indeed liek larger emeralds if you can find them to use for bait

[camo_fish]

IF the lake allows smelt, or has smelt, in it. Go with the smelt.
If you only have emeralds, they will work, but I'd try and jig up some smelt and replace them with your emeralds and then use 1/2 of one on your bigger jig or the lakers while your tipups have smelt on them.

If your just jigging, emeralds are just fine. 

[Jack Hunter]

I agree with the previous posts.  I too have had good luck with emeralds.  So good in fact that I've never used anything else.  Of course I may be missing out with all this talk about smelt.

[coldbum]

All I know is I could not buy a flag on shiners or suckers this weekend. SMELT was the key to success!

[sailfish]

I'm kind of new to the ice fishing world could someone tell me if emerald shiners(icicles) are any good for lake trout bait??
  shiners are good I have good luck by switching every other tip-up with smelt.

[Carpfer]

Emralds work for EVERYTHING! love em! if you buy them in Buffalo form the place on Niagara and Ontario street. just go across the street to the river thats where they dip for them. that is if you can distract the Vietnamese that take them by the bucket full to make "emrald shiner paste" where do you all dip for bait?  I choose the Niagara....