3. Tube Jigs
The Tube Jig is considered a multi-species lure. It is as good on Bass as it is on Lake Trout. The biggest difference is the depth at which it is presented.
Over time, Lake Trout enthusiasts have experimented with soft plastics, like tube baits. What they came up with was that a white tube jig is a killer!
Whether early in the season, up shallow during ice-out, or in the frigid waters under the winter ice, the tube jig is a phenomenal Lake Trout catcher.
During the early season, tie on a white tube with a 3/8-ounce tube head and work the shallows to mid-range depths, almost like you were Musky, Pike or Bass fishing. Make sure, though, that you occasionally (or often, depending on the fish’s activity level) impart action into the tube. These fish often react to the radical movements of a tube jig.
When you’re ice fishing, it’s obviously vertical jigging time. The assistance of a fishfinder is extremely helpful. That way, you can watch how fish react to your tube. Now and then, reel the tube directly up to the hole, enticing an aggressive laker to follow and hopefully strike. There are times when a seemingly lethargic Lake Trout can get fired up with a quick bait sprint towards the lake’s surface. There are other times when Lake Trout will literally swim directly under the ice, as witnessed by The Fish Talk Doc, Gord Pyzer.
4. Swimbaits
The swimbait is another lure that has transitioned from the bass world and spread throughout the entire fishing universe. Lake Trout anglers have 100% joined the swimbait movement.
Swimbaits for lakers can be used in two basic modes: swimming it, as the name implies, or working it like a jig.
We shot an episode in Northern BC where we used oversized swimbaits in 30+ feet of water and destroyed the Lake Trout. Essentially, we cast out as far as we could from the boat, let the big swimbaits hit bottom, then lifted them and, with full control, slowly dropped them on a taut line. Those western lakers went nuts for it!
Had those fish been in less than 20 feet of water, we would likely have swum the swimbaits back just like we would with a spoon or any other casting bait.
5. Jigs (Spoons and Bucktails)
And finally, the jig—the clean-up bait used pretty much all around the world. Well, laker lovers, the jig is a damn good Lake Trout bait as well. We use two jig types: jigging spoons and bucktail jigs (tubes are essentially jigs, too, but we often use them differently).
The Jigging Spoon
Let’s start with the jigging spoon. This is a bait that we have used since we were kids when ice fishing for Lake Trout. A Mr. Champ or an Acme Kastmaster was the deal. The only choices you have to make were weight and gold or silver. Today there is an array of jigging spoons out there, and they all do a great job catching Lake Trout. The beauty of these lures is they are not limited to ice fishing. They are perfect for any time that a vertical presentation is necessary.
Check out how effective jigging spoons are in this Fish’n Canada episode on late-season Smallmouth. The same technique can be used on Lake Trout.
Find your fish on the fishfinder, drop straight down to them, and start imparting some action. Use your fishfinder to read the body language of the fish and adjust your cadence accordingly.
The Bucktail Jig
Next is the bucktail jig—talk about old school!
We got on to the bucktail/laker combo back in our 1998/99 season. We were fishing out of Selwyn Lake Lodge and doing the usual casting for Pike and trolling for Lake Trout. One of the guides asked us if we wanted to go over to a deep hole and vertical jig lakers. We agreed. That guide dropped a gigantic white bucktail jig with a piece of sucker belly straight below the boat and instantly hooked up with a 10-pound Lake Trout. After five or six more fish in as many drops, we were sold.
The bucktail is not at all a fancy trout bait. It is simply something that attracts those aggressive bottom-dwellers into taking a swipe.
Do not forget your bucktails!
CONCLUSION
As with all our “Top” lists, we realize that there are many more options to be written about. That said, if you were to bring along any or all five of the above suggestions the next time you go Lake Trout fishing, we’re pretty sure you’ll connect to one of nature’s oldest and toughest predators.
Good luck.