Icing Winter Lake Trout
Rafal KraskiewiczWhen water temperatures drop and the top layer solidifies into ice, one of a lake's top predators comes out to play. Following their fall spawn, lake trout are eager to regain their energy by doing the other thing they love -- eating. Unlike warm water species which tend to hunker down in the winter, the cold water means the fish are comfortable roaming any depth. It is also a time Lake Trout become accessible to anglers without the need for fancy gear; no downriggers, not even a boat.
Winter lake trout have a voracious appetite and will eat a variety of foods ranging from baitfish such as cisco, smelt, alewife, sculpin, perch to tiny invertebrates floating in the water. The old adage is true -- lure colour should match the hatch, and this usually depends on depth of water you are fishing. In deeper water, it is tough to beat white, nickle or gold -- mimicking deep water food sources. In shallower (sub-30') depths, perch, olive and bright colours will work, though once again, you can't miss with white or something flashy. They will hit lures of any size, from tiny crappie jigs to giant spoons. Some days, an aggressive presentation such as a spoon jigged hard will produce shoulder dislocating hits while other days, a tube slowly spiralling down to the bottom will be picked up ever so slightly -- it can pay to be a good line watcher and to switch up when something is not working.
As mentioned earlier, the fish can be found anywhere however, deep water shoals, points, neckdowns, and steep shorelines where they can sit and ambush their prey are good places to start. These are all places their forage will roam. In order to catch a predator, you must think like one.
Finally, these fish tend to be very nomadic and will move throughout the day -- chasing pods of bait. You can sit in a spot all day and wait for the fish to come to you however, the ability to move and drill holes can really increase your odds for success. A power auger will save your arms and, if fishing a large body of water, an ATV or snowmobile will save your legs and time. Another great tool that has gained popularity is the use of a flasher or graph. You will usually see the fish come up from the bottom, sometimes 20-30' to hit your lure. If you see schools of baitfish on your screen, you can be sure that lake trout are not far behind.
If you're tired of icing wee little panfish this winter, why not give lake trout a chance?
