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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,184 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,184 Likes: 1 |
I have been trying to catch a laker now since I was 12 years old with no success. I've fished for them from shore, trolling, through the ice you name it with no luck.
Any of you guys have any advice to offer? I wouldn't keep a big one if I were to hang into one, might keep a little one for supper just to see how they taste.
I have trolling gear, spoons, cowbells, flashers of several sizes, as well as a downrigger. Of course the normal spinning gear everyone has, tons of Vibrax, Mepps, Panther Martins and a zillion casting spoons. I have a boat and motor but it isn't much if the water is big, 12' Monkey Ward semi Vee and a 15hp Rude.
I have thought of going to Louise but know the wind can kick up and get nasty there pretty quick. Might try Paxson if I can get up there, long drive to head in blind.
Anyway, whatever you have to offer would be appreciated as well as laker pictures and stories. I've only ever layed eyes on one in the flesh and it was one my Grandad caught when I was 12.
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,047
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,047 |
"The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants".
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,493
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,493 |
Been years since I fished Louise or Hidden but both should be able to produce an eating size lake trout. I've fished LTs for over 60 years and I seldom hear your comment about releasing big ones. Thank you....some of the old trout can be as old as I am and need to be released to reproduce.
Today's fish finders are a great help and line counter reels [Shimano Takota LC] are a plus.
If you don't know where your lure is you're not fishing....you're just wishing!
PM me with your email and perhaps I can steer you toward a lake trout.
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 919
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 919 |
The outlet of Paxson in the spring when the smolt are heading down is a good bet. Might be a week or so late but I bet there's still a few hanging out there.
Fish the outlet at "night", that's when the smolt move down stream. basically spend the night there. Anything flashy will work and it's a great spot to catch a laker on the fly
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,840
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,840 |
Come on up to Lake Ontario I'll put you on as many as you care to catch Hammerhead cowbells and Gambler Rig spin and glows fished just off bottom will get you many.
My dog is a member of the "Turd Like Clan"
Covert Trail Cameras are JUNK
3 Time Dinkathon Champion #DinkGOAT
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 20,683
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 20,683 |
Lordy there's some big lake trout around
Of the ones I'm aware of involve a plane trip.
Good luck in your quest for a laker
When you score share the pix please
I'm pretty certain when we sing our anthem and mention the land of the free, the original intent didn't mean cell phones, food stamps and birth control.
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,184 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,184 Likes: 1 |
Thanks for the pointers and pictures fellas. I'll nab one one of these days.
Buddy of mine's wife caught a monster 35+ pounder out of Louise about 7 years ago. She thought she was snagged as they slow trolled Krocodile spoons until it slowly took off and picked up speed. They took photos and released it, biologist at Glenallen nearly shook their hands off thanking them for turning that big spawner loose. Funniest part of the whole deal is that they were fishing in a freaking Coleman Crawdad! If you aren't familiar with such a vessel Google it. If you are familiar with Lake Louise I think you'll agree with me that it isn't the ideal watercraft for the area.
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,934
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,934 |
Lake trout are not difficult to catch ....... but finding them can be the tricky part.
I smoke dozens of them each year. I cut along the spine so they lay flat, brine for a few hrs and smoke for 6-8 hrs. Extremely taste and can be served in many ways once smoked. I give most away and am usually asked for more.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 15,378
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 15,378 |
We go every year an knock them out ....at ice out break out the chartuse, lime green minnows... No fish in Paxton till after 10 pm ...lol those are our rules..use cut bait they eat snails off the bottom ,like they are going out of style !
I work harder than a ugly stripper....
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,349
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,349 |
I have fished Paxson and Summit a lot. A LOT. The best times to wack them from shore is right after ice out and in the fall when they are spawning. The fishing in Summit when they are spawning is ridiculous if you can find where they are spawning, not unusual to catch 50+ fish in a couple of hours. I would use a Mr Twister sassy shad. Any chartreuse jig will work though.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,485
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,485 |
Hmm, good info, drive past both lakes quite often, never had the time or a boat, or knowledge, but now that I know will pencil in for the future.
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,349
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,349 |
This picture was taken up at Summit during the spawn. This spot was good year after year, and it was within walking distance of the denali highway. :-) If you look closely you can see all the lakers just milling around. As soon as the jig hit the water it would be a race to get to it first.
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,634
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,634 |
Try Big RoundTangle and portage over to upper Tangle lake. A little work but great results. Lower String Tagle is crazy good on Mel's but you have to commit to the Delta river trip when your that far in
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,485
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,485 |
if you look closely.... LOL I'm not THAT blind....
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,184 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,184 Likes: 1 |
Holy smokes Hank! Looks like a magnum version of the bluegill spawn back home. Unfortunately the way things are shaping up it doesn't look like I'll get a chance to try them until July at the earliest but it is definitely on my to do list.
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 912
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 912 |
River outlets into big lakes always seemed to have lake trout lurking in the Bristol Bay Area. They would hit streamer flies in almost any shape or color. This was during the summer. I saw many caught several hundred yards into the river.
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 483
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 483 |
You can also try Long lake on the Glenn Hwy north of Palmer. We used to fish that one a lot and would hook into lakers all the time. They're generally not very big ones. I think the biggest we ever caught was about 10 pounds. You get some nice dollies out of there too. Paxson produced quite a few lakers, but I've only fished it during the winter. We'd generally find them in spots that were between 20 and 40 feet of water.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,840
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,840 |
Fished this past Friday with my charter buddy,we targeted lakers for a derby.We ended up with 1st and 5th place.I fished Tuesday with another friend and we landed the 4th place fish. 21.1 lbs was the winning laker for us
My dog is a member of the "Turd Like Clan"
Covert Trail Cameras are JUNK
3 Time Dinkathon Champion #DinkGOAT
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,485
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,485 |
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 4,085 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 4,085 Likes: 1 |
Man I'm jealous, big Trout around here are 8- 10 lbs .
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