I was thinking of trying ice fishing for lakers this year but have never tried for them before. What months are best? What are some likely depths and structures that lakers like? What do you use for bait? Thanks

Trout season opens about the 15th of January, and goes to about the 31st of March-both inside and outside of the BWCA.
Small glow airplane jigs, glow or white bucktails (3/8 oz) tipped with a Berkley power smelt, Gulp smelt, or a 3 inch white Berkley Power tube on the airplane jig.
The use of a Vexilar or Marcum flasher greatly aids your fishing.
Find a reef that comes from about 50-60 feet, to about 20-30.
Jig halfway down, slowly pumping the lure every few seconds, then stop for about 30 seconds, keep repeating this process.

I was thinking about this too. How would you rig a tipup for lakers, how deep? What bait? Same locations as above?

nathan_ollman,

You can use the same locations as above, but I've found tipups with a Cisco is best left on a muddy/silty/rock free bottom, 40-60 feet, and allow the Trout to run with the bait until it stops.

When it makes it's second run, set the hook.

You can also use a live Rainbow or Sucker on the tipup, but keep it off the bottom about the same distances as the jigging method.

Jigging seems to produce much larger fish when used in the areas and methods described in a previous post.

In the Ely area, fish either Burntside (preferred) or Snowbank.

I'd say the advice TGO gave is about right on the money. The only thing I might add is to rig a SMALL airplane jig with two live chubs hooked through the tail and placed about a foot off the bottom on a tip-up.

I also like to liven up my jigs with a squirt of Dr. Juice.

Can you drive on burntside or do you need a snomobile or 4 wheeler? Are there roads plowed in the winter?

A 4x4 truck is the most comfortable, but an ATV will work unless we get a heavy snowfall.

Contractors plow a few roads, and I usually make a few swipes to get people close to Dollar Island from the Van Vac landing-but this is usually done after the ice thickens which normally is late January.

Give me a call at my shop (9-2:30, Monday-Sat. 9-1 Sundays) and I can tell you a few things about the lake.

218-365-4744

Thanks TGO, We are planning late jan or early february due to my friends schedules so Ill give you a call then. Will the ice be thicker than 42"? should I get an extension? You can forsee the future cant you ;)
Thanks

Will the ice be thicker than 42 inches????

My God, I hope not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well it looks like the plans have changed. I will be coming he last weekend in February. Will the tactics be the same?

Oh yeah, but the ice may be a tad thicker!!

TGO...

Are you recommending tip-ups with a Cisco to be set only halfway down or lying on the bottom?

You can try it either way, suspended or on the bottom.

We caught these mostly half way down using a cisco, good luck. Winter fishing is a lot of fun and no bugs!