I'm starting to think a little bit about jigging for lakers after they begin their summer decent. I tried a little bit last year and all I got was a few whitefish. They were actually kind of fun to catch, however.

My M.O. last year was to paddle around looking for fish on my sonar, drop my jig and proceed to jig it up and down using full rod sweeping action as described in Furtman's book. I was using a 1/2 oz Buck shot rattling spoon with 8# mono, and a 6.5' med. wt.spining rod.

I would like a few suggestions from both members and nonmember's regarding their preferred jigging lures, to tip with live bait or not, and if mono or braid is a better choice for deep water jigging.

I'm thinking about picking up a Heddon Sonar and maybe Reef Runner Cicada in the 1/2 - 3/4 oz size....... What do you think?

Thanks, gbusk

I've always thought of Big Hair jigs upwards of an ounce for lakers. I was gonna post a link to BPS but couldn't find them

something like them

Like this but bigger & heavier

Superlines are best for deep water as you can set the hook much easier. Try a crippled herring, which is a big heavy jigging spoon. NOrthland's whistler jig has taken a lot of fish as well. Lots of guys are using big white tubes like you'd use for bass.

I threw a plastic lizard on the jig when I was fishing for supper one summer evening, and it worked. I had a mild breeze and drifted with it, just raising it slowly and dropping it. It was August and I caught mine in only 30-35'.

I will second the white tube jig, works summer or winter, the other methods described work well also, Hey thanks for the tip on T C The owner was very nice and the place was great, and youre always close to some good grub.

gbusk,

You can use a Buckshot Rattle Spoon, Swedish Pimple, Kastmaster, Gapen Jigging Spoon, whatever, and tip it with a Berkley 1 Inch Power Nymph (Olive & Shad).
Slowly jig it up and down, varying the length and frequency.
You will also have success with a tube jig and a 3 inch white Berkley Power Tube, using the same jigging method described above.
You do not have to be near the bottom, as a trout will come a long way to strike a jig.
20-30 feet off the bottom is fine.