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sammyN
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01/27/2016 10:48AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
(I tried using search for some info, but "lake trout fly fishing" will bring back the dictionary)

So, this will be the first year I plan on taking the flyrod to the bw.

(as background, I usually only fly fish for panfish)

I'm planning on going the last weekend in May. Last year, when we opened up the lake trout, they were filled with mayflies. So, a couple of idiot questions (since I mainly fish with poppers, ants and spiders):

a)What would you recommend for a fly for lake trout?
b)Since I'm going to have the flyrod up there, any other patterns for sm bass or pike?
c)I don't tie my own, so, if someone can post some links to images, that would be great.

Looking for any information, no matter how small.

Thanks!
 
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bassnet
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01/27/2016 04:06PM  
I'm just a guy who fly fishes some. There are guys on the forum that fly fish A LOT!!! We catch a lot on Clouser minnows, don't know the size , but about 4in. long. Best color for us has been an olive/white pattern. Sorta takes a certain year, because as soon as the water starts warming, they head deeper. So, what you want is a late ice out. We have caught them 2-4ft. deep, usually 6-8-10-12ft. on sinking lines. We have even drifted with split shot on the leader...got maybe 15ft. You don't have to get real deep, because the fish see really good. The fight is tremendous...a 3-4lb'er on a 7-8wt. is a FIGHT!!! Probably will catch a pike...we usually don't use a leader, just a bunch of flies. But they have titanium leaders, so that is an option. By all means go for it, they are a blast. Hope you get replies from the real good fly fishers, I'm just a homer at fly fishing,m but really like it!
 
Moonman
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02/18/2016 09:22AM  
If you want to catch some lakers end of may, try some trolling. I would use a full sink fly line, type 5, and let out all the fly line and some backing as well. Use streamer patterms more like deceivers etc with a long shank hook. Lakers follow a long ways and sometimes nip the tail end of the fly. The long shank hook will help. My favorite hook in that style is the daaichi 2370. Awesome hook.

Anyway, to up your chances, fish two flies in tandem (if legal where you are fishing). About 18" of line tied to the bend in the hook of the front fly connected to the trailing fly. Place your reeel over the yoke of the canoe with your rod tip going back straight beside you and set your drag accordingly. Without the bend of the rod out to the side, you will get a solid hookset on a strike, even with all that line out. Troll in the same areas you would if spin fishing using a cleo, taildancer etc.

If you want to cast, calm mornings will be best. Use the same full sink line or a clear intermediate line. Woolley buggers, clousers, deceivers, leeches and dragonfly patterns. Concentrate on south facing shorelines. These are best at that time of year. They warm up faster and ideal temp for lakers is 53 degees so they will still be looking for warmer water. Also the warmer water will get the nymphs, minnows and other prey going and moving about, which will attract lakers. i know it seems like it wouldn't matter that much but I have seen it numerous times. One or two degrees difference definitely makes a difference, and especially in the mornings, the lakers will be right up shallow, nose down, picking off insects (brookies too, especially like those south facing shorelines, if they ae present in that lake). Strip your flies in slowly. This gets harder to do if the wind picks up, which it usually does, so then go back to trolling. With a full sink line a fly fisher can get as many lakers as spin fishers.

I should add that the larger lakers eat way more minnows and ciscoes than mayflies and other nymphs. They like their meat! A lot of lake fishing info for trout is based on the preferences of rainbows, which like insects far more than the chars - lakers and brookies.

Moonman.
 
CrookedPaddler1
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02/18/2016 10:45AM  
I have been told by several reliable sources that a weighted helgramite pattern is the key for ice out lakers on the fly rod. Have not had an opportunity to try that out, but I would say that is a good place to start.
 
smokedwhitefish
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01/25/2017 10:54PM  
 
smokedwhitefish
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01/25/2017 10:58PM  
I don't know how to upright my photos, but for what it's worth, I troll with this Scotty apparatus.
 
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