After having dropped no small sum of $$ on my WCPP fishing strategy I have done a 180 and have decided to go to Isle Royale instead. Coaster brook trout will definitely be in play but I have never caught one and there seems to be an absence of info on the web. I am thinking a 1/4 oz daredevil but I don't know much about them.

I also wonder if they are susceptible to a garlic flavored marshmallow fished on the bottom. I have caught quite a few trout that way......wouldn't hurt to try I guess.

So what do you guys and gals think? Coasters can run big, it sure would be nice to catch some.

Are you spin fishing or fly fishing?

1/4 to 3/8 oz panther martins if you are spin fishing. in white or yellow

strip streamers if fly fishing.

coasters are cool. Never caught them off of Isle Royal but have caught them on the South Shore in two different rivers. Fish of a lifetime!

Have fished a few of the rivers up the north shore. Have never caught a big main lake/coaster brookie but have caught a few smaller ones upstream. I am not a fly fisherman and use night crawlers. I talked to a couple local fisherman hiking the temperance river and they were both using crawlers as well and they told me they would catch everything from loopers, pinks, and even the rare brookie and king (This was mid September last year).

I would also bring a couple small castmaster spoons (or something similar) and maybe some panthe martin type spinners. You also might want to check the regulations on using trebible hooks in or near the lake superior tributaries. I don't know if the same rules apply to isle royal as the main land.

DJ

Brookies are catch and release only. This particular page isn't very clear whether barbless hooks and artificial bait are regulations or suggestions for conservation. Good luck! I hope to spend a week on Isle Royale this year too! Post a trip report with pics of your 20"+ brookies!

RM

i cant personally speak of catching coasters , but a very under rated lure is the shyster spinner by luhr jensen . middle bottom

You guys have caught brookies on spinners in lakes? I usually get follows with spinners on lakes but do well with spinners on rivers. I have always done better in still waters with spoons. I will be spin fishing in August and am trying to think outside the box. I wonder how those Moonshine Shiver jigs would do?

There is little doubt I will be bringing in a big flat of conditioned super crawlers mostly for the rumored small population of outsize walleye in some of the protected Superior bays......are they there? 4lb test and a tiny hook will tell the tail if I can put it in front of them.......but an air filled crawler still fished off the bottom might catch anything including a coaster.

There is a few Utube videos about Coaster brook trout fishing on Superior which were entertaining but taken in June. I can't help but wonder at what depth Coasters should be in August and if they would be near shore or off.

I also have a sneaking suspicion that the Mega bass deep 6 might be a very good choice for what is likely to be a fish eater.

A 20" Brookie would be a dream fish for me. All the "big" brook trout I have caught measured between 12 and 14".

^^^ i'm sure all methods can produce but to target brooktrout off of island royale in august is the big question, sorry MT no personal experience there just thought. it does have its depths and 1 never knows, a crawler off the bottom , yes, but where ? and how long you going stay there until your line moves and be bored ? a K.O. wobbler covers alot of water with a smaller profile, cast like a bullet.

quote shock: "^^^ i'm sure all methods can produce but to target brooktrout off of island royale in august is the big question, sorry MT no personal experience there just thought. it does have its depths and 1 never knows, a crawler off the bottom , yes, but where ? and how long you going stay there until your line moves and be bored ? a K.O. wobbler covers alot of water with a smaller profile, cast like a bullet. "

Now that's what I'm talking about!.......K.O. Wobbler.......looks great and with a name like that how can I miss? I'll get a few.

Crawler still fished on the bottom will be right outside my screened in shelter of course weighed down with a big flat rock. I need to remember to pack a bell so while I'm reading or writing I can be abruptly brought up to speed. I'll sprinkle magic dust on it and call it tinkle bell.

Shock......the hook is your doing? I like the bit of flasabou as well, nice!

I guess I will just get some pre-made gamakatsu feathered trebles to put on.....probably just white.

a crawler set up just outside your screened shelter sounds like my kind of fishing ;) , no the dressed treble i purchased off of ebay, i put different color combinations on all my spoons, the hot pink spoon i did myself. and the gold/orange cleo with the blk/wht dress has been money for me, the K.O. wobbler is orange on the backside, how many trips have you done to island royale ? sounds like a great adventure

here's an added link. K.O. Wobbler

Been there twice Shock. Once Backpacking for 9 days......very hard to fish from shore and I ended up wading most of the trip. Then 4 of us spent something like 10 days paddling.....very nice.

Unless someone convinces me otherwise I will probably put my faith in spoons for the Coasters. Hopefully I can get a few to chew.

i've always said "confidence has alot to do with success" go with what got you there with spoons, and i'm sure you'll like the K.O. wobbler(action & castabilty)

I am also thinking about bringing some Ugly Duckling lures. I trout fished with a guy in Tennessee I had met on another forum and he turned me on to these.......he caught twin 20" rainbows (largest he had ever caught on this small stocked stream) on a very cold morning and that was all the proof I needed. They are a balsa wood crankbait and they seemed to do the trick......coupled with light line so the balsa can strut its stuff it might be a viable option.

Ugly Duckling

I'm sort of kicking myself.......I spent a small fortune getting ready for WCPP trip and now I still am in need........Oh well, the big pike base is covered and so is lake trout.......walleye at Isle Royale (if they are even there) only need a small hook and a really big crawler but I guess I will bring a few Chatterbaits and Big Bite Bait swimbaits just because I have already bought them......who knows?

Is there any substantial cold water stream on Isle Royale flowing into Lake Superior.
Always heard the streams on the north end of Lake Superior are good.

Also has anyone tried to canoe the big bays?

Crawler still fished on the bottom will be right outside my screened in shelter of course weighed down with a big flat rock. I need to remember to pack a bell so while I'm reading or writing I can be abruptly brought up to speed. I'll sprinkle magic dust on it and call it tinkle bell. "

Surprised no one has spoken about the delicate resource of the Coaster. The regulations for Coaster fishing on Isle Royale are restrictive to help preserve the species.

The unattended crawler fishing method you mention seems like a sure-fire swallowed bait resulting in a dead Coaster.... I'd go with the casting and trolling baits mentioned.

Be careful out there.

Unattended crawler fishing........sounds rather irresponsible. I'll pull up a seat more than likely and have my Nook handy and a wee little bell. Any swallowed bait with a coaster and I will merely cut the line and leave the hook, no harm done.

Why am I going to be surprised if something actually bites my soaking crawler? Maybe I can catch some perch with my unattended crawlers.......those are really good to eat and I suspect they might run rather large. Definitely gotta go in with a bunch of big fat conditioned crawlers. Who knows what a guy might catch with those. Now I'm wishing I hadn't given away all my bait running reels to a scout troop.......seems like that might work rather well. Ease around real slow like with the rod in a rod holder and with the bait runner on and a big crawler a few feet off the bottom. I love that sound ;-)

Slow-trolling this 'wabbler' (Lake Clear Wabbler) with a small 4" nightcrawler trailing was the most effective way I have found to put Adirondack brookies in the boat when fishing big water.

I usually had a longer leader than they recommend on this YouTube video.. I almost always used leaders 4-5 feet long. I always used a long leader in water under 25 feet deep. Super-clear lakes, super-beautiful fish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFrttVlJSB8

I caught a lot of south-shore coasters back in the day. They are actually quite aggressive. Typically, if you can find them, they will bite whatever you throw at them.

Well I was really looking forward to using crawlers and trying for the big walleye which I know can't resist such a morsel but au' contraire there is a bait ban on the island. Geez, what a bummer.

I checked out the lake clear wabblers and they do look impressive to me. Thanks for posting.......I wonder how they would do with an Ugly Duckling behind them? I'm planning on removing both treble hooks and getting a Trokar salmon hook to put on the back. I find that bigger trout tend to shake free from smaller treble hooks. I also have some lake trout / salmon "flys" I might run behind them. Pretty nifty how the wobble of the spoon creates a darting action for the fly in the video.....good stuff.

Coasters are aggressive? Good deal.......maybe I will be able to top my personal best on brook trout. I bet they put up a good fight on light tackle. I will have the Ram mounted selfie stick with camera ready so I can get off a really quick pic and then slide them back in.

I have spent all day fishing some of those Superior bays without so much as a sniff never mind a bite. She is a cold beautiful lady......it might take some time to get her to look my way.

Ordered the Ugly ducklings, K.O. wobblers, Daredevils (1/4 oz), and the Lake Clear wabblers . I suppose I should of picked up a few little cleos but there are probably some out in a box somewhere. I suppose that should give me a decent Coaster selection.

I really like the Wabbler concept and think I might give them a go on Lake Erie for walleye coupled with a crawler.......I don't know anybody fishing them, might be something different than just another crawler harness. Man, these have been around for a long time and I am just getting wind of them. Fishing, always something new to learn.

One good thing about fishing in Michigan waters is I will be able to run 2 lines. Just have to remember to set up another rod holder. Shadzilla on one rod and a little spoon on the other.

I have had good success with this.

http://www.mepps.com/information/syclops/163#description~SY1%20HFT

That is for brookies in northern Quebec (near Kuujuuac) from 2 to 5 lbs. They tore them up. It isn't Labrador, but beautiful fish in good sizes. I know the 12-14 inchers are nice stateside. I did get one in Maine, Allagash Lake that was about 22 inches.

Everything on the upper left will work for any Brookie anywhere.

A good old cleo is hard to beat.

Basspro,
You need some panther martins in that mix starting with #4, yellow with silver blade.

Hex

quote hexnymph: "Basspro,
You need some panther martins in that mix starting with #4, yellow with silver blade.


Hex"

+1

There are more Utube videos than I thought on Coaster brook trout fishing on Lake Superior. Interesting stuff..... little bigger lures than I would of first thought.....prime time seems to be May and June. That must mean shallow I suppose.

Not sure what they do after that. Probably deeper but maybe not as deep as Lakers? Or heck who knows, maybe they stay shallow?

Perhaps I should bring some jet divers.......they do well in 20 and 30 ft to get stuff down on a troll. You guys keep talking spinners........I can count on one hand the number of trout I have caught on a spinner lake fishing, lots in a river though and is usually tops. OK......I will bring some bigger rooster tails just because everyone keeps banging the spinner drum.

Options......thats how I need to think. I have lots of time but I have to make sure I have plenty of options.

I loved the Mepps Black Fury for Brookies anywhere.

quote hexnymph: "Basspro,
You need some panther martins in that mix starting with #4, yellow with silver blade.


Hex"

I will add them to the lineup :-0

I wonder if they would eat an ultra realistic swimbait? I have a few of these Mega bass swimbaits and they look good to me. Try them shallow but they also might produce behind a jet diver or a dipsy. I definitely want to try some things which are outside the box thinking. These are a bit bigger than what most guys would consider as a brook trout lure.

Mega bass

quote mastertangler: "I definitely want to try some things which are outside the box thinking.
"

use Budlight cap

outta the box thinking lure

quote bobbernumber3: "

quote mastertangler: "I definitely want to try some things which are outside the box thinking.
"

use Budlight cap


outta the box thinking lure "

What self respecting fisherman would use a Bud light cap? Obviously nothing less than a Dogfish head 90 minute IPA will do ;-)

Could I be so bold to recommend a Headlock lure? I have it on good authority they're awesome.

quote BnD: "Could I be so bold to recommend a Headlock lure? I have it on good authority they're awesome."

Well hopefully I will be able to give a personal recommendation. I will definitely be taking it with me. Who knows what will come out to eat that thing......I bet they could see it for at least 50ft. There has to be some very scary lake trout around that island. Come on with me BnD........I just know we would hit it off great! Couple of grumpy old geezers, I'll bring some chalk so we can divide the Park service shelters. And no you can't read my Nook and yes I will give you some fish to eat.

I had never heard of a coaster brook trout.............those are beautiful.

Any update on how this trip went?

Latest episode of Superior Angling covers casting for coasters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHnSNlA5bmg&t=509s

Cheers, thegildedgopher

Masterangler, brook trout will eat anything! Biggest brookie I ever caught (19 inches) was caught using a red bill dance eel. Happened to be the first fish I ever caught on that lure also.

I used to catch dozens of them in streams on the south shore towards the end of season. They are very aggressive, and are not the least bit picky. They probably averaged 17-18", but anything up to 24 was not unusual. As I got older and came to appreciate how rare they were on the US side, I was less inclined to fish them. In early October when the river was low (and season is closed) you could see pods of dozens of them spawning. Unfortunately there were a lot of salmon and steelhead in the river with them as well.