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Jackfish
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04/05/2018 03:20PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I'll be heading into lake trout country near the end of June and, in spite of all the years I've been going to Q, this will be the first time I will be fishing for lakers.

What are the best lures to bring and, besides trolling, what do I need to know to find them? Color? Vertical jigging? Depth? If real deep, how do I get the lure down to the fish?

(I have Cannon downriggers and 5# balls all ready to go... HA!)
 
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mastertangler
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04/05/2018 03:33PM  
Its a blast........I hooked my first one by accident trolling a crank bait for walleye, a solid 8lb fish and it fought like it was going to be a 20lb pike. They are an awesome fish. Now I go expecting to catch them but it doesn't always happen.

I troll large tail dancers in rainbow trout on 8lb green XT and whack them fairly regularly. Put the lure way back and troll at a medium speed. I just troll main lake basins. I certainly am no expert when it comes to catching them but I still seem to score using this method.

Morning and evening is walleye time and mid day is laker fishing, at least in August when I usually can go.

I would like to jig for them but first you have to find them and that means either electronics or trolling or both. White grubs or tubes seem to get the nod from what I have heard.
 
Basspro69
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04/05/2018 03:37PM  
Little cleos for zero to 15 feet they will come up from deep to get them, various deep diving plugs, and my favorite for jigging a 3 inch white Berkley power tube.
 
icefishbaby
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04/05/2018 03:37PM  
I have done like most-troll with spoons or tail dancers and a 1.5 oz weight and let out a ton of line. Works. I do this if traveling from lake to lake and need to paddle anyway. I used to do this to fish, too much work. Last year, tried jigging and loved it. Caught my biggest laker at 34 inches. Looks crazy and costs a lot, but used a white bondy bait. Can troll it (caught fish this way heading upwind after a drift), make contact with the bottom (even in 100 foot on a calm day easy to do), then jig. Every so often, reel up and drop back down again. Was really fun. This year plan on trying steel shad blade baits for lakers jigging, will report in June how it goes. Bondy baits are about $20, so tried one last year, bringing three up this year in case I lose one on the bottom. Many ways to catch lakers-best advice, find a good lake.
 
mastertangler
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04/05/2018 03:43PM  
Hear that Jackfish? Bondy baits.........you don't have to bring a 5lb cannonball, I think Bondy Baits are already around 5lbs ;-)
 
MrBadExample
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04/05/2018 03:50PM  
I’d start with trolling raps or spoons. Look into the various ways of adding weight to the line for getting them down deeper. I’m no expert, but, I’d bet they are going to be a little deeper by that time of year.


Jig with spoons or white tube jigs if you find them.

Have fun!
 
Savage Voyageur
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04/05/2018 03:58PM  
Purple Tail Dancers and Blue Little Cleo’s spoons. The end of June they will be deeper. I would use snap weights until you find them.
 
04/05/2018 05:53PM  
My preferred method is slow trolling, drifting, and jigging for them. My go to lure is either a 3 “ or 4” white tube jig, or a 1/2 to 1 oz. leadhead tipped with either a 3 “ white twister, or a 3” white double twister tail. I usually go late June, or early July and many times they are not as deep as you might think. Was on Thomas Lake the end of June, and the Lakers were hitting in the 30 foot range. The water was 60 to 100 feet where the fish were caught, they may have been coming up from the depths, but when I tried to fish deeper in areas I was catching fish I had no luck. That being said, a old Inuit guide that I fished with up in Nanuvit told me that if you want to catch monster Lakers to fish deep water, close to shallow structure and to fish SLOW !! He said the truly huge trout don’t like to chase their food, they wait for food to come to them.
 
Yellowbird
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04/06/2018 06:27AM  

My go to bait for trout. Don't know the name, some product of Bomber. I trail it behind a one ounce weight.
 
QueticoMike
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04/06/2018 07:20AM  
Lake Trout

The 3-1/4”, hammered silver, Dr. Spoon is the first choice when it comes to spring trolling for lake trout. In the spring, target areas in the 8 to 10 foot range, just outside the areas you would be looking for smallmouth. Look for gently slopping, rocky, rubble type areas. You don’t want to be in an area that appears to be a straight drop off from the shore. If you view the shore line, you can make a good determination of what the structure should hold beneath the surface.

I am still looking for that elusive trophy “laker”. Some people in the Ely area have told me if you want to catch an enormous lake trout you need to fish early in the season, just after ice out, and troll the shallow areas with a 4-1/2” nickel plated Dardevle Spoon. The nickel color imitates a cisco or whitefish which are the primary forage for these fish.

These two spoons can be cast or trolled during the early spring phase. When the water begins to warm, these trout will move to deep water on reefs located next to adjacent deeper water. The summer time phase is when you will need to troll deeper. This can be accomplished by adding weight to your line with a three-way swivel. Tie off about three feet of leader line to the middle loop of the swivel and tie on your spoon. On the bottom loop tie on about a foot and half of line with a one ounce weight at the far end of this line. Tie the remaining loop to the line on your reel. Let out plenty of line, at least 120 feet while trolling the depths of the lake. With the three-way swivel set up, if you do happen to snag up, there is a good chance you will just lose your weight and will be able to retrieve your lure. These spoons can also be jigged vertically over deep reefs as well.

Another good trout lure to use in warm water is the one ounce hair or plastic jig. White or black colors seem to work best while vertical jigging over a deep reef. I prefer to use white. You will need to lift the rod a little higher when jigging at extreme depths. Since you will be fishing so deep you probably won’t feel the hit itself as most of the strikes come during the drop. You will just feel a heavier weight on the line, when you do, set the hook as hard as you can.
 
trailcheif
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04/06/2018 07:33AM  
My vote is for the D.R.
 
04/06/2018 07:49AM  
mastertangler: "Hear that Jackfish? Bondy baits.........you don't have to bring a 5lb cannonball, I think Bondy Baits are already around 5lbs ;-)"

Looks like you would need to bring a lot of Aleve to jig one of those things all day!
 
04/06/2018 07:51AM  
I contour troll a 4-6" crankbait in the 30'-40' depth range. I also troll for suspended fish in this depth range. My best LT areas all seem to be in mid lake areas with 80-120 fow and have relatively steep breaks on 2 sides. I think the wind, fish or just the natural bowl effect of this type of structure corals pelagic bait fish consistently. Once you find areas like this they seam to hold fish all year.
 
carmike
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04/06/2018 08:04AM  
Looks like y'all got it covered.

If I only had one lure, forever, it would be a TailDancer. Second would be a spoon, which works for trolling and casting/jigging.

I generally have better luck with the big version of most lures. #9 Jigging raps, BIG swedish pimples, and big (1 oz. +) maribou jigs are some awesome ones for jigging and casting. I also like big softplastic swimbaits/boot-tails and 5'' kalin's twister tails.
 
BigBearArlich
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04/06/2018 09:41AM  
KO Wobbler. Was the most effective lure my group has used for Lake Trout by far. Homemade salted minnows. Deadly.

Since our last LT trip my friend has caught 4 other species on this lure, and its become a permanent fixture in our tackle boxes.
 
04/06/2018 10:00AM  
These rattlin' Storm ThinFins can be especially effective in purpledescent, silver and blue/silver. A deep diving version is out there as well but I haven't yet tracked down a link. I'll keep looking and try to post up.
 
zski
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04/06/2018 11:50AM  
#1 Mann's 30+
#2 Storm Deep Thunderstick
both in silver/shad or rainbow trout finish
I don't have any taildancers and purchased thundersticks to save a few bucks. Have not had much reason to change or add to the collection (what works...). from what folks say here, I suspect taildancers are similar to Storm TS, if not better.
our trips have all been early to late june.
 
smokedwhitefish
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04/06/2018 01:12PM  
In 2016 I made my first trip targeting lake trout. It was mid August and I didn't know what to expect, so I brought about ten pounds of spoons, raps, split shot, snap on lead sinkers, you name it... The lake I was fishing was 160+ feet deep. By the end of the week long trip I had caught more lake trout than I could count, all trolling in 40 fow or less, and all without switching from my 2oz blue and silver kastmaster.

RM
 
mastertangler
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04/06/2018 03:34PM  
Yellowbird: "
My go to bait for trout. Don't know the name, some product of Bomber. I trail it behind a one ounce weight."


Wow, I like the looks of that! Definitely a lure I would use. I bet you could get at least 30ft out of that without the added sinker. Big lure = big fish. I like the color as well, looks like it would mimic a cisco fairly well. I like it.
 
mastertangler
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04/06/2018 03:39PM  
AmarilloJim: "
mastertangler: "Hear that Jackfish? Bondy baits.........you don't have to bring a 5lb cannonball, I think Bondy Baits are already around 5lbs ;-)"

Looks like you would need to bring a lot of Aleve to jig one of those things all day!"


I know right! Deep Jigging big baits while sitting in a canoe is not so much fun in my book.....Different than being able to stand and jig in a boat thats for sure. I think I jigged the Bondy for about 1/2 hour in WCPP and got bored stiff and moved onto something else. Definitely a trophy fish kind of bait though.

If you could mark the lakers on electronics first and then drop with some confidence it might be altogether a different ball game. Mark a huge hook and drop a Bondy.......ohhh baby, come to poppa!!

Bondy
 
Jackfish
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04/06/2018 03:55PM  
Wow! Thanks for all the great information, guys!
 
bwcasolo
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04/07/2018 06:01AM  
hi pete, been fortunate to catch a few lakers during my may trips. i used the little cleo spoon's. also i have 2 doctor spoons as well that worked well.
on a trip a few years back, in may again on cherokee lake, on the north end, i watch a guy with a rainbow trout colored rapala, a 3 hook floater, with a couple split shot's a couple feet up the line catch lakers all day.
a very, simple, shallow approach for that time of year after ice out. hopefully i will be up there mid may?
 
Yellowbird
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04/07/2018 11:55AM  
mastertangler: "
Yellowbird: "
My go to bait for trout. Don't know the name, some product of Bomber. I trail it behind a one ounce weight."



Wow, I like the looks of that! Definitely a lure I would use. I bet you could get at least 30ft out of that without the added sinker. Big lure = big fish. I like the color as well, looks like it would mimic a cisco fairly well. I like it. "

Hey MT, I'm sure your right re: getting down 30'. The added weight might be more of a habit to me. If nothing else, there is less line fed out to get it down.
Zski 's mention of the Storm deep thunderstick is what I believe this is. I bought 2 of them back in 2006 and lost one to a trout on Suzanette (it broke the line - 12# fireline). I would have liked to have seen that fish. I've since failed to see that pattern for sale. Somebody email me if you find one, PLZ! FWIW, my biggest walleye came on this bait while trout fishing a deep basin.
 
mastertangler
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04/07/2018 03:29PM  
That's no Thunderstick IMO and it certainly looks like a bomber type lure to me. Check out the hooks......dura tin, this is a salt water model lure. Plus it's a bit bigger crank bait than what you typically see in fresh water circles.

I am going to do some digging. Might be able to find it in the salt water line ups. I think lots of guys fish to small in the north.......those fish are savage.
 
mutz
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04/07/2018 06:40PM  
If you find em and are jigging you can’t beat a #seven pearl white Swedish pimple. We often jig lake trout and whitefish in 100 ft plus water, so remember if you find them deep 80 plus make sure you have a non stretch braid because mono will stretch to much for aggressive jigging.
 
04/07/2018 08:21PM  
zski: "#1 Mann's 30+
#2 Storm Deep Thunderstick
both in silver/shad or rainbow trout finish
I don't have any taildancers and purchased thundersticks to save a few bucks. Have not had much reason to change or add to the collection (what works...). from what folks say here, I suspect taildancers are similar to Storm TS, if not better.
our trips have all been early to late june."


+1 on the Storm Thunderstick.
 
04/08/2018 07:04PM  
One of my favorites is the Williams Wabler Lite... a Canadian Classic.
 
rpike
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04/09/2018 10:47AM  
I like big reef runners for trolling deep (maybe 25') without extra weight. More or less the same idea as a tail dancer, but a bit wider wobble. On most lakes they are killer. On one lake it was a complete bust, but on that lake #9 shad raps were golden. The big reef runners are just over 6" long including the bill.

Keeping with the wide-wobbling theme, the Heddon tadpolly works really well for trolling the top 10'. I've caught lots of lakers up to 12 pounds in several different lakes on the tadpolly.

A 2-3 oz. snap weight will bring most any lure into the depth you want. I like the heavier weights because I don't need to let out as much line to get down where I want. I add an extra snap that I put over the line so the weight stays on the line when I release the weight to bring in a fish. That also keeps the weight on the line if it crashes hard into a rock.

Buzz bombs and zzingers are fun for vertical jigging. You can cast them and jig them in as well. http://www.buzzbombzzinger.com/

Bondy baits would be great for big trout, but man, I get tired jigging those using a muskie rod from a boat!
 
Tyler W
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04/10/2018 12:19PM  
bobbernumber3: "One of my favorites is the Williams Wabler Lite... a Canadian Classic."


+1 The William's Wobbler is my #1 spoon.

Other than that, we have caught them on lot of different Rapalas. Glass shads are my personal favorite, but tail dancers, husky jerks and originals all work well too.

I also want to give another up vote for the snap weights. You can place your weight way up from the lure, and remove it for landing a fish. A much better system than a three way swivel. They are so easy to take on and off, that you can cast for bass with a floating stick bait, then add a 2oz snap weight and be trolling for lakers in a minute.

The only modification I make to the snap weight is a 2' dropper line between the snap and the weight. Then I can (occasionally) bounce the sinker on the bottom and keep my floating crank 1' over the bottom.
 
Mad_Angler
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04/10/2018 12:52PM  
For simplicity, I like deep taildancers in Purplesence. I troll main lake basins.
 
mapsguy1955
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04/10/2018 01:43PM  
Daredevles work pretty well too... Biggest LT I ever caught was on one... 25 lbs.
 
fishinfool71
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04/16/2018 10:08AM  
Like everyone has stated I have had luck on spoons, tail dancers, deep diver Raps etc. However, a few years ago I switched from in line weighting to actually using a three way rig. I now use white and blue spinners at depths I generally would not. In my opinion the three way rig allows for more movement of the bait you are using as well as assists with line twist. I also use a 1-3 ft. 3lb mono leader to the 1-3oz weight(weight size varies based on lure selection) . I do not use electronics so I can hit depth changes I do not see and get snagged up. With the lighter line and 3 way rig I can snap the weight if It snags and I only loose the weight and not my $9-$20 lures. When I was using the inline weighting method I lost everything. Don't get me wrong I caught a lot of lake trout with inline weighting and still use it if I forget 3 way swivels. Just another option.
 
Tyler W
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04/16/2018 02:19PM  
fishinfool71: "Like everyone has stated I have had luck on spoons, tail dancers, deep diver Raps etc. However, a few years ago I switched from in line weighting to actually using a three way rig. "


Try replacing your three way swivel with a snap weight. You can take it on and off instantly (no knots) which means you can take it off while landing a fish. And that means you can put your weight further away from the lure. I often put out 20' of line, then a 2oz snap weight (with dropper line). All the benefits of a three way rig, but none of the downsides.
 
dpreiner21
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04/17/2018 12:04AM  
Savage Voyageur: "Purple Tail Dancers and Blue Little Cleo’s spoons. The end of June they will be deeper. I would use snap weights until you find them. "


+1 I would add some silver low profile flutter spoons. Another great trolling rap is the large size hot n tot in silver. It has a real erratic wobble/vibration and the bill is completely silver and reflects a lot of light... Pisses those lake trout off which sometimes can be half the battle if they aren't bitting.
 
04/17/2018 10:08AM  
Tyler W: "
fishinfool71: "Like everyone has stated I have had luck on spoons, tail dancers, deep diver Raps etc. However, a few years ago I switched from in line weighting to actually using a three way rig. "



Try replacing your three way swivel with a snap weight. You can take it on and off instantly (no knots) which means you can take it off while landing a fish. And that means you can put your weight further away from the lure. I often put out 20' of line, then a 2oz snap weight (with dropper line). All the benefits of a three way rig, but none of the downsides. "


Do you lose many fish while removing the snap weight? What stops the weight from sliding down to the lure, are you using a swivel as a stop or a drop loop? So you unsnap the weight and reel in the fish all the way. Trying to picture this rig.
 
Lotw
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04/17/2018 10:16AM  
Its very quick and easy to remove the snap, I have my partner do it if I have one. the snap weight wont slide down. Its essentially a clothespin type downrigger release.

 
04/17/2018 10:35AM  
Lotw: "Its very quick and easy to remove the snap, I have my partner do it if I have one. the snap weight wont slide down. Its essentially a clothespin type downrigger release.


"


Thanks for the clarification. I had pictured something totally different, like those water gremlin weights with the open eye at the top.
 
04/17/2018 11:37AM  
These Sebile Koolie Minnows are good. Some folks swear by them.
 
Tyler W
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04/17/2018 01:01PM  

Do you lose many fish while removing the snap weight? What stops the weight from sliding down to the lure, are you using a swivel as a stop or a drop loop? So you unsnap the weight and reel in the fish all the way. Trying to picture this rig. "

I think you'll lose fewer fish taking off a snap weight than you will netting a trout with a long leader. But, you'll want to make sure your fishing partner is ready and knows that they have to grab the clip and take it off quickly. Obviously if your partner hesitates you risk putting slack in the line and a trout will always take advantage of that.

The clips are very much like a down rigger release clip, but they have a pin in the middle of the pad that keeps them from falling off. Since they don't require any knots, swivels or stops, you can place them anywhere on your line. 5 ft from your lure or 50 ft.

I do you a light dropper line between the clip and my sinker so it trolls like a traditional 3 way rig. Keep in mind that the further your sinker is from the lure, the deeper the lure will run. If you are 20ft ahead of a floating rapala it might dive 2' below the clip. Make sure you use a 2-3ft dropper, or keep your sinker clear of the bottom all the time.
 
rpike
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04/17/2018 01:54PM  
I like having a an extra snap on the snap weight clipped over my line. That way if the snap weight bangs a rock hard and the clip comes off (I always use braid, so the line is slippery), the weight slides back to the lure and is not lost.

I also just let the weight slide down to the lure while I'm fighting a fish. It stops at the top of the lure. I've never lost one due to the snap weight being next to the lure. I've lost many, many fish in my day, but none that way (yet)!
 
MN4thewin
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04/18/2018 10:02AM  
DR Spoon gets my vote. Blue with Silver = Deadly!
 
zski
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04/18/2018 10:48AM  
Yellowbird: " My go to bait for trout. Don't know the name, some product of Bomber. I trail it behind a one ounce weight."


Bill, to me, this looks most like an X-Rap Magnum (saltwater) in an outdated color
 
Moonman
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04/23/2018 04:59PM  
One thing I thought I would mention is that lure selection is also somewhat determined by water temperature. What my group has found, is that from ice out to the first few weeks afterwards, lakers respond better to minnow baits with a slight shimmy, like a natural rapala, as opposed to a wider wobbling bait or one with more roll, like bombers, wally divers or even rapala taildancers. We have compared lots of times, the guy using say, a #11 or 13 original rap slays while another guy - in the same canoe, uses a wider wobbling plug of similar size and colour and much less action. I know a lot of us love taildancers but I find they work better in warmer temps. Shad raps work better than tail dancers in ice out, cold water conditions.

This is not to say other wider wobbling lures will not ever work in cld water, but I would for sure have a few original raps and shad raps in natural, perch, and your favourite brighter colour. Just may save someone's early spring trip.

Moonman.
 
04/24/2018 06:20AM  
Rapalas are on sale this week at Scheel's, 20% off.
 
WalleyeHunter24
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04/24/2018 03:34PM  
I do well with 3/8 to 3/4 oz. bucktail jigs all season. Color never seemed to matter too much, but had the best luck on white/glow with some sort of tinsel fleck in the bucktail skirt. Also, I usually tip them with some sort of salted bait. Just need to vary weight based on depth they are in and being able to slow down presentation if there are not chasing hard.

Hope that helps a bit... good luck!
 
IowaGuy
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04/26/2018 08:10PM  
trailcheif: "My vote is for the D.R. "


Do you prefer to troll with the Doctor Spoon with the hook at the fat end (as it comes from the factory) or do you move the hook to the narrow end?
 
trailcheif
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04/26/2018 09:31PM  
Trolled it right as it came from the factory. It did really well for me on wine lake. My first ever BW lake trout.
 
IowaGuy
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04/27/2018 07:45AM  
trailcheif: "Trolled it right as it came from the factory. It did really well for me on wine lake. My first ever BW lake trout.


That's a nice, fat laker!

What's your theory on the green foam pieces on your canoe?
 
trailcheif
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04/27/2018 08:29AM  
Those are just pool noodles. They act as padding for your legs, a place to quietly set your rod or paddle down, and you can hook a lure into them so it doesn’t hook something else.
 
04/27/2018 10:11AM  
trailcheif: "Those are just pool noodles. They act as padding for your legs, a place to quietly set your rod or paddle down, and you can hook a lure into them so it doesn’t hook something else."


+1 -- it's a good system!
 
04/28/2018 08:41AM  
IowaGuy: "
trailcheif: "My vote is for the D.R. "



Do you prefer to troll with the Doctor Spoon with the hook at the fat end (as it comes from the factory) or do you move the hook to the narrow end?"


Do you have experience running a bait backwards? I fish with some crazy guys, but they haven't come up with this tactic yet.
 
trailcheif
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04/28/2018 08:56AM  
No I haven’t. This is the first time I’ve ever heard of it. Hey it’s worth a try. It may have some erratic action that aggravates the fish into biting. If trout are feeding, I assume they would smack anything with a little flash that cruises by they’re face.
 
IowaGuy
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04/28/2018 10:21AM  
bobbernumber3:Do you have experience running a bait backwards? I fish with some crazy guys, but they haven't come up with this tactic yet."


The manufacturer website is where I got the idea, they claim it's a "double action spoon", which can be fished from either side:

https://www.yellowbirdproducts.com/doctor-spoon-lures/
 
trailcheif
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04/28/2018 02:46PM  
Good to know! If the fish are neutral would be an easy adjustment to hopefully trigger a bite.
 
04/28/2018 03:40PM  
IowaGuy: "
bobbernumber3:Do you have experience running a bait backwards? I fish with some crazy guys, but they haven't come up with this tactic yet."



The manufacturer website is where I got the idea, they claim it's a "double action spoon", which can be fished from either side:


https://www.yellowbirdproducts.com/doctor-spoon-lures/"


Thanks for the explanation! I had pictures of rapalas tied by the tail and etc.
 
mapsguy1955
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04/28/2018 04:21PM  
HighnDry: "
trailcheif: "Those are just pool noodles. They act as padding for your legs, a place to quietly set your rod or paddle down, and you can hook a lure into them so it doesn’t hook something else."



+1 -- it's a good system!"


And they weigh virtually nothing!! It is the perfect way to retire a pool noodle.
 
04/28/2018 05:00PM  
Moonman: "One thing I thought I would mention is that lure selection is also somewhat determined by water temperature. What my group has found, is that from ice out to the first few weeks afterwards, lakers respond better to minnow baits with a slight shimmy, like a natural rapala, as opposed to a wider wobbling bait or one with more roll, like bombers, wally divers or even rapala taildancers. We have compared lots of times, the guy using say, a #11 or 13 original rap slays while another guy - in the same canoe, uses a wider wobbling plug of similar size and colour and much less action. I know a lot of us love taildancers but I find they work better in warmer temps. Shad raps work better than tail dancers in ice out, cold water conditions.


This is not to say other wider wobbling lures will not ever work in cld water, but I would for sure have a few original raps and shad raps in natural, perch, and your favourite brighter colour. Just may save someone's early spring trip.


Moonman."
i agree a 100% my go to trolling lure on early season trips is F-18 rapala blk/gold(also CD9 rapalas for casting) but as you stated doesnt mean others wont work as my brother caught a #8+ walleye on an opener trip with a deep diving bomber.
my favs for lakers are spoons-the rapala i mentioned and have done extremely good on suspending crank baits , during turns they stay down and pause and go and boom a strike ! pic of my go to trolling lures. & spoons.
 
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