I've never targeted lake trout with a fly rod, but I thought I would give it a go this spring at ice out when they are shallow and more available with a fly rod. Any patterns or colors you can suggest? Time to hit the vice!

Great question! A Spring ice out trip is on my bucket list for sure.

Mike

Same for me. Would like to try. I am guessing minnow patterns would be the ticket.

I remember years ago reading an article in the BWJ about ice out lakers on the fly and they talk about catching Lakers on the surface on dry flies...Thats what got my interest in a Spring ice out trip.....I probably set that issue aside somewhere so I wouldn't forget about it....I guess I forgot where I put it it.....I am going back thru my stash trying to find it, but have had no luck...yet....

Mike

Wouldn't that be something! Lakers on a dry fly! Hope you can find that issue Mike.

Searching the web, I did find an article on fishing Wyoming lakes at ice out for lakers in the shallows and the author found clouser/deciever patterns in yellow/white seemed to work best for him.

Story time! I have only targeted lakers on one trip, so fairly thin experience but relevant to this question. We entered the Sunday of opening weekend 2017 via Missing Link and Tuscarora with a basecamp on Gillis. We mostly fished Gillis and did okay with spinning gear using the normal laker baitfish imitations. I tried throwing white Clousers on Gillis, but we had a lot of wind that made trolling or throwing heavy spoons more effective. The one nice day, we did a day trip intending to get to Howard. However, we only made it to Peter because we found a cluster of Lakers rising to the surface. It was toward the west end of Peter around the islands/points. Of course it was the one time during the trip that I did not have my fly rod. Was surprised to see rising fish in early to mid afternoon. We fished that area with our usual minnow imitations and a yellow/red Panther Martin spinner did well. I did not figure out what the insects were that the lakers were rising for, but it seemed that any dry fly would have worked that day. I probably would have started with a stimulator, but could only think about the fly rod back at the campsite. FWIW, a silver Laker Taker with blue stripe was the best and pulled in several from camp our last night. A Clouser probably would have had similar results, but I was not about to switch while the bite was on.

Would love to find rising lakers again someday.

Thanks Abbey, I will be bringing some dries along for sure. Would never have considered that if it were not for you and Mike.