I've never targeted lake trout, but I want to try this spring just after ice out when they might be shallow enough to go after with a fly rod. Any fly pattern suggestions? Colors that they like? Lures that they like (I could try to copy with fly tying materials)?

Should I target rock walls or points or islands or any other structure at ice out?

I will be picking up a solo canoe I just bought from Voyageurs North in Ely at this time. It will be my first solo trip and just a 3 day weekend. Any lakes you would suggest?

Thanks for any help!

Are you staying in MN? If so, the season does not open until the regular fishing opener in mid-May. Most years that's a couple weeks after ice out.

Very early in the season you can find some trout cruising the shorelines. I cast for them as if fishing for bass. Husky jerks, tad pollys, little cleo or other spoons. I would guess flashy, silver and blue streamers will do the trick.

I caught lakers a few days after ice out this year. They were all caught on windward shores, one casting from shore, but most slow trolling spoons and floating rapalas near shore in ~20-30ft. depths. I left with the hypothesis that water temps were essential for locating them (many have said as much elsewhere in this forum).

That sounds awesome. I should start by saying I'm not a laker expert, nor a soloing expert, nor a flyfishing expert.
With three days, you won't want to go far; choose an easy-to-get-to lake that has a lake trout population. Maybe a tow and then Knife?
For a fishing spot, I'd try it from shore at camp. Choose a campsite with access to can't see the bottom. You're not gonna want to get used to a new boat, fight the wind, and flyfish all at once.
Flashy streamers should do it.
Just my too sense.

Thanks guys! All good tips and I welcome anymore. I appreciate it!

I'd pick a smaller lake with a good LT population to base camp on. Several up the Gunflint side. Fat comes to mind in the west.

Thanks Jim!

I'd second Knife since you will be in Ely to get the boat anyway, otherwise maybe Oyster. I was on Knife last year a week after ice out and did ok. I regretted not bringing my fly rod when I chatted with a guy two campsites down who landed one on the fly from shore. I was jealous as I've always wanted to do that - maybe next year. You can't really match the hatch, but you can match the other proven lures that work in color - silver, blue, gold, maybe silver and purple. A lot of campsites don't do well for fly casting, but look for any point on an island where there is 10 foot water that drops down - you can spot this on most days even without a depth finder. I must confess to never having caught a laker on a fly, but I too want to and this is my strategy for next year.

Jaywalker: "I'd second Knife since you will be in Ely to get the boat anyway, otherwise maybe Oyster. I was on Knife last year a week after ice out and did ok. I regretted not bringing my fly rod when I chatted with a guy two campsites down who landed one on the fly from shore. I was jealous as I've always wanted to do that - maybe next year. You can't really match the hatch, but you can match the other proven lures that work in color - silver, blue, gold, maybe silver and purple. A lot of campsites don't do well for fly casting, but look for any point on an island where there is 10 foot water that drops down - you can spot this on most days even without a depth finder. I must confess to never having caught a laker on a fly, but I too want to and this is my strategy for next year. "

JW....any chance you have a pic with a 3 man canoe in the background while fishing on Knife this past May? I responded to your post on a different topic and was just curious since we past you and saw yourself land a fish or two.....

Bdubr: "JW....any chance you have a pic with a 3 man canoe in the background while fishing on Knife this past May? I responded to your post on a different topic and was just curious since we past you and saw yourself land a fish or two....."

Bdubr, sorry if I didn't respond on the other thread - I must have missed it. I do remember a boat with 3 guys, and think we may have passed a couple times, but Im afraid I do not have any photos or video of anyone else from that trip. I haven't done a trip report from that trip (yet), bit if interested here is a short video.

Good tips! Thanks Jaywalker!

I am not a fly fisherman but I would think during the mayfly hatch would be a good time to be using a fly rod..I know when they are gorging themselves on mayflys I can't catch them on spoons or raps.

Jaywalker: "

Bdubr: "JW....any chance you have a pic with a 3 man canoe in the background while fishing on Knife this past May? I responded to your post on a different topic and was just curious since we past you and saw yourself land a fish or two....."

Bdubr, sorry if I didn't respond on the other thread - I must have missed it. I do remember a boat with 3 guys, and think we may have passed a couple times, but Im afraid I do not have any photos or video of anyone else from that trip. I haven't done a trip report from that trip (yet), bit if interested here is a short video. "

Awesome video, but don't ever grab the line with your hands!:)

Great video Jaywalker! On another cold, gray morning, that was a nice pick me up!

Lakers on the fly is fun and relatively easy, if the lake you are on has lakers! Almost any streamer will do, just think of productive lure colors and go from there. I tie deciever type patterns, in white/blue, white/olive, white/chartreuse. Add some flash, like flashabou or Krystal flash. Also tie up an angel hair streamer that has been deadly, pearl belly and light olive back, or pearl belly and blue back. I add molded 3D eyes to all my flies, makes a difference. The keys are fly lines and fly size. Use a full sink line, let out all line and some backing, point rod tip straight back out towards stern and place the reel behind a thwart. Start paddling. Adjust drag so it will give but allow for a nice hook set on the take. Hook up ratios are best this way when trolling. If bringing a second rod, use a clear intermediate line, you can troll with it but also cast shorelines or from camp when conditions allow. I think a critical and overlooked part of lakers on the fly is fly size. You want a biggish streamer but also depends on the hook. Lakers typically follow a lure or fly for long distances. Almost all lures have a hook at the very back and lakers like to nip sometimes, so they get hooked, but any fly that is say 4-5” long often does not result in a hook up on standard hooks. The answer is to use a longer shanked hook in size 1/0, 2 or 4, depending on model (my fav streamer hook is daiichi 2370 it’s s straight eye 7x long hook) and only go about 3.5 - 4” long. Often especially on a good Cisco’s Lake, the fish key on longer flies matching the bait. That’s why original raps in size 14 & 18, and husky jerks in size 12 and 14 work so well. I tie longer flies up to 6” using a smaller tandem hook set up. So a standard 2370 hook in say size 2, and then a smaller octopus style short shank size 4 hook, back near tail. Use heavy fireline or 12 lb knot too kinky wire to attach rear hook to main hook. This way the rear hook will not droop down but stay more or less inline with body of fly when trolling. In early spring I like any inflow areas and rocky shorelines in say 15’ of water with a drop nearby. Also sometimes right out in the middle is good. I often catch more lakers fly fishing this way than buddies pulling standard lures. Another deadly tactic is to use two flies, one about 18”-2’ back from first fly. In Ontario We can use up to 4 hooks on a line so perfectly legal using two flies. I have found this to up your odds if the bite is slow, especially when making turns and adding some speed changes to the flies.

Good luck!

Moonman.

Awesome info Moonman! I just purchased a full sink line for myself for Christmas!