Hey everyone! I have finally started to figure out the BWCA lake trout bite through the ice. I put together a short You Tube video on my three favorite baits and how I fish them. Please, let me know if you have favorite baits or techniques, I am always looking for more info!

Top 3 Lake Trout Baits for Ice Fishing

Nice video man. Also enjoyed the sight fishing brook trout video... always wanted to try that. I agree with the list but maybe in a different order, hah. One bait you left out was the tube with a tube jig (white). It can be fished the same as a paddle tail or fork tail plastic minnow... but has a little more flare when you thump it.

Also, a sucker minnow or shiner about 20 ft below the ice can be great for your second line in a non designated trout lake. Tip-Up

Here are a couple other good tips:
Make sure you arent using too small of a hook when fishing a plastic. I actually prefer a larger hook. When fishing plastics you fish them aggressively and are really trying to list them off... so they arent too worried about a larger hook (which can increase your hook set and catch percentage).

Also, if you can when using spoons, use a single "spoon hook" instead of a treble hook. It helps with a better hook set and you have a better chance of landing the fish through the hole. I know, sounds weird but true.

Another nice Video.

dpreiner21: "Also, if you can when using spoons, use a single "spoon hook" instead of a treble hook. It helps with a better hook set and you have a better chance of landing the fish through the hole. I know, sounds weird but true."

Interesting, is that tip specifically for ice season?

dpreiner21: "Nice video man. Also enjoyed the sight fishing brook trout video... always wanted to try that. I agree with the list but maybe in a different order, hah. One bait you left out was the tube with a tube jig (white). It can be fished the same as a paddle tail or fork tail plastic minnow... but has a little more flare when you thump it.


Also, a sucker minnow or shiner about 20 ft below the ice can be great for your second line in a non designated trout lake. Tip-Up


Here are a couple other good tips:
Make sure you arent using too small of a hook when fishing a plastic. I actually prefer a larger hook. When fishing plastics you fish them aggressively and are really trying to list them off... so they arent too worried about a larger hook (which can increase your hook set and catch percentage).


Also, if you can when using spoons, use a single "spoon hook" instead of a treble hook. It helps with a better hook set and you have a better chance of landing the fish through the hole. I know, sounds weird but true."

That is a lot of great advice! I didn't put tubes on there because I haven't had much success with them (small sample size, I don't use them much). I do vow to use tubes more, though. Thousands of trout fisherpeople can't be wrong...I just don't think I've used them enough. Generally I have had the most luck with suckers soaking under tip-ups about 1-5' off bottom, but I've never tried it suspended like that - I will give it a shot next time I am out (hopefully this weekend if it warms up at all).
I have also heard that about the single hook helping with better hook sets (only in the summer, however). Something about the treble hook allowing the fish to gain leverage on the lure when they shake their heads or spin. What do you mean by "spoon hook?" Is there a certain brand or size you'd recommend?

Great stuff!

Great video! You got it pretty well covered there - I also like to use a decent amount of rattle spoons like the Northland Buckshots, PK Rattle Spoon (I think that's what it is called) and Frostbite Dinner bells. Dinner bell isn't a true rattle but does make some noise and has a nice flutter. Not sure how needed the rattles are since Lakers are usually in clear water and have great vision - but they are all baits I feel confident in.

I have had decent success with tube jigs on Seagull - one trip in particular it was the only thing that would work for me. I also have basically been shut out using them on ones of the other lakes I go to in the winter and not much success tossing them in the summer.

SurlyDude: "Great video! You got it pretty well covered there - I also like to use a decent amount of rattle spoons like the Northland Buckshots, PK Rattle Spoon (I think that's what it is called) and Frostbite Dinner bells. Dinner bell isn't a true rattle but does make some noise and has a nice flutter. Not sure how needed the rattles are since Lakers are usually in clear water and have great vision - but they are all baits I feel confident in.


I have had decent success with tube jigs on Seagull - one trip in particular it was the only thing that would work for me. I also have basically been shut out using them on ones of the other lakes I go to in the winter and not much success tossing them in the summer. "

Yea, tube jigs have been hit or miss for me, that's why they didn't make my list. It is my hunch that on lakes that get pressured more, the trout are used to seeing the 3-5" glow tubes so they are less effective. I'm guessing they are a lot more effective in backcountry bwca lakes where most of those fish have never seen an artificial bait.