Already dreaming of next summer's three week adventure back into the Quetico, to continue on my 2022 success, I have to ask, "what is shallow" because I couldn't pick up on the "shallow" pattern. Not that my group didn't catch any trout on our two week late May/early June trip, or even our two week early July trip ... we caught a bunch. But I'd like to improve my abilities in 2023. When saying that spring trout are in the shallows, is "the shallows" water under ten feet deep near the shore line, sand or rock bars? Or is "the shallows" in ten feet of water over deep water (or anywhere in the lake for that matter)? I had the very best of luck slow trolling a 5 1/2 inch blue/white jointed Rapala. Yet there wasn't any pattern to speak of. Some fish were caught in shallow water near the shoreline and some out in the middle of the lake over deep water.
Much appreciated, Mac

They're looking for water in a certain temperature range. That could be different from one bay to the next on the same lake. Let alone comparing lakes to each other. So it's pretty much impossible to say near shore or over deep water as any sort of general rule. But yes, if they're shallow they can be in 10 or less, anywhere on the lake. Or 10-20 anywhere on the lake, etc.

For example, a smaller lake that say max depth is 60' it will warm far faster than a big lake that goes to 200' in places. If the magic water temp is 45 that could be 40' on the small lake and 12' on the big one on the same day right next to each other in spring.

MacCamper: "Already dreaming of next summer's three week adventure back into the Quetico, to continue on my 2022 success, I have to ask, "what is shallow" because I couldn't pick up on the "shallow" pattern. Not that my group didn't catch any trout on our two week late May/early June trip, or even our two week early July trip ... we caught a bunch. But I'd like to improve my abilities in 2023. When saying that spring trout are in the shallows, is "the shallows" water under ten feet deep near the shore line, sand or rock bars? Or is "the shallows" in ten feet of water over deep water (or anywhere in the lake for that matter)? I had the very best of luck slow trolling a 5 1/2 inch blue/white jointed Rapala. Yet there wasn't any pattern to speak of. Some fish were caught in shallow water near the shoreline and some out in the middle of the lake over deep water.
Much appreciated, Mac"

Sounds like you had a pattern to me. The fish just weren't relating to structure.
Very common with LT.

Thanks for your help guys. Interesting that while using this lure, presented at a slow troll behind my canoe, I was able to catch all Grand Slam species. The fishing was incredible on both trips. Looking forward to a duplication in 2023.

THat was tough for me when I started fishing trout. When people say shallow I was thinking walleyes and I would be catching trout in 5 feet of water.

When people say shallow now I think I am just not fishing as deep or I am fishing over 20’ reefs instead of 40’ reefs.

But like what you found often fishing 10-20’ down over 80-100’ of water can be fishing shallow too.

T

Good info shared so far.

If you go to someplace lake Lake Nipigon in Ontario during during a late-September cold spell that brings the water temps down, you can cast to them on rocky shoals and pull them out of 2-3 fow. We typically just don't get cold enough weather in the BWCA before the season closes to hit that kind of bite, but I imagine it exists in late October here -- and possibly in the northern reaches of Quetico?

In Manitoba I think LT season extends through October, so it's easier to line the weather up with the open season.

5 to 20 feet down over any depth is what I consider shallow for lakers .

We took a trip Memorial weekend to the Ontario side of Lake of the Woods this year. We caught 74 lakers (average size mid-20’s). 72 were caught relating to moving water in 15’ or less. Many were caught in the rapids in 3-6’. Once we found them, the lure was less important. We caught them on paddle tails, jointed rapalas, tail dancers, tubes, jerk baits, mepps, jig/plastic, cleos, etc. The biggest laker (34.25”) was caught in 22’ over a main lake rocky transition near an island. After that, we spent way too much time trying to repeat it but couldn’t find the main lake pattern.

In the BWCA, my spring recommendation is to troll cranks at different depths parallel to shore. Start in ~30’ and work shallower. Pay particular attention to any water coming into the lake, even a trickle. If you find one, fish it thoroughly. If you start catching fish, start piecing together the pattern (lure, color, depth, speed, etc).

thegildedgopher: "Good info shared so far.


If you go to someplace lake Lake Nipigon in Ontario during during a late-September cold spell that brings the water temps down, you can cast to them on rocky shoals and pull them out of 2-3 fow. We typically just don't get cold enough weather in the BWCA before the season closes to hit that kind of bite, but I imagine it exists in late October here -- and possibly in the northern reaches of Quetico?


In Manitoba I think LT season extends through October, so it's easier to line the weather up with the open season. "

i've caught lakers in early sept. (BW) and couldnt find them in late sept. can definitely be a crap shoot in sept. but spring time (may) not too difficult catching them shallow.