Hi all,

First post, if I've put it in the wrong forum I apologize!
I am currently planning a trip to Quetico in early September, will be doing a loop of beaverhouse-cirrus-quetico lakes.

I have plenty of backcountry canoeing and camping experience, but in the past I have always fished in a very simple fashion, casting from the canoe or shore, generally for pike, walleye and bass.

This year, I would really like to catch myself a laker or two, but I have zero experience trolling or getting a line deep enough to catch a laker.

Basically I’m looking for the simplest set up that will allow me to do this, I have read lots about the Rapala Deep Tail Dancer and plan on bringing one of those. Just wondering if this alone will give me a good chance at some trout? And what type of line would be best? I have one rod and want it to go from casting to trolling as simple as possible, hopefully just by switching out the lure.

Any and all advice is appreciated!

The tdd11 Deep Tail Dancers have always caught lakers for me, but I haven't fished for lakers much in the fall. They will get down to their advertised 30 ft but you will need to have a lot of line out to do this, small diameter line helps. Often it is not necessary to get that deep, but not sure about that in September.As far as colors purpledescent, purple clown flash, blue flash and a few others have produced for me. The Tail Dancers pull hard so you will want at least a med power rod. It is easy to lose them to snags, so be careful and bring a spare. In May and early June you can often use the smaller tdd9 which dives to 20 ft and do well. Clip on weights can allow you to fish deep with a variety of lures, you just clip them on your line after you have let out a bit of line and unclip them when you reel up to the weight. You can attach any size weight to the clips. I have caught lakers on many different crankbaits, jigs, tubes, and spoons(excellent for lakers but harder to fish). I like to have some white, chrome, or gold on the lure. Firetiger has been good at times. Seems most folks like the purpledescent best. Lakers aren't really picky, they just love deep cool water and roam around a lot, making them a bit of a challenge. The lakes you are visiting are loaded with them, so just stick with the trolling and I think you will have success. Treat them gently, they are fragile and difficult to handle without injuring them. Good luck!

Taildancer is a great option. Also trolling a spoon works extremely well. A blue/silver Little Cleo (in small size) is a very popular choice.

I've also heard bucktail jigs work good for lakers, but I only catch bass with them.

In terms of line, 8-10lb mono should work just fine for you.