Hey folks,

We're going mid-September to the Gunflint Trail and hoping to borrow some wisdom on targeting Lakers WITHOUT SONAR. I've caught a handful of lakers in bw's but we're planning on fish for a number of meals so I want to rely on a strategy more than luck.

A perfect day would be catching a couple of eaters and then switching to C&R smallie fishing. We'll be fishing South Lake, Rose Lake and maybe Duncan Lake. I am good at reading a lake and I study/print contour maps from lake finder mn.

Here is what I already own (specific to trolling):
- quick clips
- a couple of large deep diving Rapalas (purpledecent)
- flutter spoons
- a couple of little cleos
- a couple of dardevle spoons
- too much misc fishing tackle (jigs, plastics, swim baits, etc.)

What types of presentations would you try first?

How long before trying something else?

Thanks guys!
-DoubleDown

Add white tube jigs to your list. Not trolling but the most productive method I’ve used for fall lakers.

I generally only bring with me a few tail dancers, little Cleo’s, and white tube jigs. Tube jigs being the most productive for me.

Good luck.

YaMarVa: "Add white tube jigs to your list. Not trolling but the most productive method I’ve used for fall lakers.


I generally only bring with me a few tail dancers, little Cleo’s, and white tube jigs. Tube jigs being the most productive for me.


Good luck. "

YaMarVa- What size (weight) jigheads do you prefer?

MichiganMan: "

YaMarVa: "Add white tube jigs to your list. Not trolling but the most productive method I’ve used for fall lakers.



I generally only bring with me a few tail dancers, little Cleo’s, and white tube jigs. Tube jigs being the most productive for me.



Good luck. "

YaMarVa- What size (weight) jigheads do you prefer?"

I bring a selection of quarter to half ounce, maybe larger. You’re generally still fishing deep water in the fall and the bait fish are fully grown.

I rarely catch LT shallower than 30' in the Fall so a sonar is most helpful this time of year. They will usually be 30-60' deep depending on where the bait is. I will troll a Rapala TDD 11 with 2oz weight in front.

AmarilloJim: "I rarely catch LT shallower than 30' in the Fall so a sonar is most helpful this time of year. They will usually be 30-60' deep depending on where the bait is. I will troll a Rapala TDD 11 with 2oz weight in front. "

Thanks AJ, that’s solid simple advice. AI’s got nothing on you. Respect.

Change of plans - I picked up a Deeper Pro+2 fish finder

I just read too much about how sonar is key to finding Lake Trout during the summer and into September and our whole trip is basically centered around Lake Trout fishing. Figured it best to mention if that changes any advice you folks may have about strategy.

We'll have 3 to 3.5 solid, full days of fishing and we're excited to see if we can get a few eaters in the boat for supper.

A Rapala tail dancer TDD13 will troll at 35' on 200' of 10 lb mono. Measure out 200 feet at home and mark it with a bobber stop (or use a line counter reel.)
Then paddle around and pay attention to your finder. A trout will come up a long way for a bait-like 20 or more feet- so you don't need to put it right on their noses.
If it becomes evident that fish are concentrated in an area, jig for 'em.
Good luck.

With in line weights you can make your rig rise by going faster or sink by going slower. Not as much line out either. Just another option.

lundojam: "A Rapala tail dancer TDD13 will troll at 35' on 200' of 10 lb mono. Measure out 200 feet at home and mark it with a bobber stop (or use a line counter reel.)
Then paddle around and pay attention to your finder. A trout will come up a long way for a bait-like 20 or more feet- so you don't need to put it right on their noses.
If it becomes evident that fish are concentrated in an area, jig for 'em.
Good luck."

Thanks lundojam. That’s great advice.

A decade ago we came up the last week of Sept every year and went to Quetco. Fishing was awesome and most caught at 1-10 foot depth trolling or casting for lake trout. Often we had a little snow and water temps around 50 degrees F>. Caught so many trout one after another.
Recent years like today water Temp still 76 degrees F. and not cooling down like it use to.
This makes trout fishing very hard. Times and weather has changed.

doubledown: "Hey folks,

We're going mid-September to the Gunflint Trail and hoping to borrow some wisdom on targeting Lakers WITHOUT SONAR. I've caught a handful of lakers in bw's but we're planning on fish for a number of meals so I want to rely on a strategy more than luck.

A perfect day would be catching a couple of eaters and then switching to C&R smallie fishing. We'll be fishing South Lake, Rose Lake and maybe Duncan Lake. I am good at reading a lake and I study/print contour maps from lake finder mn.

Here is what I already own (specific to trolling):
- quick clips
- a couple of large deep diving Rapalas (purpledecent)
- flutter spoons
- a couple of little cleos
- a couple of dardevle spoons
- too much misc fishing tackle (jigs, plastics, swim baits, etc.)

What types of presentations would you try first?

How long before trying something else?

Thanks guys!
-DoubleDown"

Rose is a tough one to catch lake trout and if water doesn't cool down to at least the high 50's it will be very tough. Some big ones in their though. Very big.