I am taking a trip with my son to Quetico entering June 7 at Beaverhouse. The original plan was base camp at Jean, Fly fish smallmouth for sport, spin fish a few walleyes to eat. Now I'm thinking with the late ice-out that lake trout should still be pretty shallow. I know Jean has lakers. Are there any other lakes in that general area we should check out for lake trout, and what kind of techniques do folks use in the early season?

Thanks
Peter Jonas
Arcadia, WI

Quetico Lake has Lakers.
We caught them in early June using these

That thing looks like it runs pretty deep. What depth?

They dive according to how much line you let out.
We found the trout to be only about 20 feet deep, so 3 or 4 canoe lengths behing the boat did it for us. Also caught trout on spoons and a purple Reef Runner.

Years ago Jim at Canoe Canada marked "T T T T T" (for trout) on my map in Quetico Lake across the area West of Eden Island. I have not fished for them, though. As for Jean, I caught NICE SMB around Ivy Island near where I was camped on the west side of Jean, and for 2 days, I saw folks trolling back and forth on the far east side across from my camp, and I assume they were trout fishing. You might be interested in this: lake trout misconceptions from Wyteki Outfitters, also. Good Luck. --Goose

Wow! What a helpful article. I think we are going to go with Canoe Canada for canoe rental, so I'll be sure to talk to Jim.

Shallow for lake trout is relative. 20 feet down is shallow for a trout. For exmaple trout may be in 20 feet deep down in the water, but the depth of that water may be 100 feet. In June they might be relatign to a reef 20-40 feet deep with deeper 100 feet of water nearby.

I have had great luck wiht shiny crank baits like fishguts in June/May. Want to go deeper just let out more line. Shallower less line.

T

Just an update after the trip. We caught a lot of Lake Trout. Plus we caught them all over the water column. I hooked one jigging at 35 feet or so and my son Liam caught one on a bass plug that runs 5-6 feet. The majority though were maybe 15-20 feet and we had great success paddle trolling walleydivers and thundersticks.

Good job, enjoyed the pic.

T

even if the trout are very deep they will rise for a meal

I've caught them trolling a jointed Rapala that was likely less than 10 feet deep. The lake was so clear we could see a good 20 feet down into nothingness.

I've also caught them jigging using the method Mike Furtman describes in his book at great depth. The lakes, Jean being one of them, were all 100 feet or more in depth, and we just drifted down the lake jigging with almost all the line out and our canoe paddles in the water to slow us down and direct us. They always seem to hit just after the jig hits the lowest point and start to come up. If you intend to throw it back, take your time or the thing isn't going to survive.

The most fun though is in May and June in 10 feet water when a 2 pound Laker will put up a good fight and taste as good as anything you'll catch.

Yeah, spring is the best. The lakers we caught all fought like maniacs.

quote ZaraSp00k: "even if the trout are very deep they will rise for a meal


"

Defintely!

On Earl Lake in 2005 had lakers busting the surface on an 80 degree sunny day the first week of August. You could watch them follow it all the way back to the canoe. Had one jump out of the water and grab my crank bait out of the water. Not normal for late summer I know but ya never know.

T

On Earl Lake in 2005 had lakers busting the surface on an 80 degree sunny day the first week of August. You could watch them follow it all the way back to the canoe. Had one jump out of the water and grab my crank bait out of the water. Not normal for late summer I know but ya never know.

Earl's something else--I remember one early June morning, as soon as we started trolling the main lake after leaving Ted we both hooked up and it continued, double after double, until we got to the point that we had to keep moving (and the black flies were eating us alive). No big ones, but all fun and eating size, and when they're shallow they do fight like crazy. Never heard of anything like that in August though.