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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Fishing Forum :: Shallowest water to catch lake trout through the ice?
 
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Laketrout58
01/06/2018 10:44AM
 
We have caught lakers in 15 ft of water on Daniels lake. They were not big ones,but very good eaters! I have never caught a large laker in real shallow water. My biggest trophy was jigging over 25ft. I was reeling up to go to a different hole when Wham! She hit my white feather jig tipped with a small minnow. I had 6lb mono on,so I couldn't horse her at all. 80 minutes later I got her through the hole. 22lbs! Good luck to you! Marc
 
Laketrout58
01/06/2018 10:44AM
 
We have caught lakers in 15 ft of water on Daniels lake. They were not big ones,but very good eaters! I have never caught a large laker in real shallow water. My biggest trophy was jigging over 25ft. I was reeling up to go to a different hole when Wham! She hit my white feather jig tipped with a small minnow. I had 6lb mono on,so I couldn't horse her at all. 80 minutes later I got her through the hole. 22lbs! Good luck to you! Marc
 
OSLO
01/06/2018 09:48AM
 
I've read that the cold water in winter allows lake trout to move to many areas that they normally would never be found during open water season. Many articles have therefore suggested trying for them in shallow water when ice fishing. Most of the sources say to stay in at least 20 feet, but some say as shallow as 5-10 feet of water. That made me think of two questions:
1.What is the shallowest water that you have ever caught lake trout in while ice fishing?
2.What is the shallowest water that you normally fish when going for lakers through the ice?
 
CrookedPaddler1
01/09/2018 10:48AM
 
Typically I look for a wall in the structure. Something that the lake trout can push the cisco's against and ambush them. As long as you are along that wall, you will catch fish all the way from the bottom of the lake to the top.
 
01/10/2018 04:36PM
 
Monday i was fishing a trout lake with my daughter. We tried a new spot to us. The first tip up i put out was in 9' fow. We had 6 or 7 flags on that line. The older gentleman near us caught a 24-25" laker from 11' fow.
 
mastertangler
01/07/2018 08:58AM
 
Laketrout58: "We have caught lakers in 15 ft of water on Daniels lake. They were not big ones,but very good eaters! I have never caught a large laker in real shallow water. My biggest trophy was jigging over 25ft. I was reeling up to go to a different hole when Wham! She hit my white feather jig tipped with a small minnow. I had 6lb mono on,so I couldn't horse her at all. 80 minutes later I got her through the hole. 22lbs! Good luck to you! Marc"


Incredible story Marc and the fish of a lifetime on 6lb test! I can imagine the range of emotions you experienced as the fight progressed. I probably wouldn't of caught that fish as I don't know if I would of had enough patience to fight the fish that long. I fought a pike once once pushing 20lbs on 6lb and that lasted 1/2 hour and seemed to take forever. 80 minutes through the ice just makes me shake my head and smile. Well done!
 
OSLO
01/07/2018 10:47AM
 
Laketrout58: "We have caught lakers in 15 ft of water on Daniels lake. They were not big ones,but very good eaters! I have never caught a large laker in real shallow water. My biggest trophy was jigging over 25ft. I was reeling up to go to a different hole when Wham! She hit my white feather jig tipped with a small minnow. I had 6lb mono on,so I couldn't horse her at all. 80 minutes later I got her through the hole. 22lbs! Good luck to you! Marc"
Thanks for sharing--that is a great story, and very impressive to get that fish in!
 
OSLO
01/07/2018 10:53AM
 
Pinetree: "5 feet for me the shallowest."
Wow! Did you just keep finding them shallower and shallower and follow them in, or what made you decide to even try for them at that depth?
 
The Great Outdoors
01/07/2018 11:25AM
 
I usually try to fish in about 45-50 FOW.
Have caught them in that depth, but only 3 feet below the ice, some have caught trout fishing in only 10 FOW.
They travel anywhere they want in the water column.
 
bwcaforktail
01/07/2018 02:00PM
 
We have caught them in 5 -10 Feet of water. Generally I fish around the 30 ft Mark in winter.
 
Pinetree
01/06/2018 11:00PM
 
5 feet for me the shallowest.