How can I get deep?

[Hunter]

Im going to be heading up to Lake Manitou in a couple weeks. This lake is an excellent lake trout fishery. The problem I have is I am in a small boat with no downriggers. Anyone have suggetstions on how I can get down to between 60-100'. I lucked into several trolling rods with large Penn reels on them. So maybe I can use leadcore or dipseys or what have you, any suggestions? Also what are some good laker lures?

[Fin Addict]

Use a sinker release (dog whistle) and 8 oz to 2 lb of weight depending on your speed. When you get a hit, the weight will release and you fight only the fish. Spendy but effective for trolling. Heddon sonars can be jigged at these depths very nicely for lakers. Simply drop to the bottom, bring it up nearly to the top w/ long sweeps of your rod then drop back to the bottom again. The same can be done w/ large jigs 1-4 oz. I like the large northland jigs w/ hair and flashaboo tied in, white w/ red thread is a good color. tip w/ large minnow or cut bait. A white Magombo tail is an effective atrator when added to this rig. I personally would go w/ the jigs #1, sonar #2 and trolling method #3. Just caught several lakers using all of the above methods last week.

[lgtung]

Maybe using some large snap weights? Not sure how large they make them but I'm sure they would work.

[Mike]

I have friends that go to Canada for lakers and they use 1 lb lead balls just like they do on Lake Michigan. They used to use wire line but have gone to 60lb Powerpro. I guess the system works great and you don't have to have roller guides on your rod. I think they troll spoons.

Have a good trip.

MIke

[Hunter]

Hey Fin Attic couple questions. On those sweeps up are you dropping it back down and jigging same depth for a couple sweeps or are you just bringing it up? Also I have a bunch of jigging rapalas for ice fishing would these work? Or do I need that vibration in the lure? What would you suggest for cut bait, there is a good population of perch in this lake, should I save some of the bellies off those tasty fillets?

[cisco]

Take a look at airplane jigs. They look like someone's mistaken idea of a fishing joke, but they work. Find the fish with your locator than work above them with heavy jigs -- and do try the airplane jig.

One other consideration -- you may find that water temps are still cold enough (52 degrees F and below) that trolling will be an option without having to go to heavy big water rigs. I use my temp probe to find what depth is cold enough. (I have an old Fish Hawk that gives both temp and light at depths down to 150 ft and it has paid for itself many times over.)

[Xplorer]

Hunter,
I have only ice fished Lower Manitou but have had alot of success on the Northland jigs with a salted shiner. Top colors this Feb were white, glow, and yellow in that order. A friend was near Atikokan on 6/2 and did not have alot of success shallow water trolling, water had warmed too much. These lakers are great eaters, enjoy a fresh shoreline fishboil!! Use your electronics to locate suspended fish off islands/points and jig'em up!! When I jig I usually start on bottom and work my way up in about 5' increments. On ice you can watch the lakers follow your jig up until they whack it. If you are marking a fish that wont go try reeling up about 10-15 ft quickly and then stopping it dead and let it sit there, many times that fish will come up and slam it. Xplorer

[Hunter]

Hey Xplorer any ideas on the manitowaning area?

[Northern Manitoban]

I do alot of Laker fishing.Actually just got back a couple weeks ago from my favorite laker lake.5 days three guys well over 100 lake trout were caught all but one small one was released.The surface temperature was 51 degrees,and the lakers were suspended,i was using a deep six #1 i had my line down about 15 to 20 feet.The deep six can get you down about 60 feet,it trips when a fish bites your hook so making it easier to reel the fish in.Last years trip the deep six brought more fish to the boat then the downrigger fishing at the same depths,and this year it caught more also,they cost around 13 to 16 dollars depending on what size you want.The higher the number the deeper it goes.As for jigging if you can get some sucker belly the lakers just love that,cut it into long strips.I'll even put a piece on my trolling spoons.I'll drop my white tube jig or bucktail to the bottom reel it up and drop again,keep doing this your arms will get tired but the results can be rewarding.Don't be scared to troll to fast also we were catching them at 3 mph but change your speed if no strikes for along period of time.Once you find there depth the fishing will be awesome.FISH ON.

[FireTiger]

Hey,here's my 25cents worth(adjusting for inflation)we fish a lake in MI. called higgens centrally located and deep,and clear, when I first started I got the hotspots map and headed out with my Eagle graph, we use 5/8 jig's w/stinger and the biggest dead smelt we can find,I learned that if your not getting them MOVE, lakers are not as finicky as some other species and hit very good

[Gilligan]

Not real familiar with lakers but I fish deep walleye. Your largest dipsie will get you 60/65' with 180' of line. I can reach 70' with 4oz bottom bouncers by slowing to .8/1.0 mph or to 80/85' range with 3oz of lead on 3 way and 300' leads of fireline. I also drift or anchor up using heavy jigs from 7/8 oz to 1.5 oz. Superlines with no stretch and smaller dia per # than mono make the deep bite easier.

[Fish Info Al]

You can buy the deep six, #0 good for up to 100 feet deep, the #1 up to 125 foot deep and the #2 up to 200 feet deep for $8.99 each, out of Cabela's, plus shipping. They work. Does away with dragging around a lot of lead.

[Xplorer]

Hunter,
I will check out the map (we snowmobile in @25 miles from the far southern end near Dogfly Lake) to see if where we fish is anywhere near the manitowaning area. Will let you know. Xplorer

[risor39]

On Big Green we use swedish pimples in the winter jigging.I would definitly use low stretch line you can get deeper as the diameter is less trolling that is.also less stretch when jigging.Lures we use are northport nailers,evil eyes,daredevils,pro kings,rapalas. Go get em Good Luck.