Georgian Bay Lake Trout, Looking for Advice

[Chopper]

New to the forum and fishing in GB. Looking to land some lake trout prior to the salmon moving in. I have asked many people and been given a lot of differing advice with no success yet. I am fishing in 80-110 feet of water and trying to keep my speed between 1.5 and 2.0 mph. I do not have a trolling motor. My motor is a 15HP, boat is 17 foot aluminum.

I am launching at Collingwood and Wasaga Beach, so southern Georgian Bay.

How much line should should I have behind my ball?

I do have a downrigger weight that looks like a shiny silver grey fish with a red jewel eye and one that looks more like an grey airplane.

I have heard 80-120 feet AND as little as 8-15 feet as the trout will come up to look at the downrigger fish.

Flashers? I have been told to just use blue, green and purple spoons WHILE others have recommended a flasher with a fly 18 inches behind.

I am using 20lb mono with a 17lb fluorocarbon leader.

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

[sdcaller]

Hey Chopper

Take a look at my report for June 9.

When I'm on GB, my usual trolling speed is 2.5mph. I do most of my trolling in 80-120fow.

GB waters are pretty clear so I tend to fish a long way behind the ball.

If you are looking for lakers, fish close to bottom. 5 to 15 off bottom, depending on the depth where you are marking fish.

I find "flashy" spoons work best for me.

SDC

[jam1324]

Just off or near structure, try and find the bait, they will hit bait bigger than you think, flasher and fly combos as well as normal sized salmon spoons (4-5 inches) have worked well for me, trolling across depth contours as well as along them often works better for me, at those depths currents can affect your lures greatly, pay attention to your rigger lines and make sure they have a nice angle and are singing good. Also try and stay away from the pack if possible. I'd downsize to 10 - 12 pound leader for Lakers around here.

[Newburg007]

Were you out on the lake last night? Red trim boat? (Police were checking registration/ownership.)

[Chopper]

Thanks for all your advice. Yes that was me in the red trim boat. We saw the police boat but were able to cruise on by!!

[Newburg007]

I was the guy in that hurried by in the lot and gave the head's up.

It got pretty rough (steering/speed control) after 7pm. I try to keep an eye on other boats -- just a safety thing ("not stealing any secrets from 1 km away!") and you looked like in a good depth to connect. A buddy and myself (2 separate boats) had a couple fish hit and only 1 fish landed. Tough night.

More time on the water and changing spoons/speeds will eventually give you that "sweet-spot" for the water you're fishing. Good luck.

[Chopper]

Thanks Newburg, yes that was me and my father. Thanks for the heads up. We put on our PDFs and sailed by the police boat. Well I am glad to hear you caught a fish! I agree with you, with a little more time and patience, the fish will come. Hopefully the rain will stop soon so we can get back on to the bay.

[nickfishy]

Hey chopper...80-120 fow...make a few big circles untill you mark some fish...lake trout usually school up where i fish so there not hard to find if you know what your looking for...once found stay to that water depth within 10ft or so...mark the schools on your gps...i had 8 or more points marked last week...they wont go far so trolling back over them a few times is possible...last time out i was in 90fow canon bal down 70 and 3mph...every time i went back over a mark a rod fired it was a busy day for three guys...lol...lost count after a while on lakers...lost one salmon or a big bow 50ft behind boat...off the bay by 3pm...good times