Shallow Lakers, Recent trip.

Great descrition of your day, beautiful scenery, fantastic fish pics. Thanks for sharing, very interesting stuff.

nice fish


I'm a big believer in shallow laker fishing both winter and summer 14 to 35 feet being my favourite depths

We're all ears---tell us more! Many of us could learn from an expert

On Lake Manitou in the Spring, I have trolled slowly in 10fow, casting towards shore and catching lakers in 3fow.

Manitou has a rocky bottom and the lakers are in feeding on crayfish.

SDC

That's a bit surprising, Ralph. I thought crays just became active in quite warm water. Maybe the trout know better. I guess it depends on how well the crays are hiding.

I'm no expert on shield laker fishing, but i do believe in experimenting and that is what i have done for the past decade

I normally see fish hugging bottom in deep water just like many, but these are not usually active, so began to try much shallower and it's been quite consistent for me

only 2 months of the year, i fish down to maybe 50 fow


troll with small spoons like scorpian size and some body baits

jig with swammers, tubes and vibratos


haven't used minnows in 12 years


lastly, you have to get to know the lake and where they hold, move and feed

I completely agree Longshank. Have to experiment beyond what we already know.

I also happen to agree that you never need minnows for lakers.

I completely agree Longshank. Have to experiment beyond what we already know.

I also happen to agree that you never need minnows for lakers.

I concur. Although I still use live bait for my dead stick and actively jig with a jig and minnow, laker fishing is more about fooling an aggressive predator. You will get more aggressive strikes pulling your lure away as fast as you can away from the the fish than you ever will just jigging in the same spot. You need to provoke the predator instinct in the laker by making them chase. The problem is lakers have really good eye sight and as soon as your not pulling your lure away fast enough and they realize that your lure is not thier natural forage, they turn away. So in short, you don't need live bait. I'm sure you could use a timbit and if you pull it away fast enough, you will catch that laker.