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Fly-rodding for Early Season Lake Trout

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Fly fishing for early season lake trout. Although no one seems to know who coined the term, “location, location, location,” most historians agree that it was most likely a real estate tycoon. What we do know, is that the Chicago Tribune was the first to publish the phrase in 1926. That fact leads me to believe an angler had something to do with it. As everyone knows, the Midwest is chock full of people who take their fishing seriously. The person who coined the term may well have been in real estate, but I’m betting they were an avid angler too.

When it comes to fishing, location is everything. You simply can’t catch fish if they’re not there. This is especially true on large, deep, northern lakes when lake trout are your target. Understanding the water temperature these fish prefer, is huge later in the season when the water warms up and the fish go deep; but understanding their feeding habits is the golden key to identifying prime early season locations, that will consistently produce fish.

Locate Feeding Trout

Lake trout are daytime feeders. Even here at Grizzly Creek Lodge in the Yukon Territory where it’s light enough to read a newspaper outside until the wee hours of the morning, feeding will slow as soon as the shadows start to lengthen. Juvenile lake trout feed primarily on zooplankton, insect larvae, crustaceans, snails, and leeches. As they mature, their feeding habits begin to change, and they become opportunistic piscivores. The mature lake trout that anglers target feed almost exclusively on smaller fish.

A sure way to locate feeding trout is to understand the habitat their prey prefers. Once you understand the smaller fish they feed on, locating them becomes much easier. Freshwater herring, also known as cisco’s, are high on a lake trout’s list of preferred food.  Abundant in most northern waters, freshwater herring move about in large schools.

These small smelt like fish prefer water temperatures in the 10 to 13-degree Celsius range. For the first few weeks after ice out you will find them in shallow water. When you see large schools of cisco’s cruising just beneath the surface around shallow shoals, lake trout will almost certainly be nearby. Break-lines, inlets, shallow deltas near outflows, and prominent points are prime locations as well.

Feeding birds are a dead giveaway to roving schools of freshwater herring. Both gulls and terns feed heavily on these smelt-like fish. The presence of ospreys, and eagles are a sure sign that fish are in the area as well.

Fly Rods, Reels, and Tackle

Even smaller lake trout are pugnacious fighters. They have the stamina that has to be experienced to be believed. Multiple long, depth-sounding runs are normal; even with a heavier rod. Rod selection is always a personal choice, but I advise flyfishers to err on the side of caution. The tackle you use plays a big role in good catch-and-release techniques. Survival rates are lower when fish are fatigued, so it’s important to choose a rod that will handle these hard-fighting fish. Keep in mind you will be casting big air-resistant flies too. Often in windy conditions. I prefer a nine-weight, medium fast action rod, but a 10-weight is not overkill, believe me.

A good fly rod doesn’t have to break the bank. New materials and manufacturing techniques have enabled companies to produce quality rods a lot cheaper than they could in the past. There are a lot of great fly-rod manufacturers out there, but I have to say that the Moonshine Rod Companies Drifter is fast becoming one of my favorite lake trout rods. I usually recommend a 9 or 10 wt rod for lake trout, but the 8 wt Drifter has what it takes to get those big flies out there, and enough backbone for the largest trout. The fact that they are very reasonably priced and come with an extra tip is an added bonus.

Use Large Arbor Fly Reel For Lake Trout

Large arbor reels are the best choice for a designated lake trout rig. Your reel of choice needs to be able to hold 100-yards of 30-pound backing, in addition to the fly line.  Unlike other types of fly-fishing, the backing is an important and often used component. I’ve had 12-pound fish strip out 75-yards of backing in one run. Tie into a twenty-pound brute and you will need all the backing you can get.  You don’t want to run out, take it from me, I’ve been there, done that. Fly line is expensive.

One of the most common questions I get from clients that are in the planning stages of a big trip north is what kind of drag system I prefer for lake trout and pike. My answer is always the same; I prefer a sealed drag system. That doesn’t mean other systems are bad, it’s just what I prefer. Running a fishing lodge is a lot of work, I’m busy from sun up, until well after dark most days, so a maintenance-free reel is very appealing. Cork drags are probably smoother, but they do require regular maintenance.

Fly lines have come a long way in recent years. There are so many different styles that it’s almost impossible to keep up with them all. I used a standard sink tip line for many years with good results.  I just recently switched to a shooting headline, and have been really happy with its performance. It loads a rod much faster, and makes long casts with large flies a lot easier, especially in windy conditions.

Top Producing Patterns For Lake Trout

The clouser minnow, and the rabbit fur strip leech are our most productive pattern by far. Larger patterns from five to eight inches long like deceivers, and jointed saltwater rigs, work well too. Rabbit fur has an undulating action that ‘comes alive’ underwater, and drives predator fish crazy.

It has been said that a fly box isn’t complete without a selection of Clouser minnows. This pattern is so successful, that I would feel well armed if it was the only pattern I had available. The Clouser minnow was designed to mimic an escaping baitfish. The key to this patterns success is that it never stops moving. Rising when line is stripped in, it darts down, or off to the side during the pause.

Good leaders will make casting large flies easier. A properly constructed leader will make it easier to turn over wet heavy patterns. We buy most of the leaders we use but you can make your own. The 60/20/20 formula will give you a leader with the proper taper. The standard 60/20/20 formula will give you a leader that is 60% butt, 20% mid-section, and 20% tippet. So for a 10-foot leader we use six feet of butt ( 40 lb. fluorocarbon leader material) , two-feet of mid-section,( 30 lb. fluorocarbon leader material ) and two-feet of 18 lb. fluorocarbon tippet. Use a blood knot to fasten everything together. Tie a perfection loop on each end, and add two-feet of tie-able wire tippet if pike are on the menu. These leaders will reliably turn over the largest flies, and the wire tippets are a must for northern pike.

Seaguars original Blue Label fluorocarbon has served us well for years.

When it comes to wire tippet material Rio’s Wire Bite is hard to beat. Supple enough to tie easily, yet tough enough for the biggest northerns.

Fish The Shallows For Early Season Lake Trout

Early season lake trout action takes place in the first few feet of the water column. It’s not uncommon to actually see lake trout prowling in water only a few feet deep. Like most of the trout species, lake trout have good vison. Although they can see in all directions, with only a few blind spots, they see best in front of, and above their head. In clear northern waters they can easily see your flies 15-feet above them, so don’t worry about getting your flies down to deep.

Lake Trout Love Structure

A proven tactic on unfamiliar water is to fish structure. Look for drop offs. Early season lake trout will congregate right on the edge of these drop-offs. If a boat is being used, position it so you can cast past the drop off. The sweet spot, will usually be right on the edge of the drop off where the depth change is greatest. Avoid the temptation of casting right into this zone; even if you see fish. Lake trout spook easily, so your goal should be to plant your fly out past the drop off into deep water.

Once your fly hits the water, wait a few seconds before starting the retrieve. Counting to five after each cast will improve your technique, and instill discipline. This ‘pause’ allows your fly to sink a few feet below the surface. Your retrieve should be relatively slow and steady. A to-fast retrieve is the most common mistake I see as a guide. A fast retrieve ruins the action of the fly; slow it down and you will get more strikes.

Lake trout will slap, or bump their prey to stun it, before the final attack. Because of this habit, you will usually feel a few bumps right before they strike. Novice fly fishers will inevitably try to set the hook each time they feel a bump. Let your rod do the work, when a laker strikes you will know it.

Find more techniques here

Early in the Season When Lake Trout are in the Shallows The Action Heats up

A few years ago I got the rare opportunity of seeing multiple lake trout strikes. I was working some new water near a small outflow. With the boat parked in about 8-feet of water I was casting down into, and across the current, hoping to find some lakers suspended right on the break-line. During a retrieve I spotted a lake trout cruising right under the boat. What followed was easily the best fishing experience I have ever witnessed.

There were literally dozens of lake trout cruising around in the shallows between the boat and the shoreline. There were so many fish that literally every cast would initiate multiple strikes. I would hook up almost immediately, and the fighting fish seemed to drive the others into a frenzy.

Lake Trout Will Bump Your Fly Just Like They Bump Prey To Stun It

It might sound like a fish story but literally dozens of huge lake trout would shadow the fighting fish, bumping it with their bodies whenever they had the chance. I didn’t understand why they were doing it until the fly was knocked loose near the boat. As soon as the fly came loose, another fish had it, and a light went on in my head. The bumping was designed to knock the prey loose so the offending fish could get a free meal.

I caught and released 24 lake trout in just over two-hours that day. All of them were caught on that one shallow shoal, not 30-meters from shore. Renowned fly fisherman Duane Radford, was in the same area the next spring and had much the same experience. He called it the single best day of fishing in his lifetime. Contrary to popular belief, lake trout can be found in shallow water. Often in large numbers. Early in the season right after ice out, is the most productive time for fly fishers to be out on the water. With the right gear, and a little knowledge, you might just have the best fishing experience of your life.

For a more in-depth article on lake trout, check out our blog post here

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