Salmon is a popular name for many fish species in the Salmonidae family. Many other fish of the same family are called Trout. It is said that the difference is that Salmon migrate to the ocean while Trout don’t. However, this distinction is not entirely accurate. Many species spend their whole life in freshwater. Lake trout are one of the most popular freshwater fish in North America.
So what are the best lures for lake trout fishing? In this article, we will research some types of the best lures for lake trout fishing and suitably when and how to fish for Trout in a lake.
What Is The Good Time To Fish For Trout In A Lake?
Lake trout do not prefer bright lights. Too high water temperatures reduce the amount of oxygen in the water. The ideal time could be early morning, from dawn until 2 hours later, and the second-best time is at twilight.
In addition, weather changes are also another factor determining your productive day. You can try fishing on light rainy days because rain helps wash insects and lure them into the water, creating a feeding binge for fish.
Moreover, you can try a fishing calendar. This tool uses data from your location and other considerations like the tide and the moon to determine when it is the ideal time to fish the species you want to catch.
Where Do You Look For Trout In A Lake?
As mentioned before, too many hot days can make fish sluggish. It happens the same in the winter as the water temperature is low. So the point is to try fishing in cooler water. However, the hardest part is to locate them, especially in the large lake. Thanks to the advances in technology, you can use a depth finder. This tool helps find out where the fish are located accurately and quickly. You can also mark your location to know where to return next time. And one more last tip is while Trout don’t go to school, they often stay in the same area. It means that when you catch one, you will certainly acquire more.
What Are The Good Lake Trout Lures For Jigging?
Let me introduce some kinds of attractions you can use:
- Acme Kastmaster Spoon (1 to 1 ½ oz): this lure is often used for smaller trout species. If you catch a big trout, you could upsize to a giant spoon.
- Thundermist jigging Spoon ( 1 ¾ oz): although it has a simple design, it is best to choose the larger size for jigging. It allows you to get it down into the strike zone fast enough.
- Last Cast Tackle While Shad Jig Head ( 2 oz): To use this effectively, you must rig a stinger hook to prevent short strikes.
What Are The Good Lake Trout Lures For Trolling?
Like jigging, not all trolling lures are created equally. Do not waste your time by using subpar magnets. Spoons are the most effective lures for lake trout trolling. Here are some recommendations for your choice:
- Hagen Muskie Spoon ( 1 ¼ oz): This spoon has a solid side-to-side wobbling action, which helps vibrate and flash in the water. If you are catching fish in the summer, you should use a lead core to get your spoon deep.
- Rapala Shad Rap ( 07 to 09 ): Its large diving shovel gives it a solid wobbling action when trolled. It is designed to dive deep to explore without a downrigger throughout springtime.
What Are The Most Suitable Lures For Lake Trout From Shore?
Catching lake trout from shore is not as effective as fishing from a boat. However, don’t worry about that. You can totally catch lake trout in shallow water from shore during early spring when the water is still cold. Your lures should be large spoons, crankbaits, and swimbaits.
- Truscend Soft Swimbait ( 3/4oz): you can use this lure while catching from a boat or from shore. Its size allows you to fish close to the bottom and achieve maximum casting distance.
- Acme Kastmaster with BuckTail Teaser ( ¾ oz) works well for jigging and casting from shore. Gold is a good choice of colour on overcast days.
What Are The Good Lake Trout Lures For Ice Fishing?
Fishing on ice requires more techniques and tools than in the summer, spring, or fall. Anglers can do this activity anytime because different fishes have different active times. Some anglers even use audible alarms to tell when a fish is biting. People usually catch fish with lines and fish hooks or spears in the ice on frozen water. The hole size depends on what species of fish you are capturing, generally suggested is 8 inches. Sometimes anglers use a heater to keep the hole from freezing.
What Are The Good Lake Trout Lures For Spring?
Well, spring is a fantastic time to catch lake trout. It is the time for feeding. You can use spoons, crankbaits, or even some typical good-old fashion: the nightcrawlers. These naturally occur everywhere in the world and everywhere in a lake. They have a wonderful scent; they have a good motion. Make sure you’re getting some good ones. Ensure there are no dead ones because they’ll make all the other ones die and ensure they’re nice, big, and healthy.
One more is power bait or any artificial bait. They can be some garlic eggs and have a powerful scent to the fish. These baits are popular because you can change their colours, styles, and tastes.
What Are The Good Lake Trout Lures For Summer?
In the summer, trout tend to swim in deeper water layers. The best lures are jigging lures at 60 to 80 feet or more depths. You also use a fish finder to locate fish because at this time of the year is truly hard to estimate the proper depth.
What Are The Good Lake Trout Lures For Fall?
It is time you can get both casts from a boat or troll in shallow water less than 30 feet deep. Spoons, swimbaits, and crankbaits are the options you can choose. Trout need to build strong spawn, so they feed very actively this time.
TroutBeads is not a wrong choice. It is designed like a salmon egg, usually orange or pink, and is attached to the leader a few inches above a hook. It is simple and not so expensive. However, it requires specialized gear to fish correctly.
How To Decide On The Good Streamer For Big Fall Trout?
Patterns with good swimming and jigging actions are the best streamers to fish. Fly fishing flies are usually used because they can behave differently on the water and help catch the attention of Trout.
If it rains a lot and is swollen or when you get melting snow, Trout will leave the centre of the river because the current is too strong. They move into undercuts or flooded vegetation where they can easily hold and dash out from cover to eat any smaller trout passing by. Using an impressive streamer is the key to catching Trout in this situation. It must be significant, has many flashes and has a heavy head. You can try Mike’s Meal Ticket or Dolly Llama.
Fishing during low and clear conditions is not futile if you choose the right fly and equipment. These flies swim super well in the water. They have an excellent and realistic look and are tough enough for a giant trout to resist. Your options could be Junk Yard Dog, Drunk and Disorderly, or Sluggo.
Slump Buster is suitable if you have difficulty landing a fish as its erratic movement helps excite fish.
Remember to cast your flies as far as possible and carefully pay attention to the flies and all around them. The average size is 4-5 inches to 8-10 inches, up to your choice. The best fly depends on the season also. For example, the stonefly is a perfect choice in the early spring because Trout are feeding on nymphs.
Related post:
- Best Shimano Spinning Reel (Top 10 Spinning Reels For Trout)
- What Colors Do Trout Like You Need To Know
Conclusion
The article has solved all consumers’ problems about the best lures for lake trout fishing. Don’t be afraid to ask local fellow anglers. They are the ones who know where to get the info you’re looking for by season and specific types of fish. It is always said that “He who sees through life and death will meet most success”. Fishing is not easy. Picking out the right lures is even overwhelming. Do that lures fit the place and the weather? Choosing eligible streamers is essential as well. You also have to learn more about species that can be caught. I hope the above information can give you some useful introductory information. However hard it is, you get what you pay for.
