Lunker Lakers

[DANGLER]

I have been itching to try jigging up lake trout at Ft. Peck for a few years now, but the electronics on my boat just weren't up to the task. I upgraded over the winter and spent the last two weekends up there jerking on my rod...LOL.

I won't say the bite was incredible, becuase even when we would finally locate fish on the screen, the bites were far and few between. But when they wanted to play... Oh boy! Video game fishing at it's best. Drop it down to them and watch them shoot up off the 110ft bottom like rocket to meet the jig. Then reel it up as fast as you can and they HAMMER it. Wish the lake was closer to home, as I woudl really like to spend some more time figuring them out better.

 

[PNWGator]

Those are some really nice fish! Well done in figuring out how to get them to eat too.

 

[Sytes]

Pounders! Very nice!

 

[Trap]

Nice fish ! What kind of fish finder did you upgrade too ?

 

[jvanhoy]

That’s awesome! We catch them trolling with downriggers but I’ve never tried jigging for them. Care to share what kind of jig?

 

[DANGLER]

I didn't go crazy on the finder upgrade. Just a Garmin Echomap 93SV that Cabelas was closing out. It has side scan, down scan, and the built in lake maps. My old Lowrance was fine for actaully marking fish, but beign able to pull up a map of the bottom to find and keep you on structure was the key. Wish I could afford the Panoptics transducer which would be a game changer, but that would cost more than the whole boat.

We tried lots of different jigs.... Paddle tails with underspings or hair skirts, Rip N Raps, Jigging Spoons.... but every single bite was on a big ol 4" White Tube Jig tipped with a small strip of cured sucker belly. I don't think the actual catching is much of a science as compared to other fish.... it is more about finding them.... and the fish being in the mood to eat.

 

[ccc23454]

I love ice fishing them for same reasons but we use way bigger baits typically. Its a blast when they get aggressive and your watching them chase on sonar. Nice fish!

 

[Sask hunter]

Congrats! Laker fishing is something I want to do someday

 

[Northwoods]

Very nice! Catching big lakers on jigs is awesome.

 

[RobG]

How are Ft Peck Lakers for table fare?

 

[Salmonchaser]

Dang!

 

[Art Vandeley]

Very nice... I'm headed there next Friday

 

[Steiny]

Nice fish, congrats !
We vertical jig Lakers all summer on Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan in depths of 100' or more.
Putt putt along real slow watching the fish finder till we see a few, then hit the anchor lock feature on trolling motor to hold you there. Typically toss out 1/2 oz or heavier jigging spoon type stuff on braided line, so you can set the hook. Can often see the fish going after the lure on the fish finder screen.