A step-by-step guide for catching big winter lake trout

TACKLE

In most lakes, where the trout favour some form of soft-rayed, silvery forage, nothing will produce more fish faster than a 3 1/2- to five-inch white tube jig (below). Simply insert a 1/4- to 3/8-ounce jig head inside the tube so that it plummets to the bottom in a corkscrew-like pattern. Alternatively, you can rig the tube like a swimbait, so that the jig head sits outside the front of the tube, looking like the head of a baitfish.

I also carry the same spoons I use for brookies and rainbows, but one size larger. And I always experiment with lipless rattling crankbaits, such as Rapala’s Rippin’ Rap and LiveTarget’s Shiner, especially when the trout are in a chasing mood. Why? I believe the rattles provoke them.

For working these baits, I use a medium- to medium-heavy-action ice rod (34 to 36 inches long if I’m in a shelter, or 36 to 42 inches if I’m out in the open). As for line, I spool on 10- to 12-pound Sufix Performance Ice Fuse, and I always tie on three feet of 10- or 12-pound Maxima Ultragreen mono for a leader.