How to Downrigger Fish for Lake Trout
The downrigger uses a spool, wire and a weight to control the depth of the lure or bait. The technique allows anglers to troll at a constant depth where lake trout and other species of game fish are often present. The downrigger is an effective tool for lake trout because the fish are typically found in deep sections of lakes and reservoirs. The fish will enter the shallows during the spring to spawn.
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Instructions
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Use a fish finder to determine the distance to the bottom of the lake. Locate any detectable fish and determine the distance at which the fish are present. Assume the deepest fish are lake trout.
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Attach the release clip on the cable to the line, with two feet of line between the cable and the lure. Lower the weight on the downrigger and begin trolling at a slow pace. Continue to release the cable and lower the weight until you are within one foot of the bottom. Use the click counter or electronic reader on the downrigger to determine the exact depth.
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Continue trolling at a slow pace and in a straight line that follows an even contour of the bottom. Adjust the depth to a shallower point as you troll and read fish in shallower water on the screen of the fish finder. Troll the same line several times until the perfect depth is discovered.
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Jerk the rod when a fish bites to ensure the line is released from the cable. Reel in the weight as soon as possible to prevent the fish from tangling around the cable. Reel in the fish after the cable has been fully retrieved.
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Tips & Warnings
Make wide turns to prevent the need for reeling the weight on each turn. Continue trolling the loop and adjusting the depth to find the lake trout. Look for the edge of depth change areas and use natural large lures to resemble trout and other bait-fish.
Lake trout typically hold in deep water but check the shallows in the spring by casting lures into the shoreline.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Comments
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Lake trout spawn in the fall not the spring as stated in the article. You really should at least do some research before writting something like this.
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What kind of clip to use for the lake trout?
