Thanks for everything you do, I have been a resident of the area for 5 years and have only attempted fishing for lake trout this past season. Your videos have helped me get out on the ice and have led to my first lake trout and splake catches and I really appreciate the real-ness and how-to aspect of your content. Thank you SO MUCH for what you do to help first time anglers and promote good practice for these Boundary Waters fisheries.
You are so welcome! Your comment put a big smile on my face. I am happy to be a resource to anyone who is interested in learning. When I was first getting into BWCA canoe and ice fishing there were so few resources available to speed up the learning curve. I spent many years struggling to catch fish. I’m happy to share the knowledge :)
Thank you!! I saw that lichen on the rock from across the lake and had to go check it out. Sunshine didn’t hurt, either. You can’t tell, but it was 5 degrees when I shot that. After a -15 degree hike in that morning it felt like 50!
Awesome! Are you using a sonar and inducing a chase when they show up or do they smash it out of nowhere? Seems this would be a fantastic approach for fishing without sonar.
Mostly, I am using a Fenwick Elite Tech Ice 36" Medium Heavy rod. It was perfect for those 23-26" lakers but it is generally a little overkill for my average size (17-21") laker. Nothing fancy for a reel, just a shimano Sienna 2500, I believe. On the reel I have 25# braid to a 14lb flourocarbon leader. I hope to do a video before the season ends, explaining how I read my sonar and react to the fish...
These videos are amazing! It is beautiful up there. I went out on the ice near me recently and I wish I had watched this before I went. It would’ve helped a lot. Can I hire you to take me out for trout one of these weekends?
Thank you! It sure is, I truly feel humbled each time I venture into the BWCA (this video was shot just outside the BWCA in the Superior National Forest). I am not currently guiding, but might be interested in the opportunity
Love your videos ice been binging before our May trip this year!! Question on what swimbaits do you use? Found a few that are 3-4” but I’m guessing the 5” size or close is better? Thanks in advance
Depends on the body of water I am fishing, really. Smaller on bodies of water that only have smelt/suckers and larger on bodies with Cisco/whitefish. If your fishing them in open water you’ll probably need to upsize on the jigheads since you’ll be dealing with wind/current. Id start at 3/4-1.5oz unless you’re going for them when they’re shallow in early May
@@therealfarwater appreciate the response! and yes I’ll be going in may 13 so still somewhat shallow I’m guessing. Maybe 1oz then I’m guessing. I’ve only done one other spring BWCA trip and we had pretty good luck with threeways and spoons and Minnow baits. But wanted to add more to the arsenal!
I really like a 30-36" medium heavy rod for jigging for the stiff backbone. I really don't need a sensitive rod for lake trout as most of the fish I catch are caught jigging very aggressively or on a quick retrieve. On that rod, I have 20# braid as main-line and usually a 12-18# flouro leader - usually 26-48". The braid does ice up in the winter when I am fishing outside, so I would recommend investing in a coated ice-fishing specific braid, which will help reduce ice build up.
Too much gear: 6" hand Auger, Eskimo 3p ice shack, ice saw, sonar (Humminbird Helix 5), 5-gallon bucket, 2-3 fishing rods in a hard-sided rod case, tip up, ice scoop, salted minnows and camera gear in a hard-sided case.
Trout lake is a good option if you have a snowmobile or wheeler to make it across vermillion. Seagull is another great option for walk-in. The gunflint has quite a few more options than the Ely side. Duncan, Daniels, Bearskin, saganaga Tuscarora, Etc
![FNAF vs TF2 - Episode 2 [SFM]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/z5b3V2-VLb0/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for everything you do, I have been a resident of the area for 5 years and have only attempted fishing for lake trout this past season. Your videos have helped me get out on the ice and have led to my first lake trout and splake catches and I really appreciate the real-ness and how-to aspect of your content. Thank you SO MUCH for what you do to help first time anglers and promote good practice for these Boundary Waters fisheries.
You are so welcome! Your comment put a big smile on my face. I am happy to be a resource to anyone who is interested in learning. When I was first getting into BWCA canoe and ice fishing there were so few resources available to speed up the learning curve. I spent many years struggling to catch fish. I’m happy to share the knowledge :)
Also, congrats on your first Laker and Splake. I am sure they punched above their weight class :)
Thanks again for this comment! Reading it one year later puts a smile on my face and reinforces what I do/share.
Another cool video Eric. Very educational, great editing and your choice of background was spot on.
Thank you!! I saw that lichen on the rock from across the lake and had to go check it out. Sunshine didn’t hurt, either. You can’t tell, but it was 5 degrees when I shot that. After a -15 degree hike in that morning it felt like 50!
Great video man thanks a lot.
My pleasure! Hopefully it helps you catch some fish! I wish there had been a video like this when I started fishing for lake trout a decade ago
I'm a big fan of the authentic pulse plactics, I rip it hard and fast off the bottomed with a glow jig head and the results are incredible
Awesome! Are you using a sonar and inducing a chase when they show up or do they smash it out of nowhere? Seems this would be a fantastic approach for fishing without sonar.
Keep the great content coming
Thank you, I will!
What's your rod setup look like? And what does it look like on the sonar when you get a trout chasing?
Mostly, I am using a Fenwick Elite Tech Ice 36" Medium Heavy rod. It was perfect for those 23-26" lakers but it is generally a little overkill for my average size (17-21") laker. Nothing fancy for a reel, just a shimano Sienna 2500, I believe. On the reel I have 25# braid to a 14lb flourocarbon leader. I hope to do a video before the season ends, explaining how I read my sonar and react to the fish...
These videos are amazing! It is beautiful up there. I went out on the ice near me recently and I wish I had watched this before I went. It would’ve helped a lot. Can I hire you to take me out for trout one of these weekends?
Thank you! It sure is, I truly feel humbled each time I venture into the BWCA (this video was shot just outside the BWCA in the Superior National Forest). I am not currently guiding, but might be interested in the opportunity
Love your videos ice been binging before our May trip this year!! Question on what swimbaits do you use? Found a few that are 3-4” but I’m guessing the 5” size or close is better? Thanks in advance
Depends on the body of water I am fishing, really. Smaller on bodies of water that only have smelt/suckers and larger on bodies with Cisco/whitefish. If your fishing them in open water you’ll probably need to upsize on the jigheads since you’ll be dealing with wind/current. Id start at 3/4-1.5oz unless you’re going for them when they’re shallow in early May
@@therealfarwater appreciate the response! and yes I’ll be going in may 13 so still somewhat shallow I’m guessing. Maybe 1oz then I’m guessing. I’ve only done one other spring BWCA trip and we had pretty good luck with threeways and spoons and Minnow baits. But wanted to add more to the arsenal!
Great video, thanks for it. Question: what power rods do you use and what braid and/or fluero do you pair with them?
I really like a 30-36" medium heavy rod for jigging for the stiff backbone. I really don't need a sensitive rod for lake trout as most of the fish I catch are caught jigging very aggressively or on a quick retrieve. On that rod, I have 20# braid as main-line and usually a 12-18# flouro leader - usually 26-48". The braid does ice up in the winter when I am fishing outside, so I would recommend investing in a coated ice-fishing specific braid, which will help reduce ice build up.
@@therealfarwater Thanks a ton. Your video and reply have been super helpful.
What type of gear do you put in your pulk sled when you head out in addition to your tackle?
Too much gear: 6" hand Auger, Eskimo 3p ice shack, ice saw, sonar (Humminbird Helix 5), 5-gallon bucket, 2-3 fishing rods in a hard-sided rod case, tip up, ice scoop, salted minnows and camera gear in a hard-sided case.
Which lake trout lakes in BWCA do you recommend in winter? We have a smitty sled and plan on 3 day trip.
Trout lake is a good option if you have a snowmobile or wheeler to make it across vermillion. Seagull is another great option for walk-in. The gunflint has quite a few more options than the Ely side. Duncan, Daniels, Bearskin, saganaga Tuscarora, Etc
I like fish
Well then you came to the right place