Jigging for lake trout is a technique catching steam for taking home this delicious fish.
C onventional wisdom and angling tactics would typically lead to trolling for lake trout. However, Jigging, a not too conventional method to fish for trout is starting to gain steam for taking home this delicious fish. Recently I fished with Ben Wolf of Sport Fish Michigan and resident of Traverse City. Ben has been fishing these waters for practically his entire life and was recently voted 2014 Top Charter Captain in the Traverse City area. Ben took me out and showed me how hands on this technique can be.
There are a few places in Michigan that lend itself to jigging for lake trout, and one of those is the bays of Traverse City. Either bay is excellent to fish, but this trip we fished the West Bay and targeted many of the shelves and humps that fell to about 100 feet of water (FOW).
Jigging is a fairly simple technique but finding the fish on your electronics is key. I would highly recommend having decent electronics to be at least able to mark the depth and some idea of type of fish.
Because of the similar rod and reel, you bass anglers have a leg up on this technique. We used Shimano 7â rods and high gear ratio bait casting reels. While you can certainly use spinning gear or other equipment, I think the bait-casting setup provides the most versatility and chance for success. Since fishing in 100+ FOW, being able to sink your lure quickly while having the feel and control over the line, is a great feature. Itâs also recommended to use braided line. Like in any jigging scenario you want to have the best feel possible and using braid will eliminate any line stretch. We were using 15 pound braid with 10 pound fluorocarbon leader at 6 feet.
The jigs we used were Jonah jigs, made by a local manufacturer in Traverse City. Typically we were using 1 to 1 1â2 oz. jigs. Whatâs nice about these jigs is the S-shape that gives it a nice flutter action on the drop.
Keep in mind, since your fishing in 100 FOW, these fish are typically coming off the bottom. So they need time to decompress. Take it slow with them. No need to horse them.
Once you drop your lure to the bottom, and you want to feel it hit the bottom, and then a simple 6-12 inch jigging motion upward will provide the necessary action. Let the lure float to the bottom and continue the jigging action. Of course, you can vary the quickness and depth. Itâs always good to vary your speed to find the best technique to create the bite.
Typically, the lake trout will hit the jig on its way up. It is important to watch your line. If you see it start to coil on the surface and it hasnât hit bottom as expected, fish on! Lake trout have tough mouths, so a good hook set is critical.
Not all anglers have the latest and greatest equipment, especially in the trolling motor department. If youâre lucky enough to have a trolling motor with electronic GPS control, you will surely have a leg up. What this option allows is basically an electronic anchor. While being able to plug in your coordinates, the trolling motor will hold over a spot youâve identified which allows you to stay on the fish and cover the area with precision. Beats having to pedal the trolling motor especially in the wind. In fact, the electronic anchor works even better in windy conditions. So when you want to get directly in on the action and a change a pace from trolling, try jigging for lake trout (it works well for salmon also). For those who love the hands on fishing techniques this is a method you need to put into your arsenal. As Ben Wolfe says, âget out and get bitâ by jigging for lake trout.
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