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Lake: Jefferson Lake
Fish: Lake Trout
LAKERS AT JEFFERSON?
Post By: jber      Posted: 6/4/2012 8:35:17 PM     Points: 52    
I am taking the family fishing at Jefferson Lake this weekend. I will be fishing from a boat. Any advice on how I can catch some lake trout out of Jefferson from a boat???
Thanks very much for any information you are willing to share.
 Reply by: esoxrocks      Posted: 6/4/2012 9:19:11 PM     Points: 365    
A couple years ago someone gave me his advice on this website and I have been catching lakers at Jefferson ever since. So I'll pay it forward.
Note, there are lots of guys who do way better than I do at Jefferson but here is my approach...

I vertical jig and use a 2-1/2" - 3" white or glow tube jig tipped with sucker meat (get sucker meat at Bass Pro, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Discount Tackle). I like to use the shorter-hook length jigs with at least a 1/4 oz weight. Sharpen the hooks before you go. I use braid (10 lb test) with a long flouro leader (I use 6 feet of 6 lb test). The braid will telegraph the laker's very light hits quite well and the flouro is fairly stealthy near your jig. I use a 7' med weight, fast action rod w/ a 3000 size spining reel...basically a walleye setup.

Try to cut the sucker meat so each piece of fish has some skin on it. Hook the meat through the skin...it will stay on longer. Bring plenty of meat and change up the bait every time you bring up your lure as the meat gets water logged fairly quickly. Little pieces work fine...you don't have to load the hook up...but keep it fresh.

If I have a choice, I target fish 60' deep or less. They seem to be more active the shallower they are. IMO, depth is more important than location on this lake but good places to try are past the point you see as you look to the right (east) side of the lake from the boat ramp. Also I usually find fish out a little way out from the mouth of the other (non-boat ramp) parking area bay.

If you have a fish finder...look for fish and depth (duh). If not, I'd start on the bottom and work my up a couple cranks at a time. Pay attention..the strike often feels more like weight on yout rod...rather than a violent hit. Set the hook well, keep your rod tip up (etc.) as you have 50+ feet of reeling to do.

I hope some of this is helpful to you.
 Reply by: Wattzz      Posted: 6/4/2012 9:49:08 PM     Points: 5080    
esoxrocks,
"Fins up' for pay it foward

Wattzz
 Reply by: bratfish      Posted: 6/4/2012 10:55:17 PM     Points: 903    
x2 what exo said. sucker meat is key imo. also a decent fishfinder. my 140c humminbird is what i run. that lakes a gem.
 Reply by: CO_Native      Posted: 6/5/2012 9:04:58 AM     Points: 161    
I'll be up there Sunday, look for a reddish colored inflatable pontoon and swing by. We did really good this past ice fishing season.
 Reply by: skiman      Posted: 6/5/2012 12:14:22 PM     Points: 511    
jber...
Ư on the sucker meat...but don't forget to try a different color jig. Chartruese is a "go-to" for me, but the darker colors (smoke or crayfish color) also work. When I hook on the sucker meat, I put the skin side UP for the first hook through, and then I hook it again flipping it over so all you have showing is the meat part. It seems to stay on the hook longer, but don't be timid about changing it out when you see it getting water-logged and mushy. Good Fishing!
Ski
 Reply by: jman      Posted: 6/5/2012 1:23:30 PM     Points: 1259    
DO NOT LEAVE THE HOUSE WITH OUT BROWN TUBES!!!
Yes white is the number one color but when you start getting less bites during the day switch to a natural color like brown i promise it will work. Other than that i agree with everyone, just dont over due the sucker, if you find fish that wont take anything just keep pounding the bottom that works well.
 Reply by: jber      Posted: 6/5/2012 7:59:37 PM     Points: 52    
Thanks esoxrocks for sharing your information and paying it forward. That's what this site is all about, fishermen helping each other. Hope I can repay sometime.
 Reply by: IceFishingFool      Posted: 6/5/2012 8:11:49 PM     Points: 4455    
Good advise so far, one thing I might ad is if your going to release a laker brought up from the depth, play it up slowly so it can adjust to the pressure. to start with a good stiff hook set works wonders, their mouths are not soft like other trout.
 Reply by: albow      Posted: 6/5/2012 10:43:43 PM     Points: 154    
These fish grow very slowly (like 1/4 inch a year) and the larger ones are very old. It's considered good form to release Lakers over 22 inches -- the smaller ones taste better anyway and they are oily so they don't make good mounts.
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