Lake Trout gear

Quick setup

Rod	Reel	Line
Medium spinning rod for casting and bottom fishing. Medium-heavy to heavy rod for deep jigging. For trolling, 8 to 10.5 foot medium to medium-heavy rods.	Spinning for casting and jigging. Level-wind or baitcasting reels, often with a line counter, for trolling.	For downrigger trolling, 250 to 400 yards of 15 lb mono, or 30 lb braid with a six-foot, 17 lb mono leader.

Rod, reel and line

Rod: Medium spinning rod for casting and bottom fishing. Medium-heavy to heavy rod for deep jigging. For trolling, 8 to 10.5 foot medium to medium-heavy rods.
Reel: Spinning for casting and jigging. Level-wind or baitcasting reels, often with a line counter, for trolling.
Line: For downrigger trolling, 250 to 400 yards of 15 lb mono, or 30 lb braid with a six-foot, 17 lb mono leader.

Baits

dead ciscoes or smelt
minnows

Lures

trolling spoons
heavy jigs and jigging spoons
flasher and fly combinations

Rigs

Vertical jig a spoon or jig, tipped with minnow or cut bait, over rock piles and sharp depth changes.
Downrigger or wire line trolling with spoons or crankbaits near bottom.

Tips

In spring and fall lake trout come shallower, often under 30 feet. In summer they go below 40 feet, usually near bottom, in about 42 to 52°F water.

Starter setup

A 5.5 to 7 foot light to medium-light spinning or spincast rod and matching reel, spooled with 6 lb monofilament. Spincast is easiest for beginners, and a 4 to 5 foot rod suits small kids. Carry size 6 to 10 hooks, a few split shot (pinched on 4 to 8 inches above the hook), small bobbers, a couple of small spinners and jigs, and worms. Learn the improved clinch knot and the palomar knot.

Light line casts farther and draws more strikes. Heavier line and stiffer rods are for bigger fish, heavy cover or sharp teeth, not for everyday fishing.

When to size up

Fish	Gear
Walleye, bass, saugeye, hybrid striped bass	medium rod, 8 to 12 lb line, 6 to 7.5 feet
Channel catfish	medium-heavy rod, 10 to 20 lb line
Northern pike	medium-heavy rod, 15 lb or heavier braid, steel or heavy fluorocarbon (40 lb+) leader
Muskellunge	heavy 7 to 9 foot rod, 50 to 80 lb braid, heavy leader
Trolling for lake trout and salmon	8.5 to 10.5 foot trolling rods, 15 lb mono or 30 lb braid, level-wind reels
Steelhead	8 to 10 foot or longer rods, 6 to 10 lb line
Lake sturgeon	heavy rod, 50 to 100 lb braid