
How to Catch Lake Trout Ice Fishing? Step-By-Step Guide
Ice fishing for lake trout offers an exciting challenge, promising beautiful and tasty rewards. While it can be tough, having the right knowledge and gear can greatly improve your success rate. So, today I’m going to share some valuable tips and experiences to help you catch lake trout through the ice, ensuring a productive and enjoyable time on the frozen lake.

Understanding Lake Trout Behavior
Lake trout, often called “lakers,” are intriguing fish, especially in winter. They thrive in cold water and become very active, making them ideal for ice fishing. Unlike many fish that stay deep, lake trout move throughout the water column during winter. They follow their main food sources smelt, cisco, whitefish, and other small fish, often traveling from shallow bays to deeper waters.
We’ve found that lake trout are not picky eaters but are highly responsive to the availability of baitfish. Their aggressive nature means you can find them at various depths, from as shallow as 10 feet to over 80 feet. Knowing this helps us choose our fishing spots more effectively.
Step-by-Step Guide to Catch Lake Trout
1. Get Essential Equipment
Having the right gear can make all the difference for a successful ice fishing trip. Here’s what we recommend based on our experience and what we’ve learned from other seasoned anglers:
Ice Fishing Rods and Reels
Heavy-action jigging rods are crucial for handling the strength of lake trout, which can grow quite large and put up a strong fight. We use rods like the Clam Dave Genz Split Handle 40, which offers a perfect balance of sensitivity and strength. Another great option is the St. Croix Mojo Ice Rod, known for its durability and backbone.
A reliable drag system is essential for managing the powerful runs of a hooked lake trout. We recommend using 3000 series reels, such as the Shimano Stradic or the Daiwa BG.
Check our recommendations on What Size Line For Trout Fishing? Detailed Chart
These reels should be spooled with 10-12 lb braided line and paired with 15-30 lb fluorocarbon leaders. This combination ensures you can handle the fish without breaking the line, even when it rubs against the edges of the ice hole.
You might find it very useful: Line Weight & Reel For Trout Fishing.
Electronics
Fish Finders are also essential for locating fish and understanding their behavior in real-time. They help identify key structures and monitor bait movement. We’ve found that using a Humminbird Helix unit is particularly effective because it provides a history of fish movements, unlike traditional flashers.
The Helix series offers GPS mapping, which allows us to mark productive spots and return to them easily. Another great option is the Garmin Striker 4, which combines a fish finder with GPS capabilities, making it versatile and user-friendly.
Check our recommendations on Best Ice Fishing Fish Finders
2. Choosing the Right Baits and Lures
The choice of bait and lures can significantly impact your success rate when ice fishing for lake trout. Here’s what we use and why:
Lures
Tube jigs, bucktail jigs, and spoons are our go-to lures because of their versatility and effectiveness. Tube jigs, like the Berkley PowerBait Pre-Rigged Atomic Tubes, mimic the movement of injured baitfish, which attracts predatory lake trout. Bucktail jigs, such as the Northland Buck-A-Roo Jig, are excellent for their lifelike appearance and movement in the water.
We also use large spoons like the Magnum Flutter Spoon and the Eppinger Daredevil for their flash and action, which can entice lake trout from a distance.
Lipless crankbaits and soft plastic jerk shads are great for adding noise and movement in the water, drawing in curious trout from afar. Lipless crankbaits, like the Rapala Rippin’ Rap, create vibrations that attract fish even in murky waters. Soft plastic jerk shads, such as the Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ, are particularly effective when working with erratic jerks and pauses.
Check our recommendations on Best Trout Lures – Top 10 Picks Reviewed
Baits
We’ve had great success using shiners, smelt, and suckers. These baits are particularly effective when used with stinger hooks to catch short-striking fish. Rigging them just beneath the dorsal fin keeps them lively and attractive to predatory trout. For dead baits, we sometimes use salted minnows, which can be more durable and easier to store than live bait.
Adding split shots about 8 inches above the bait helps maintain the desired depth and allows the bait to move naturally, increasing the chances of attracting a lake trout. For a more natural presentation, use a fluorocarbon leader to reduce visibility in clear water.
Check our recommended Best Jerkbaits & Crankbaits for trout fishing.
3. Locating Lake Trout
Finding lake trout under the ice requires understanding the lake’s structure and the fish’s behavior. Here’s our approach:
Points, humps, drop-offs, and flats are prime areas where baitfish gather, and where lake trout are likely to hunt. We use bathymetric maps to locate these features and drill multiple holes in a zig-zag or grid pattern to explore various depths and structures.
We usually start fishing at depths between 10 and 80 feet. However, lake trout can also be found in surprisingly shallow waters, especially if there’s deeper water nearby. This flexibility allows us to experiment with different spots and find the most productive areas.
Our Proven Techniques and Strategies
Effective techniques and strategies can significantly increase your chances of catching lake trout. Here’s what works best for us:
Jigging Techniques
We use large swoops and erratic movements to mimic the behavior of injured baitfish. This technique works particularly well with tube jigs and spoons. Aggressive jigging can trigger the predatory instincts of lake trout, enticing them to strike. We often use lures like the Rapala Jigging Rap or the Williams Whitefish Spoon for this method.
Also, starting from the bottom and working our way up the water column allows us to cover a wide range of depths. Lake trout are often more likely to strike when the bait is moving upward. We jig in short bursts, pausing occasionally to see if the fish will strike during the pause. This method helps us locate the depth at which the trout are feeding.
Holding the bait steady a few feet off the bottom can entice less aggressive fish. This method works well when lake trout are in a more passive mood and not actively chasing moving baits. Using live bait like shiners or dead bait like smelt on a single hook can be particularly effective. We sometimes combine this with a tip-up rig to cover more ground and increase our chances of a bite.
Check our recommendations on What Size Hooks For Ice Fishing? & What Size Circle Hook For Rainbow Trout?
Tip-ups
We position our tip-ups halfway down the water column, using large shiners or smelt. High-quality tip-ups with adjustable drag systems prevent false alarms and ensure that when a lake trout strikes, we have a better chance of landing it. We prefer brands like Beaver Dam or Frabill for their reliability and ease of use.
Attracting Fish
Creating noise in the water can draw in curious lake trout. Pounding the bottom with heavy jigs or using rattling lures can make a significant difference, especially in areas with low visibility. Lures like the Rattlin’ Rapala or Northland Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon are particularly effective for this purpose.
Glow-in-the-dark lures are especially effective in low-light conditions. We use UV glow lights to charge our lures, making them more visible and attractive to fish. Lures such as the Glow Jig or the Swedish Pimple in glow colors have proven successful in drawing strikes from lake trout.
Read more about What Color are Trout Most Attracted To?
Chumming
By chopping up baitfish and dropping them into the water, we create a scent trail that attracts lake trout. This method works best in lakes with current, where the chum can spread and draw in fish from a wider area. It’s important to check local regulations to ensure chumming is allowed in your fishing area. Using fresh bait like smelt or herring for chumming can be particularly effective.
Safety and Conservation:
Ice fishing is fun and safe when you follow safety guidelines and respect conservation.
Always check ice thickness—4 inches for walking, and 12 inches for vehicles. Carry ice picks, wear a life jacket, and bring proper safety gear like cleats and a whistle. Regularly test the ice as you go.
Release fish quickly (within 10 seconds) and use barbless hooks. Avoid exposing fish to cold and handle them gently to protect their health.
Practice catch and release, especially for older, and larger fish to help maintain healthy lake trout populations. Use appropriate gear to minimize injury, and handle the fish as little as possible. Educate fellow anglers about the importance of conservation to ensure that lake trout populations remain robust for future generations.
Final Recommendations and Tips
Here are some additional tips to enhance your ice fishing experience:
Adapt to Conditions
Lake trout can be unpredictable, so be ready to adjust your techniques. Some days they prefer aggressive jigging with large movements, while other days they respond better to a subtle, steady presentation. Pay attention to how the fish are reacting and be willing to switch up your approach.
Monitor weather changes and barometric pressure, as these can influence fish activity. Lake trout often become more active before a storm or during stable high-pressure periods. Keep an eye on the forecast to plan your trips for the best conditions.
Learn from Experience
Documenting your fishing trips can help you identify patterns over time. Note the locations, depths, lures used, weather conditions, and your success rate. Reviewing this information can provide valuable insights for future outings.
There are many excellent ice fishing videos available online. Learning from experienced anglers who share their techniques and tips can be incredibly helpful. Platforms like YouTube and fishing forums often have detailed tutorials and real-time demonstrations.
Ice fishing requires patience and persistence. Enjoy the tranquility of the frozen lake and the thrill of the hunt. Each trip is an opportunity to learn and improve your skills.
Take the time to enjoy the winter scenery and the unique experience of being on the ice. The peacefulness and beauty of a frozen lake offer a special kind of relaxation and adventure that’s hard to find elsewhere.
You might want to read:
Where To Target Pike While Ice Fishing? – Proven Tips
How to Catch Pike Through Ice Fishing? A Detailed Guide