Lake Trout rod/reel recommendations

[browning3812]

Hey All,
Looking for some advice on a purchase for a Lake Trout set up.

Historically I have only ever had fairly light action rods for bass fishing but we have a trip planned later this summer (August) in Northern Ontario to go after Laker's in fairly deeper water (80 to 120 ft) so figure its a good excuse as any to buy a new rod/reel set-up.

I imagine we will mostly be trolling (no down riggers) and vertical jigging so what should I be looking at for rod (length/action) and reel that will be adequate for that but still versatile to use for other types of fishing?

Thanks very much!

[Rugger]

My inclination would be to get a trolling rod and reel spooled with braid lead core line and then bring one of your bass rods for vertical jigging. A medium action bass rod will handle lakers up to 15lbs no problem and 20+ will be fun but should be doable.

[sawbill]

I'm not sure why you will be fishing that deep but most lakes I've fished in northern Ontario we seldom go below 30 - 40 ft in depth. We catch many lakers in the 20 ft range because the water and oxygen levels are what they're comfortable in.
Now, having said that, we've always flat-lined with mono, usually 15 lb test or thereabouts. With todays lines being much thinner you can easily use 10 - 15 lb and easily get down deep enough. My setup is simple: a large rubber core sinker for weight, a smaller silver Williams with about 6 or 8 inches of lighter mono attached to that and a treble hook with cheater. We always use minnows for bait.

My favorite reel has been the Penn 209 but I've used heavier 309s, 49's and 149's.
Any heavier 2 pc rod about 6 1/2 ft or 7 ft in length works well. Any longer and you need a longer handled net for landing fish.

I've long gone away from lead core or wire lines because the associated equipment starts to get heavier as well and after a day hanging on to a heavy setup it gets tiring.

[Rugger]

Double check the depth you'll be fishing because if you only need to get down 40 ft go with what Sawbill is suggesting.
And maybe one of these:

[browning3812]

You're right, we more than likely won't be fishing at the full depth but won't know until we get out there and start marking fish.

From what I have heard of people on this particular lake at that particular time of year (late summer) they are usually hitting fish near shoals at 50-60fow.

Regardless, thanks for the advice!

[last5oh_302]

I used to use steel line with a spring tipped (or roller tipped) rod and had great luck (before I got down riggers). If I recall I used 12 or 15 lb test and had to let out about about 500 ft to get down to 100 feet.
Williams wobblers in silver or blue and silver tipped with a piece of fish tail (took treble hook off to feed it through fish tail so it stayed on) did the trick.

Good luck!

[jrgreenbird]

I use a steel line rod with spring tip set up. I fish lake trout at the end of July and usually catch between 60-75' of water. good thing about steel line is being able to work the lure, bad thing is the sore arm from reeling in 400-500 ft of line. I have caught them the same time of year in the 20-30' depth in the lake I fish, but this is mostly towards sun down.

[Fenelon]

Pen 209 with either 18 or 27lb leadcore. The 209 is nice because it will hold a full spool of 10 colours. All I use is a medium-heavy action cheap Crappy Tire rod. Tie a barrel swivel at the end of the leadcore, then run 6 feet of 12 lb mono. I usually run 3 to 8 colours out for all my lake trout. I'll never use copper or steel line again. A royal pain in the butt, when compared to leadcore.

[contaucreek]

Pen 209 with either 18 or 27lb leadcore. The 209 is nice because it will hold a full spool of 10 colours. All I use is a medium-heavy action cheap Crappy Tire rod. Tie a barrel swivel at the end of the leadcore, then run 6 feet of 12 lb mono. I usually run 3 to 8 colours out for all my lake trout. I'll never use copper or steel line again. A royal pain in the butt, when compared to leadcore.

I respectfully disagree re the copper. I have a bulk spool of 23ga copper and its on all my Lake Trout tackle from a pine board my Dad made to a 209 including all my old banjo reels and Murphy Troller. I find it supple compared to steel, easily managed and at trolling speeds you get down about 1 foot for every 3-4 feet of line out. The rod lays in the boat and the copper is in my hand and worked with my arm over the side, skipping across the lake surface and waiting for the tug....

[sawbill]

Copper and kinks go hand in hand. I used my dads copper line and Phleuger reel when I was kid and it now hangs on my camp wall where it can't get into anymore trouble.
It definitely is a conversation piece.