Fall Lakers

[PikeHunter]

OK, so I've been after my first laker ever since I moved to Lake George a few months ago. I was trying to jig them up at first B/C I didn't have downriggers and my boats not really set up for trolling. Anyway, long story short, my father in-law bought me a downrigger, and my father gave me an old 2hp yamaha that I mounted on the swim platform of my runabout, so I'm ready to go trolling.

The only problem is that the lakers aren't where they were a month ago. I've been working crazy hours the last few weeks and haven't hit the water much, but all of the sudden it seems like the lakers have gone away. Anyone who knows any good locations for finding fall lakers in the southern basin of Lake George would be my new best friend if they were willing to share that info with me

I'm going to keep the boat in the water for the next month or so, so I should have a few shots at them, but any tips that anyone could offer would be great. I'm a rookie at lakers, and I'd love to put one in the boat by the end of the year!!

Thanks in advance.

[troutman]

I never fished Lake George but a lake trout is going to be close to structure this time of year. Good depth to start looking 90 out to 150’ a lot of them will still be suspended until the lake starts to turn over. if the lake is getting close to 50 degrees its starting to turn over. Lake trout fishing is slow during this period. Once the lake turns over every thing will be on the bottom till a thermocline sets up next June.

[troutman]

Don’t tell him that there easy to catch, because I don’t agree with you. Certain time of year there hard to catch and other times they will jump into your boat. Right now lake trout are not easy to catch. out of 100 fisherman if you find 5 guys that know what there doing it’s a lot the other 95 percent get only a few. This is one fish you have to figure out how to catch. Hire a guide save your money.

[TJC]

If you have a fish finder check out where the fish are showing up. If they are on the bottom staged together they are spawning. October is usually when laker's spawn and they can be very hard to catch. After the spawn they will be found higher in the water column and should be easier to catch because they will be putting on the feed bag for the upcoming winter. They should be coming off the soon with the cooler temps and should start hitting pretty good. I was thinking about hitting Schroon lake this weekend and try some trolling for laker's and salmon. Good luck

[ShaneO19]

I'm from the finger lakes and hammer the lake trout pulling copper. I have never went out and not caught lake trout while pulling copper. I am not sure of if you know what  it is but all you do is let out enough copper wire out to get to the bottom while trolling and jerk it while it scrapes the bottom. You use a spoon with a stationary hook. Pflueger spoons or blade runners are the best to use. Most people let the copper out by hand and use a victrolla box as sort of a reel that sucks in the copper as you pull it in but I came up with an invention using a wagon wheel and run it though a mounted fishing pole. (you woud have to see it to understand). There are many times when we talk to some one downrigging in the same area and they usually say they caught a couple or its slow while we catch one after another.  Its really an amazing way to fish and if you get the chance try it.

[LUNDMAN]

PIKEHUNTER, ANOTHER WAY I DO WELL IN FALL ON FINGER LAKES IS WITH LEAD CORE LINE WITH ABOUT 125 FEET MONO LEADER DOWN 8 OR 9 COLORS WITH A SMALL STICKBAIT --SHOULD RUN AT 45-50 FEET DOWN AT 2-2.5MPH--THIS IS A CHEAPER WAY WITHOUT DOWNRIGGERS!!!!  GOOD LUCK AND KEEP US POSTED

[fishryc]

PIKEHUNTER, ANOTHER WAY I DO WELL IN FALL ON FINGER LAKES IS WITH LEAD CORE LINE WITH ABOUT 125 FEET MONO LEADER DOWN 8 OR 9 COLORS WITH A SMALL STICKBAIT --SHOULD RUN AT 45-50 FEET DOWN AT 2-2.5MPH--THIS IS A CHEAPER WAY WITHOUT DOWNRIGGERS!!!!  GOOD LUCK AND KEEP US POSTED

 I've fished Raquette Lake extensively for lakers at all times of year. I've run downriggers, but have taken more fish the "primitive" way: a hand line as described above.
 The key is to find the depth they are at by trial and error or a fishfinder. I never had a fishfinder and put many hours in searching, but have found it to be a very rewarding experience.
 I always used a wobbling or flutter spoon. (#1: Lake Clear Wabbler in Nickle or Nickle / Copper; #2: Nickle Redeye; #3: Daredevil Flutter Spoon in Nickle / Blue.
 Try various depths, and troll as slow as possible while working the line by hand off the side of the boat in a "chugging" manner. That is, Pull it up a few feet, then let it wobble or flutter back down.
 If you do not wand to invest in stainless braided line or lead core, you can use 20 pound mono with various amounts of large split shot on the very end, then follow this with 8 or 10 feet of lighter (10 pound) leader.
 Hope this works out for you; good luck.

[PikeHunter]

Well I'm sorry to report that my quest to catch a laker before this fall was over has ended in failure. Due to some unfortunate circumstances, I had to take the boat out and winterize it yesterday.

On a brighter note, I did catch one salmon the other day, but it was only a little 15incher. They were jumping all over the lake, so I just trolled a couple of spoons right behind the boat on flat lines and hooked up after trolling about 20 minutes.

I'm pretty bummed about the lakers though. I'm gonna have to figure out how to catch them through the ice I guess. Oh well, that's my favorite type of fishing anyway.

Thanks again to everyone who gave me pointers on lakers, even though they didn't pan out this fall.