Just as a big chinook salmon will do, the lake trout that took my stick bait put the rod into a deep bend from which it would not recover until the fish was in the net. Most other fish strike a lure run from a downrigger and the rod, which is set with a deep bend while in the rod holder, springs back to a straight position before whatever took the lure starts taking line and puts the bend back into the rod.

We were fishing out of NorthEast Marina in about 65 feet of water. When the fish struck the downrigger ball was set at 60 feet, and the Crystalina stick bait was set just 5 feet behind the downrigger weight. We could see exactly where the downrigger weight was on the sonar screen. And we could see big marks on the screen that we hoped and suspected were lake trout.

My fishing two partners already each had caught one lake trout that weighed 14 pounds and 16 pounds which were destined for the smoker.

My fish, or at least I hoped it would become my fish, stayed deep for quite a while before all of the pressure I dared put on the line finally made it start moving toward the surface. All the while the heavy fish did not get far behind the boat, not until we caught sight of it, and it took off directly away from the boat on a run of more that 100 feet.

The boat had to be slowed before I could gain line back onto the reel again. Even then it made a couple more good runs, and thrashed around a while before it could be netted. Thank goodness for long-handled nets.

On the brass scale it weighed just over 18 pounds, so far a tie for my heaviest Lake Erie lake trout. We do not bother counting ounces because most lake trout we catch are quickly released.

No, lake trout do not run as fast as chinook salmon, and pound for pound they might not have as much stamina as chinook salmon. Lake trout do not jump like coho salmon. But you can be on Lake Erie fishing for lake trout within 90 minutes of Warren. And it can be done with relatively small boats during spring since the lake trout tend to be in depths of 40 feet to 70 feet, which is only a couple miles from shore in the NorthEast area.

There is not much talk about lake trout eating quality. They are lightly regarded. But to the contrary, lake trout can be good tasting if they are handled properly.

The first thing to do with a lake trout is to fillet it. Then place the fillets in a solution of water, salt and baking soda, then let it sit in a refrigerator for at least three days. This will remove some of the oil and lighten the flavor. Lake trout are very oily fish.

Allow oil to run away from the flesh when it is cooked. We usually smoke lake trout. It should sit in brine at least overnight before smoking. You can find smoking brine recipes on the Internet.

Lake trout usually will be close to bottom, although not always. Look for sonar marks of big fish within 5 feet of bottom and you should find lake trout. Bait fish need not be present on the sonar screen since lake trout feed a lot on bottom dwelling fish that sonar can not detect. On more than one occasion I found numerous darters in lake trout bellies.

Both downriggers and Dipsy Divers can get lures in front of lake trout. Downriggers, of course, will do it more accurately. You probably will be able to see your downrigger weights on the sonar screen. Dipsy divers run out to the sides, usually, so they will not show on the sonar screen.

Spoons and stick baits are very effective on lake trout.

Generally the light ‘flutter’ spoons such as the Laker Taker are appropriate trolling spoons for lake trout. Be sure to have some spoons that have bright red, blue or green in the color pattern.

Most stick baits will attract hits by lake trout. The most effective spoon in my tackle box is the Crystalina. Color patterns are shiny with green or blue in the color pattern.

No matter what lure you use, adding scent will probably improve your success. I have had very good results using Mike’s Gel Scent Trout and Mike’s Fluorescent Smelt Oil Glo Scent.

An often overlooked but very effective method of fishing for lake trout is vertical jigging. This allows lures to be presented even closer to the bottom than can be done using downriggers. Try a Swedish Pimple size 7 to start. Vertical jigging is best done while very slowly drifting. Carry at least two drift anchors, a.k.a. drift socks, to slow drift speed.