Go Vertical Not Horizontal for Lake Trout This Fall in Cayuga County
By George Fiorille
Lake trout are one of the most populated and popular species of trout in Cayuga County and the Finger Lakes region. They can often be very easy to catch with a few popular methods. Cayuga County boasts a handful of lakes that offer great lake trout fishing. Lakes such as Ontario, Cayuga, Owasco, and Skaneateles Lakes have good numbers of these fish.
Lakers can be caught with uncomplicated ways during cold water when they move shallow. But during early years of sport fishing, they were hard to catch when they moved out into very deep water.
As far as back as the mid 1800s, an angler in the Finger Lake region would come up with a method to catch lake trout in deep water. Avid angler Seth Green, would devise a system to catch the often-deep lake trout what would turn out to be the predecessor to today’s popular down rigger.
Green invented a method where he would row a boat with 2 rods trolling for lake trout. To get his lure or lures deep, his main heavy trunk line had a heavy lead weight that would bounce bottom or penetrate the depths. He would then run 1-5 spoons up his main line with a leader coming out like every twenty feet. It was a very time consuming and complicated method but it did catch loads of fish.
For years, the popular method of trolling with a down rigger ball attached with releases and leaders was the popular and often thought of the only way to fish deep for lake trout. The past couple of decades anglers have perfected a way to fish deep without having to troll horizontally for lake trout.
Vertically fishing for lake trout has a become very popular. The nice thing about it is that you can do it with a smaller boat, kayak, or canoe. You can also do it with less equipment or with just a single rod and reel.
The uncomplicated system is made up of just a rod, reel, line, and a heavy jig type lure that you can feel, and will reach depths of up to 200 feet or more. The deepest lake trout I have ever caught vertically jigging was a 14-pounder on Cayuga Lake in 171’ of water. Lures such as swim baits, hair jigs, jigging spoons, and other blade baits work well with this pattern.
You want to use lures that weigh anywhere from ½-ounce to over an ounce. If you can’t feel, you will miss fish bites. Find a good area, drop the lure straight down to the bottom. Reel up your slack and rip your lure up a foot or two. Follow your lure back down and you will feel the fish when you go to rip up again.
Lake trout are members of the char family that spawn in the fall. During October and November, they will seek out deep water points and other areas to lay their eggs. They may be in 50’ of water in the early morning and can work their way out in much deeper water during the day.
Many outdoorsmen and women in Cayuga County start to focus on hunting in the fall. Avid anglers know that lake trout fishing in the fall can be exceptional. If you have never tried it, go vertical not horizonal for lake trout.
It won’t take long and you will be shouting…
Fish On!
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