I’ve often discussed why the simple soft plastic tube jig may be the single best lure that you can use to catch lake trout in the wintertime in Northern Ontario.
But, here’s an important point to consider—when you’re ice fishing in the northern half of fish-filled Ontario, you’re allowed to use two lines. So, it is always a wise strategy to bait your second rod with a lure other than a tube jig.
When you do this, it shows the fish something different and offers them an alternative meal. And many days, the trout will tell you they find the dessert that you’re presenting to them to be more appealing than the main course.
Case in point: I was ice fishing for lake trout one time in Thunder Bay in Lake Superior, and had augured two holes in the ice about 40 to 50 feet apart. As is my custom, I would jig one rod for five or 10 minutes, then lay it down, walk over to the second rod and jig it for a similar length of time. And I’d repeat the process, fishing any number of holes, throughout the course of the day.
On this particular occasion, however, I was sitting on my snowmachine jigging a William’s Ice Spoon. After the requisite five or 10 minutes at the hole, I laid the rod on the seat of my snowmachine and started walking over to my second hole several feet away.
That is when I heard a strange noise, turned around and saw my ice fishing rod being unceremoniously tugged off the seat of my snowmachine and headed down the hole. Fortunately, I was able to intercept it before it vanished and fought a gorgeous 12- to 15-pound lake trout on the surface.
Feeling pretty satisfied, I sat back down on my snowmachine and started jigging again for another 10 minutes or so. Then, I laid down my rod again and started walking over to my second rod.
Wouldn’t you know it, I heard a now-familiar noise, turned around and spotted my rod tumbling off the seat for a second time.
To make a long and very happy story short, it happened three times in succession. So, today, I often tell folks about the time my snowmachine caught a limit of gorgeous Northern Ontario lake trout (which I carefully released, by the way) while I got skunked.
It is a humorous way to highlight the importance of using one of the five deadliest ice fishing lures to catch lake trout in Northern Ontario in the winter. So, the first one is William’s Ice Spoon. Which begs question, of course, what are the other lures?
Well, I am glad you asked, because knowing that you would be curious, I recorded the following video while out on the ice, detailing everything you need to know about the specific lures that you need to put into your tackle box this winter in order to catch lake trout in Northern Ontario.
So, without further ado, sit back, put up your legs, watch this video and enjoy.
