I had the opportunity to go ice fishing for Lake Trout on saturday. It was a great day! Snowed all day long and it was a balmy -12 C (thats not quite 10 F for you still in the Imperial system). We only caught two lakers (about 3-4 pounds each) but they sure did taste good!
I tried an experimental recipe on them. I blended cranberries, almonds, onion and garlic with butter and spread it over the fillets and then baked it. In a pan I sauteed onions and when they were almlost done I added some whole craisins and sliced almonds. When the trout was done I sprinkled it with the sauteed items . It turned out pretty good.
[signature]
What type of lure are you using to catch Lake Trout through the ice? Here in B.C. ice fishing for lakers is just catching on. Most fishers use a Buzz Bomb, or large plastics. We have a ' no minnow/fish parts ' regulation here. I've been working on some large 6" soft plastic grubs I hope to test later this season.
I also went ice fishing for Rainbow Trout yesterday. 6 of us traveled to a remote lake and enjoyed great fishing. Several of the guys limmited out (5 fish). Most were 'helping' me test out the new line of soft plastics I'm calling 'TROUT FX SERIES'. Baits designed and poured to entice aggressive trout. Plastic baits are just starting to become popular here on the west coast of Canada. They work great, but the tackle shops don't really stock a good supply.
[signature]
We were using live minnows with just a plain jane snell hook. Nothing flashy was working that day. I have in the past caught trout through the ice with a 1/4 oz jig tipped with a powerminnow, about three or four inch I guess. No fish parts at all eh? Thats rough. I think my favourite lure for lakers is either a swedish pimple or a little cleo with the treble hook removed and a six inch mono leader with and snell hook. But for these I use a live minnow or a chunk of sucker meat for bait. Is the no fish bait rule for all of BC? Or just the southern parts? And is it just in the winter or all year?
[signature]
The no fish parts rule is for all of B.C., year round, with a few exceptions. Sturgeon fishing in the Fraser river, and set lines for Burbot are exempt, but even then your baitfish must be dead, with the head cut off. Roe is permited in most waters, other than those with 'no bait' restrictions.
The rule is to help stop the spread of undesirable fish. It is a good rule, as we have many lakes that contain only trout. Our rivers here contain valuable salmon stocks vulnerable to intrusions of undesirable species. Many of our interior rivers have never been stocked, and as such contain geneticly important strains of fish.
[signature]