Northern Trails

Northern Trails Small Lake Brook Trout in Spring

By Gord Ellis

After a long, snowy winter, there are very few sights more appealing than a sparkling, ice free lake. If it has brook trout living in it, then so much better. There really are few activities in life more fun and relaxing then paddling around some jewel of a lake, catching the prettiest fresh water fish in the swim.

And spring really is the prime time to fish these lakes. Here is a guide to fishing for small lake brook trout.

Where to Go

Northwestern Ontario literally has hundreds of stocked lakes that are put, grow and take. You can get good information on these water-bodies, and how to find them, via the fish online tool from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources: bit.ly/ fishontario.

The FishOntario tool can tell you what lakes are being stocked, with how many fish, when and the GPS coordinates. Some of the stocked lakes are very remote, others are quite accessible. It’s staggering how many options there are. If wild, native brook trout are what you fancy, there will be a bit more detective work involved. Northwest Ontario has a few of these small jewels, but generally they are rather well-kept secrets. Limits are also different. I live release wild brook trout. Fish from stocked lakes generally don’t spawn and are there to be harvested.

Casting off a beaver house. | GORD ELLIS

Brook Trout Locations

When you get to a brook trout lake you have never fished before, take some time to look at the shoreline. Search for points, reeds, Labrador tea beds, fallen trees in the water, beaver houses and rock reefs are all worth a poke. So is any water moving in or out. In the spring time, after the ice has receded, brookies will generally move up into the shoreline cover, where the water warms quickly and the food they prefer will first emerge. This food can include dace, stickleback, leeches, scuds, nymphs and any number of amphibians. Trout food will get more active as the thermometer rises. And this usually happens fast.

Several years ago, I fished a natural brook trout lake with a friend on the exact day the ice went out. In fact, the canoe had to bust through half a lake worth of skim ice to get to the clear side. Initially, the

Spring brook trout love spoons. | GORD ELLIS

fishing was terrible, but as the early May sun burned down, the ice vanished and the trout turned on. So frenzied was the bite that we would have multiple fish trying to hit the lure on retrieve. If one shook the spoon, another brookie would smash it. It was simply the most incredible trout bite ever. A week later we went back, hoping for a repeat. Never had a bite. Welcome to brook trout fishing. techniques. If you fish from shore, I would recommend finding a vantage point that allows you to case parallel to the shore. You will catch 90 percent of the fish within 10 feet of shore. Another option is still fish with a float, sinker and worm or nymph off a beaver house or point. Float fishing can be a deadly way to catch trout that are working an area repeatedly. They come to you. Fly fishing can be difficult from the shores of spec lakes, but is doable if the back cast is clear.

As for tackle, spin-fishing anglers will be well served by smaller spoons like the Little Cleo, Krocodile and EGB. Spinners can work wonders as well, with the #3 Mepps Aglia and the Panther Martin topping the charts. Small minnow-sized crankbaits such as the Rapala Husky Jerk, Rapala Countdown or Live Target redbelly dace can be deadly. A light or medium/light weight spinning rod of 6 to 7 feet is a good all-around choice for a rod. I don’t recommend going too light for brookies in small lakes. There is too much timber, weeds and rocks that they can get tangled up in. I’d recommend 6-pound test monofilament at lightest, but generally use 8-pound.

As for flies, the standard bearers are the Wooly Bugger, Matuka Sculpin, Strip Leech or anything that looks buggy or like a minnow. Spring brookies are generally pretty receptive to a wet fly or nymph cast and slowly stripped back in. You can also troll a fly and have pretty impressive action. Trolling also helps you track down where brook trout are hanging out. A 6 or 7 weight fly line with a sink tip or full sink will work well in a lake. You don’t need to make long casts, just be accurate.

Generally, it’s easier and more effective to fish from a canoe, belly boat or kayak. Remember that the water in spring is very cold, so you will need insulated waders in a belly boat. Canoes and kayaks allow you more mobility.

Brook trout fishing in small lakes is one of the great treats in angling. What’s even better is that as often as not, there is not another soul around. Just you and the bookies in splendid isolation.

When hitting the water this season, remember to boat close to home and

always wear your life jacket. | STOCK

Be safe, practice social distancing on the water

As boaters across Minnesota prepare to hit the water, they need to keep in mind tips for being safe on cold water as well as their responsibility for staying close to home and practicing socially distancing under Gov. Tim Walz’s “Stay at Home” executive order.

“As Minnesotans, we have a natural urge to get outside this time of year—and for many of us, that’s especially true this spring,” said Rodmen Smith, DNR Enforce- ment Division director. “We constantly remind people about ways they can stay safe while they’re on the water. In light of COVID-19, we also ask this year that you take additional steps to protect yourself, your family, and the people around you.”

Cold-water safety

No matter when the ice went out, there’s one common theme: The water this time of year is dangerously cold. Falls into the water can quickly turn tragic. With water temperatures not much above freezing, a fall in likely will trigger cold-water shock. Numbness will set in quickly, and swim- ming or calling for help will be difficult. You’ll probably gasp uncontrollably and draw water into your lungs. Even strong swimmers may drown within minutes.

“The best way to prevent that from happening is to wear a life jacket—actu- ally wear it, not just have it along,” said Lisa Dugan, DNR Enforcement recreation safety outreach coordinator. “It’s the eas- iest and most effective way to prevent an unfortunate situation from turning into a tragedy.”

The cold-water season isn’t the time to boat alone, either. This year, people should head out only with members of their immediate household and let others on shore know where they’re going and when they plan to return. Keep the floor of the boat free of clutter to avoid trip- ping and falling into the water, and ensure the boat has safety equipment such as life jackets, communication and noise-making devices, and a first-aid kit.

Boating during COVID-19

When hitting the water, know the DNR’s COVID-19 outdoor recreation guidelines and practice the following to protect yourselves and others: • Maintain social distance of at least 6 feet. This includes places such as fuel stations and community docks, and means no beaching or tying up to oth- er boats. • Boat only with people in your immedi- ate household. • Boat close to home. Travel to and from the access site without making other stops. • When fueling, wash your hands as you would when fueling a car. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. Do not touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. • When launching and loading your boat, give people ahead of you plenty of time and space to finish launching or loading before you approach. • Keep in mind water-access site condi- tions may be different than in previ- ous years. DNR-managed accesses are open, but spring maintenance is not completed. • If you have been diagnosed with, or are exhibiting symptoms consis- tent with COVID-19 (including fever, cough, or difficulty breathing), stay home. This self-isolation period should extend for at least seven days after the illness begins and include 72 hours of being fever-free without using fever-re- ducing medications and resolution of other symptoms. • Know what’s open. To see what

DNR-managed sites are available, see the DNR’s COVID-19 website or call the DNR information center at 651- 296-6157 or 888-646-6367.