5 Best Bait for Ice Fishing Lake Trout: Top Picks for a Successful Catch

Ice fishing for lake trout is a thrilling and rewarding experience, but choosing the right bait can be the difference between coming home empty-handed or with a prize catch.

Lake trout are predatory fish known for their elusive nature, so selecting the best bait can make all the difference.

Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a beginner, this guide will help you pick the best bait for a successful ice-fishing trip.

1. Live Bait: The All-Natural Choice

Regarding lake trout, live bait is often the most effective choice. It mimics the natural movement and scent that these fish are instinctively drawn to, making it a powerful tool in your ice fishing arsenal. Below are the top live baits to help you land more lake trout.

Small Minnows

Minnows are a staple bait for lake trout, and for good reason. Lake trout are aggressive predators that actively hunt smaller fish in the wild.

Small minnows, such as shiners and smelt, work exceptionally well because they mimic the movement and behavior of these smaller fish.

When fishing in deeper waters, live minnows can be suspended just off the bottom or near the midwater zone to attract lake trout.

Best Minnows for Lake Trout:

• Shiners: Small, quick-moving fish that lake trout love.
• Smelt: A cold-water bait fish that is a natural prey for lake trout.
• Rosy Reds: These minnows are a favorite for many ice anglers and are easy to keep alive on the ice.

Worms and Larvae

Worms, like wax worms and spikes, are another natural option to entice lake trout. While not as commonly used as minnows, they can be effective, especially when lake trout are more finicky. These baits are best used in shallower waters, which can be jigged or dropped directly beneath the ice.

Best Worms and Larvae for Lake Trout:

• Wax Worms: Soft, juicy larvae that lake trout find irresistible.
• Spikes: A smaller larvae that can be used to entice lake trout in the colder months.

2. Dead Bait: A Convenient Option

If you don’t want to deal with keeping live bait on the ice, dead bait is a solid alternative. It may not be as lively as minnows or worms, but dead bait still provides the necessary scent and visual appeal to attract lake trout. Dead bait is especially useful for targeting larger trout.

Dead Shiners

Dead shiners are one of the most effective dead baits for lake trout. Their natural scent and visual appeal make them irresistible, especially when rigged correctly. Drop them down and let them sit near the bottom or suspended in the water column to catch the attention of lake trout.

Tip: Cut the dead shiner into smaller pieces to release more scent into the water and increase its effectiveness.

Cut Bait (e.g., Herring, Smelt)

Cut bait, such as herring or smelt, is another great option for lake trout. Cut bait can be used in various ways, such as dropping it whole or cutting it into chunks to increase the scent trail.

Lake trout are known to be drawn to these baits due to their natural odor and flesh, making them a perfect choice during the colder months when fish are less likely to chase fast-moving baits.

Best Cut Bait for Lake Trout:

• Herring: A fatty fish that lake trout love to feed on.
• Smelt: A smaller fish that provides a great scent trail.

3. Artificial Lures: For Active Anglers

While live and dead baits work well, artificial lures offer a great alternative for anglers who prefer to jig or move their baits actively.

Lake trout can be quite aggressive, and artificial lures mimic the quick movements of prey, which can trigger their predatory instincts.

Jigging Spoons

Jigging spoons are a must-have in any ice fishing tackle box. These lures mimic the fluttering motion of struggling prey, making them irresistible to lake trout.

Jigging them up and down can mimic the behavior of an injured fish, making it a highly effective method for attracting lake trout.

Top Jigging Spoons for Lake Trout:

• Swedish Pimples: These spoons are incredibly effective in attracting lake trout.
• Acme Spoons: Known for their durable design and lifelike action.

Swimbaits

Swimbaits are another artificial lure that can entice lake trout. Their life-like swimming motion resembles that of small fish, making them great for targeting larger trout. These lures are especially effective when lake trout feed actively and chase baitfish.

Best Swimbaits for Lake Trout:

• Soft Plastic Swimbaits: These lures offer a more flexible and realistic movement.
• Hard Body Swimbaits: Great for reaching deeper depths where lake trout often feed.

Tube Jigs

Tube jigs are versatile and can be used in various ice fishing conditions. These lures mimic the shape and movement of small fish and are great for targeting lake trout during their winter feeding periods. Tube jigs can be highly effective in attracting lake trout when paired with a slow, steady jigging technique.

Best Tube Jigs for Lake Trout:

• Lindy Tubes: A popular brand with high success rates for lake trout.
• Big Bite Baits: Known for their realistic texture and design.

4. Scented Bait: Adding Extra Attraction

Lake trout are known for their keen sense of smell, and adding a scent to your bait can make a huge difference in attracting these fish.

Whether you use scented soft plastics, pastes, or gels, adding scent to your bait is a simple yet effective way to enhance your chances of a successful catch.

Scented Soft Plastics

Scented soft plastics are a great way to add an extra layer of attraction to your bait. These baits come pre-scented, which means they’ll disperse a strong odor in the water, enticing lake trout from a distance.

These baits are especially useful when lake trout are sluggish or do not respond to traditional bait.

Best Scented Soft Plastics for Lake Trout:

• Berkley PowerBait: Known for its strong scent and effective results.
• Gulp! Minnows: These come with a strong scent that lake trout find irresistible.

Scented Pastes and Gels

Another way to attract lake trout is by applying scented pastes and gels to your bait. These products are easy to use and can be applied to both live and dead bait, increasing their effectiveness. The scent trail that these gels and pastes leave behind will draw lake trout from a distance.

Best Scented Gels for Lake Trout:

• Pro-Cure Gel: A top choice for anglers targeting lake trout.
• Smelly Jelly: Known for its strong, long-lasting scent.

5. Tips for Choosing the Right Bait

Selecting the right bait for lake trout isn’t just about picking the most popular option—it’s about understanding the conditions you’re fishing in and the behavior of the fish. Here are some essential tips for choosing the right bait:

Water Depth and Temperature Considerations

Lake trout are typically found in deeper waters, especially during winter when they move to cooler, deeper zones. Understanding the water depth and temperature will help you decide which bait to use.

Cut bait or live minnows are often the best choice for colder, deeper waters. For warmer waters, jigging spoons and swimbaits can be more effective.

Matching the Bait to Lake Trout Feeding Habits

Lake trout tend to feed more aggressively when they’re hungry or actively hunting. Matching your bait to the feeding habits of lake trout can increase your chances of success.

If they’re feeding on smaller baitfish, using live minnows or swimbaits is ideal. Dead bait or scented lures might be more effective if they’re more sluggish.

Experimenting with Bait Combinations

Sometimes, a combination of different baits will yield the best results. For example, you can use live minnows with a scented paste or cut bait with a swimbait to attract lake trout.

Experimenting with combinations can help you determine what works best for your specific fishing conditions.

Conclusion

Choosing the right bait for ice fishing lake trout is key to success on the ice. Whether you prefer live minnows, dead bait, artificial lures, or scented baits, each type has its place depending on the conditions and the behavior of the lake trout.

By understanding the feeding habits of lake trout and experimenting with different baiting techniques, you’ll increase your chances of landing a big catch.

FAQs

1. What’s the best live bait for lake trout?

Small minnows like shiners and smelt are the most popular live baits for lake trout, as they mimic the prey trout naturally hunt.

2. Can I use dead bait for lake trout fishing?

Yes! Dead bait like cut smelt or herring works well for lake trout, especially in colder waters where they prefer less active prey.

3. What artificial lure should I use for lake trout?

Jigging spoons and swimbaits are effective for lake trout, as they mimic the movements of struggling fish, attracting these predatory fish.

4. How do I add scent to my bait?

You can add scent to your bait using scented pastes, gels, or soft plastics, which disperse a strong odor to attract lake trout.

5. What’s the best time to ice fish for lake trout?

Lake trout are most active during the colder months, usually between December and February, when they move into deeper waters.