Lake Trout are strong, bullish fighters and having the best ice fishing line for lake trout is essential. Here’s everything you need to know about ice fishing line for lake trout.
Best Ice Fishing Line for Lake Trout
Native to Northern America, lake trout thrive in deep, clear lakes where cold water temperatures are the norm. The Lake trout’s range includes many lakes in the Northern portion of the United States, the Great Lakes, and Canada. They typically inhabit depths between forty and eighty feet of water but can be found throughout the water column, depending on the season.
Lake trout are among the most exciting fish to target through the ice. They live long lives and grow to large sizes — commonly exceeding twenty pounds. They are extremely aggressive fish that love to chase lures and often strike with a vengeance. Nothing can quite compare to the raw power and strength of a lake trout caught through the ice.
As many ice anglers have experienced, lake trout have extraordinary stamina and strength. Due to their large fins, raw power and tendency to inhabit deepwater structure, having the best ice fishing line for lake trout is crucial.
Best Ice Fishing Line for Lake Trout: Main Line
In most ice fishing scenarios, the best ice fishing line for lake trout is a ten to twenty-pound main line paired with a fifteen to twenty-pound fluorocarbon leader.
Many ice anglers prefer braid as a mainline for lake trout — mainly because braid doesn’t stretch. The no-stretch property of the braid makes it so effective for deepwater lake trout fishing because the angler can feel the hit in deep water and set the hook instantly.
Today several different braids are out on the market. Still, The best one for lake trout is Sufix 832 Ice Braid. Sufix 832 Ice Braid is the strongest, most durable small-diameter ice braid available for anglers, providing superior strength, roundness and line consistency.
This line is constructed with HMPE fibres that provide high strength, sensitivity, and small diameter and have hydrophobic water-repellent protection that resists freezing. The no-stretch is critical when lake trout fish, which allows you to feel bites in deep water and drive those hook points home on a hookset. Lastly, the GORE Performance Fiber in Sufix 832 Ice Braid adds incredible fray and abrasion resistance for durability.
Low-Stretch Monofilament and Fluorocarbon Ice Fishing Line
A low-stretch monofilament or fluorocarbon main line can be the best option in certain situations. Low-stretch lines shine when the angler is fishing outside of an ice shelter in harsh conditions with air temperatures below freezing.
In freezing temperatures, monofilaments and fluorocarbons have fewer freeze-up issues than superlines, and the line flows off the spool nearly uninhibited compared to braided lines.
Best Ice Fishing Line for Lake Trout: Leaders
Lake trout often live in bodies of water with excellent clarity, so adding some stealth to your presentation is necessary. For instance, one of the best tactics to trigger a negative and lethargic lake trout is to bring the bait up, open the spool, and drop the bait past the fish to the bottom — and these low-vis lines work great in this situation.
A strong fluorocarbon leader is critical. Most anglers prefer to use a leader between a 10-pound and 20-pound test. If you are around larger-sized lake trout, you want to learn to choose a fifteen or twenty-pound leader. If you are fishing a body of water with many small fish, then a 10-pound leader is sufficient. The best leader line for ice fishing lake trout is the Sufix Fluorocarbon Invisiline leader.
Sufix Fluorocarbon Invisiline leaders are virtually invisible in the water. With incredible shock absorption, knot strength, and superior abrasion resistance, Sufix Fluorocarbon Invisiline leader. is a great leader for lake trout fishing.
Sufix Fluorocarbon Invisiline leaders are virtually invisible in the water. With incredible shock absorption, knot strength, and superior abrasion resistance Sufix Invisiline Fluorocarbon is a great leader for lake trout fishing.
FAQ’s
1. Can I use braided line for lake trout when the temperature is below freezing?
Yes, but if your line begins to freeze and is affecting your presentation, then you should switch to a monofilament or fluorocarbon main line.
2. What pound braided line should I use for lake trout?
Most anglers prefer using a twenty-pound braid for a main line, but any braided line between ten and thirty pound test will work.
3. Do I need a leader line when fishing lake trout?
Yes. Lake trout have very good vision and have a fluorocarbon leader will
4. When choosing an ice fishing line for lake trout does color matter?
As long as you have a long leader the color of your main like does not matter.
5. What lures should I use for lake trout?
Tubes, spoons, blade baits, hair jigs, and heavy rattlebaits are all good lake trout lures.
Conclusion
In most cases, a braid-to-fluorocarbon combination is the way to go for lake trout. Although it is nice to have a set-up with superline and another with a low-stretch monofilament or fluorocarbon for those extremely cold weather scenarios. Ultimately, what’s important is that the ice angler has confidence in the combination of rod, reel, and line and how it all works together to trigger, hook, and land lake trout through the ice.
