Thank you! Where were you catching them on a fly rod!? Heck I'd like to know where in the US I can catch some without deepwater trolling! I've only ever heard of fly fishing and casting lures for these fish up in Canada.
Sean, the Lower Niagara River has good access from shore and plenty of lakers. There are several public access locations between Niagara Falls and Lewiston. There is a slot limit and seasonal regulations, like any fishery...I target steelhead but these seem to hit often and make for a fun catch and release fishery. They run in the fall to spawn, and again in the spring for the spring buffet before heading out to the lake for the summer. The lakers do hang out there all winter long, if you can brave the tough fishing conditions.
They are a blast on medium spinning or casting gear, spinners, spoons and jigs of all kinds (they love soft plastics too) will take them. The last couple times that I went, I was determined to catch them on the fly and finally did. I got one on a streamer, and several while drifting egg patterns. I'd say for every steelhead that I caught, I'd catch 8 lakers. You have to work for them and figure out how to get your lures down to them since the current is extremely powerful. Picking a good spot is just as important as your lure choice to make that happen. Use the current eddies to figure out the spots to deliver your lure or fly.
I have also caught them off the Lake Ontario piers in the fall. The move in shallow to spawn about the time the salmon are just about done. It's a great time to target them along with browns and steelies. Bring some bass lures too in case warmer waters are blown into shore because the bass fishing can be quite good then. Winds blowing out to the lake will move the warmer waters out, but bring the salmonids in.
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, guess that's just the angler in me talking though and I'm glad the lake trout population is coming back.
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