So me and my son have been putting in a lot of time over the last two weeks learning how to fish with a downrigger. Every day after work that the winds would allow us in our small boat to get out there deep we were racing off until dark. Went 4 trips with no fish and on our 5th outing, my son finally got into a laker. His first one too! We spent all winter fishing around Simcoe with lakers being our bucket list fish for the season with no success so he was super pumped about it.
He was being blinded by the sun but managed to pose for a photo anyways.
We are currently 1 fish for 6 trips. I think we are figuring things out but I have only ever fished shallow on the boat and its an alien world out there. The fishfinder is completely different to read at 100 feet compared to 10 feet etc. Got a few questions if anyone minds giving me some advice. Is there a rule of thumb for what depths you should be fishing in?
We only have one downrigger so I stack on it. Usually, put my son down 20 feet and then I put myself on it. I think I am seeing fish from 10 to 50 feet down so most of the time we stick at 20 feet and 40 feet. He caught his laker when I was trying 40 and 60 feet but we are trying to learn how to target Salmon and bows out there. Is there a general rule of thumb for depths in spring and summer? I can see the thermocline or a strong mark that usually spans around 45-55 depth which I assume is the thermocline. I am not sure if this time of year I am doing the right thing or should just be targetting the top 25 feet of the water column or something.
We just run our lures, no flashers or anything. I have noticed passing other boats out there that are reeling in fish they all seem to have flashers on their lines. Am I nuts for not using them?
Slowly we are getting some things figured out I think, working hard for it but having a blast through the whole process!
Thanks for any advice,
Jamie
First Laker
