Decent Laker, Solo Sunday

So after planning to fish today with my step dad, he bailed on me last minute this morning. I think it was because of the thermometer showing -17 although he didn't admit to that. Went alone, ...usually that's when the best fishing happens anyway.
Using 10" herring on still line, quick strike rig, trying for size, not quantity...switch goes down, good battle, a couple runs down deep...land this one...

Hands are frozen from hand-lining in the first trout, and in my jigging hole I mark one...fish on...little guy...got it in and released...

Inside the stomach, when I filleted this laker, was another 10" partially digested baitfish. So, belly full, and still taking down a 10" herring. And it's not a huge laker. Imagine what a big one eats!
It feels ridiculous putting down a bait that big. Moral of the story...big bait, big fish. I'm starting to believe in and use this theory more and more.

Oh yeah, and I made sure to send pics to my step dad right away. Guess who asked for directions and depths and bait and location for his trip there tomorrow!?

Some good eats there Drew

Nice catch! I have found the same in the past on Joe. A few had herring partially digested, tail in the mouth just as yours. One spit up a 8" herring so i threw it on a treble but no luck. Are you using live or frozen?

Thanks SS77

frozen and thawed...slit the side to deflate air bladder/body cavity. the tail in the mouth in my pic is the bait i was using.

Nice going Drew

Buddy lost a massive trout yesterday afternoon with this setup.... got it to the hole once after 10min, it saw me then went right back to bottom and snapped the line. Man that fish was huge... at least 12lbs. Though, this lake doesn’t have 10” herring..... maybe 10” whitefish though... I have some massive swim baits can be jigged, maybe I’ll try one day.

Nice outing! That small one could definitely be devoured by the bigger one!

Nice trout Drew! I got a 6 to 7lbs laker out of Simcoe one year and it had a 1.5lbs whitefish in perfect condition in its belly.

Nice fish ... I didnt think of big cut bait for Lakers on quick strike. I prefer quick strike compared to tip ups, especially for the odd catch and release. Nice fish for the smoker mmmm yummy!

Nice Fish! Congrats!

Lovely haul

Where do you get your herring from?

Thanks

hey how far off the bottom are you fishing the herring. I usuallly put them quite close to the bottom but never have much luck on big dead bait for lakers.