Pike Fishing

Ontario Ice Fishing Huts and Rentals

Splake – The Other Trout
By: Tyler Dunn   Tyler Dunn Guiding

Location
When you first approach a lake that has been stocked with splake, begin the day at a spot you would think splake will use to feed. I first target aggressive splake on spots that I would think they would use as an ambush spot to feed. Rock points or even better under water points are the usual starting points for me when I am searching for splake through the ice. Action on these points is usually short-lived because splake much like the brook trout seem to travel in small, ferocious packs rather than larger schools like lakers. Quickly, I am off to the next point or even rocky structure and so on through most of the good looking rock areas. If these spots don’t produce, I will usually move to the closest bay that offers some sort of creek or water source. This constant flow of food usually has a population of splake nearby that will user these types of bays to roam and feed in.

Jigging Presentations
Just like brook and lake trout, splake will feed on a vast variety of artificial lures. Most recently Lindy’s Little Flyer has become the newest addition to my confidence baits. I tend to use this spoon on or close to bottom. Pounding, raising and then pausing. If I`m jigging slightly off bottom I almost always keep this spoon moving. A smooth, consistent jigging rhythm works this lure to perfection and is a deadly choice when you are searching for active fish. Other common spoons on any splake lake will include Bay De Noc’s Swedish Pimple or Northlands Buckshot. The entire time I`m jigging my eyes are glued to my flasher looking for any signs of life. When the flasher does mark a fish that doesn`t seem aggressive or is just on the edge of my flashers cone and is going to take some finesse to entice a strike. Try to not only to get the attention of the fish but try to make the fish chase your offering. Once they begin to chase your lure especially up, it`s usually game over for them.

Dead Sticking
I spend a lot of time north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario in Lake Superior Provincial Park and like most other places in Ontario we are allowed two lines per person on the ice. This allows each angler to dead stick baits even if they decide to jig. A great technique for splake is actually a favourite of mine for perch. Simply jig aggressively in one hole and have a rod in a holder at another only a few feet away. The idea is fish that come in to check out my jigging presentation and decide it`s not for them will have a second more subtle offering for them to take on their way out. A Northland forage minnow tipped with a small shiner or packed with waxies is a great option on any splake lake. Use live minnows were permitted but in many cases such as LSPP only dead are allowed.

Tip-up
Baits used for dead sticking can also be used under a tip-up. The only difference I have found is the fish taken on a tip-up are often gut hooked. Most of the fish I throw on the ice for a meal come from my tip-up. With splake being a 100% put and take fishery in Ontario I will usually harvest a few fish on each outing. I personally keep it simple under a tip-up. I run 8 pound monofilament to a 6 or 8 pound monofilament leaders. The longer the leader the more room a live minnow has for swimming around. The shorter leaders leave less room for the minnow to move around with. Above the barrel on my leader is just a small egg sinker or split shot depending on how deep I plan to fish. Although a tip-up is a very effective tool for catching fish, let alone any species. I usually dead stick until I find a spot that I hunker down and spend an extended amount of time at. Until then it’s dead sticking for me as I move.