How to Jig for Lakers on SMELT Lakes- Lake Willoughby Vermont

[@johnlindonen3484]

Just ordered the Winni Kit. Have you ever fished Paugus Bay? I got skunked my first time out there on the kayak.

[@BendItFishing]

I haven't fished it before but I bet the Lakers in there are around bait under 50ft

[@johnlindonen3484]

@@BendItFishing I was shooting around 50’-60’ with no electronics, I’ll try some spots deeper. Love the videos and all the information.

[@BendItFishing]

@johnlindonen3484 np electronics is gonna be difficult. Try casting it out and hoping it back. You'll cover more area

[@johnlindonen3484]

@@BendItFishing I’ll give that a shot. The Stryker 4 or Hook Reveal 5 is next on the list.

[@legacytackle]

🔥

[@BendItFishing]

Ty

[@mattlibby9593]

I live in Atlantic Canada and all the lakes local to me that have lake trout (or as many here call them ‘togue’) are rainbow smelt based lakes. Recently I was trying to get a last fish in before our season ends for trout, when I arrived at the lake I’ve been fishing all summer I was unable to locate any bait balls at all. I’ve never encountered this problem before. Do the smelt change behaviour/stop schooling in late summer? The lake I frequent is not a large lake so it’s usually been quite easy to find the smelts but I covered a fairly large portion of it throughout the day and was unsuccessful finding even a single bait ball. PS. This has been a great series, thanks for doing it!

[@BendItFishing]

You are welcome for the series. It depends on your water temperature smelt have a very specific range that they like to be in. Today I was out in 70° Fahrenheit and I found the small smelt up high in shallow above the thermocline and then I found bigger smelt down at the bottom squished. The only time smoke really disappear is in the spring when they go up rivers to spawn

[@mattlibby9593]

@@BendItFishing thanks for the reply! Tight lines and looking forward to your upcoming videos

[@mattlibby9593]

@@BendItFishing thanks for the reply! Tight lines and looking forward to your upcoming videos

[@Fish-Erman]

I've been jigging lake trout for quite a while, and yesterday they were the most turned off I have ever seen them. I couldn't even manage a follow. Did catch an 8" smelt though, which was a first for me.

[@BendItFishing]

Better than a skunk! Watch my finiky lake trout video

[@quaileggsvermont]

Nice!

[@BendItFishing]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@MagicMountainLures]

What would you use in a kokanee salmon/yellow perch forage lake?

[@BendItFishing]

Id use the Winni kit to start, if they are really on that perch color I would buy some perch colored swim baits

[@MountainStateAngler]

How do you record the screen I hate how Garmin always comes out with the feature after I spend thousands already on a previous model. :(

[@BendItFishing]

GPS models can do it with active captain or the new ultra 2s I think

[@MacMulligan]

Smelt lakes are so much different

[@BendItFishing]

That's for sure! I was fishing for Lakers in 25 feet yesterday with water temps around 72 f! That's where the smelt was!

[@MacMulligan]

@@BendItFishing crazy!

[@DSimo-f5m]

Did you head over to Crystal too?

[@BendItFishing]

Not yet

[@BendItFishing]

I'll look into it

[@barndawg8143]

Does your store ship your lures to BC Canada?

[@BendItFishing]

Yes! Shipping isn't the cheapest but I don't control that unfortunately

[@Allan79789]

Your version of smelt is much smaller than mine. In Manitoba we use smelt for ice fishing for pike, the smelt are about 6-7 inches length. One thing I have never seen you, or any other fishing video do, is examine the stomach contents of your catch, its such a great source of information. On Friday I fished a lake I don't usually fish for lakers, finally caught one at 4pm(it was a struggle to get them to chase). I cleaned it up and opened the stomach, no wonder, 2 inch minnows and I was using my 5 inch baits. I'll know for next time.

[@BendItFishing]

That's why I use 2 inch baits!! I have cleaned there stomach just not on camera. I found 19, 2 inch smelts in a 20 inch laker. We have the same rainbow smelts it's just the majority of them are small but they get to 8 inches

[@tuiflies5869]

Why not let it hit the bottom? I’ve seen more than a couple vids where the lakers pick bait or lures off the bottom. Personally, I don’t think any I’ve caught have picked my lure up off the bottom though.

[@BendItFishing]

If you are using 2D sonar it's just easier to see when a fish comes up to you and I really don't think smelt go down and try to hide in the mud so it's a little unnatural

[@maritimeus]

Give the people what they want. Saltwater fishing. 😂

[@BendItFishing]

I got one planned it will be a Facebook video

[@MountainStateAngler]

How do you record the screen I hate how Garmin always comes out with the feature after I spend thousands already on a previous model. :(

[@BendItFishing]

Only on GPS models and the new ultra 2s I guess