fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Great post JB...and as many have stated...what thrill to see your photos and stories of the pursuit! I think that is my favorite part of this forum.

Have a great Winter tagging along and assisting the MLF teams!

Pixiedog456005 Loc: Maryland

Nice pics and post.
Bring back plenty of notes. 👌

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Another great day JB, congrats! Good luck with your mini vacations on the MLF tour.
You have taught me a new respect for fishing with tube jigs for sure!
Already looking forward to your posts for next season!

TomTrack44 Loc: Petaluma, CA

Hi JB, nice fish, used to fish that lake years ago, great catching there. What are you using for the lake trout, bait that is? Once fished south of Big Forkwith the snow falling, great time, but cold.

neverfish Loc: petaluma california

dang JB nice pics

JB134 Loc: Montana

I’ve been catching those big Lakers on just about everything, but they are crushing the tube baits… hands down, the easiest way for me to get bit. Now there’s a lot of tube baits, and been around forever. But this stupid & easy tube bait gets bit like no other. They are called Hookup Baits. Almost every tackle store in Calif is now selling them. You can find them at Tackle Warehouse, or order direct from Hookup Baits. Chad, the owner, has the ridiculously over priced… but they dart off left and right on the sink or pause like no other. A lot of knock offs out there too. But this stupid bait just catches fish. I fish 1/4 oz in red/orange…. Smelly Jelly scent on them… this bait will catch everything. And no, I’m not a field rep… it just works

Ringleb Loc: Montana

You’re the man! We appreciate the info! How do you fish for the bass and trout? I assume you cast towards rocky shores for the bass but how do you catch the trout? Trolling? Appreciate the info!!

JB134 Loc: Montana

I primarily target bass, from a bass boat. I mention that so you’ll have a rough visual how I’m fishing. Trolling motor down, working shorelines, or some structure I’ve located using my electronics. It’s all casting, but different lures as you know need to be fished different. Specifically fishing the tubes, I am casting (8-15 ft of water) and immediately put the reel in gear. I like fishing the lightest leadhead as possible (1/4 oz) in the tubes. This style of tube has a big slide to side darting motion. With it in gear, I can detect the bite much quicker, as approx 1/2 of the big trout I’m hooking is on the fall. If I don’t get bit on the sink, I do a slow retrieve and quick pause and snap with the rod as I work it back trying to stay as close as possible to the bottom. Because the tubes have an expose hook, you will frequently snag the bottom. I then immediately use the trolling motor to get on the other side of the snag, and about 95 % of give time with one quick pop or snap of the rod, it well pop out. Critical to all this is to put Smelly Jelly garlic scent on the lure (and again, no I’m not a field rep for them)… it will make a difference. I really hope this makes a difference. So far doing this I’ve been catching largemouth, smallmouth, lake trout, rainbows,pike, and a lot of nice 5-8 lb northern pike minnows. No expert here, but I promise you fishing this style of tube will catch you fish. Hope I answered your question.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Are you catchin the lakers in 8 to 15 feet of water also?

bric Loc: Helena, MT

Absolutely incredible JB! Thanks for all your posts and information and thank you again for taking me fishin this year! Good luck with the MLF and keep us posted. Take care and be safe!

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

Nice looking fish

Ringleb Loc: Montana

Thanks so much for the info. You’re a kind gentleman!

JB134 Loc: Montana

Yes sir. I have never seen anyone fishing for them in shallow water. All of the guides working Flathead Lake work deep water. I started weeks ago seeing big fish on the sonar, and thought they might be pike’s. I tied on a tube to play with them, and discovered they were all lake trout. I’ve seen them as shallow as 5 ft… not exactly sure what they are hunting as I’m not coming across any bait… but the 8-15 zone is working for me, especially on areas that seem to have steep drop off’s. But time of day doesn’t seem to matter. I’ve hooked a couple really big ones, estimate around mid 20’s, and had one fish explode on my tube while lifting it out of the water that had to be 30 plus. I’m new to this fishery so I can’t say this is unusual or normal. What I can say is that I’ve been able to locate them on a somewhat regular basis… sure fun to catch.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

For those of us that regularly target lakers, your discoveries are "mind bendingly exciting!" Your catching of smallmouth and other species is of course over the top exciting too!

In our region of the Upper Great Lakes, the lake trout come in close to spawn in the Fall...some even going up river tributaries to find gravel. Once completed with that process, they tend to head back out into deeper water. Then...in the Springtime, they come in close again just to forage...and as the water warms up...they head right back out into deep water.

I suspect that a similar trend could unfold in Flathead...but then again...it is a unique body of water and you may have discovered something quite extraordinary! I know that you have benefited greatly with the fun and challenge, and those of us who have been privileged to follow your posts could almost feel like we were there too! For that...I humbly say "thank you" for the enlightening posts!

TomTrack44 Loc: Petaluma, CA

Thank you so much JB for the info, going to have to try that for stripers in the local rivers. Also might give it a try in Lake Tahoe if the weather holds a little longer.