Quinte Fishing

Here is the deal. Most salmonids spend most of there life (not all) in 39.2 F degree water. Probably 8 to 9 months. 39.2 is the densest water in the Great Lakes. If it is warmer or colder than 39.2 it will be higher in the water column. When the temps mix, most call this phenomenon a lake roll over. This is the process that is happening presently and can be accelerated by wind. The lake trout will move in and out of colder or warmer water but will prefer to locate near the 39.2. The reason for the vertical movement is to chase forage. The forage bait indexing done by the New York DEC and OMNRF over the last few decades have indicated the alewives and smelt are moving deeper and deeper in the water column to find their food sources. Their century old natural food sources have been decimated by invasive species.
A lot has changed. Back in the early 80s to mid 90s we were stocking a lot of Lake Huron strains of lake trout with bad genetics. They were very susceptible to many diseases. These early stocking strains related to warmer and shallower water. Mid 90s we started changing our approach to stocking better strains with a lot better genetics. OMNRF fish culture opted for New York's Seneca Lake strain. I believe that we are stocking up to 90% Senecas. Their behavior is much different than the Huron strains that prefer warm shallower water. Senecas prefer cold deep water.
If I was to target lake trout in the next 2 weeks, I would set up in 70 to 80 fow and drop the probe until I found 39.2 and start there and work my way out deeper. I would not set up until I found the 39.2 even if I had to go to 200 fow. Speed depends on your presentation. I prefer 1.1 to 1.5 running deep with dodgers and the New York gang trolls. These 2 presentations utilize wobble trolls and sometimes hoochies on the dodgers. Colour - bright. ( chartreuse or white/ lime green). Stack a few spoons 10 feet above these attractors. Spoons will need to be flutter types to run at these slower speeds.

If you find forage bait you are golden. Don't leave that area. Keep working it. They will turn on.

Hope this helps,
Al

P.S. If you don't own or can't find flutter spoons to run at these slower speeds, I would opt for M. C. Rockets in the 5" (regular size) if I was targeting them below 100'. Just run them clean without an attractor above your lower presentations. Rockets can be tuned to run at the slower speeds and the best glow product on the market today.

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Captain - Team ATOMMIK/Rockets