Pro Talk: How to Jig for Lake Trout with Bernie Keefe

Posted by Booster Apps on

We spent 15 minutes on the phone with Bernie Keefe to discuss jigging for lake trout with the Hogy Original in Colorado. Here's what we found out... 

Guide Bernie Keefe
Website: https://www.fishingwithbernie.com/
Instagram: @fishing_with_bernie
Facebook: Fishing With Bernie

Location: Lake Granby, Colorado

Tides: Frozen Tundra

Approach: Lake Trout bite all day but they are more sensitive to pressure (fishing) than anything else. 

"I like to use a run and gun approach and hit the area hard," Keefe said. "If the fish are there, we stay a little longer and if we do not see anything, we move through quicker."

Keefe added that they find structure then "drill it up," sometimes drilling 50 to 60 holes on one hump. 

Rigging Selection: The jig head depends on the depth and how fast the fish want it to drop. Generally a 1/2oz – 3/4oz jig head works fine.

Bait Selection: The Hogy 10inch Jigging

Why This Bait? The bait fish in the area (trout, salmon and suckers are 10”).

Colors: White, lakers love white, amber it’s a good natural color up here then black everything contrasts with black.

Retrieve:  Dead stick, watch your graph and your rod tip, slow jig then snap jigging. The fish will let you know what they want.

Rod: Jason Mitchel 40” heavy rods long sensitive rods to bury the hook in a bone hard mouth.

Reel:   Wright McGill Sabalos 25: Best drag on the market.

Line: Trilene 100% fluorocarbon 10 lb test, braids freeze up and fishing under 60 ft deep flouro works great

Lake Granby Lake Trout Ice Fishing Video


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