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I'll be taking the family camping this weekend at the Charleston Lake provincial park and would like to do a bit of fishing with the kids. My dinner target is, without a doubt, lake trout. I have just about everything I need except a little course knowledge. I would appreciate any advice from the forum members, or perhaps answers to my questions.

1. Where on Charleston am I likely to find lakers? Where will I definitely not find them? I have a canoe, so I would like to try the areas around the campground, such as Runnings Bay. (Of course, this means no down-rigger, however a three-way swivel and one ounce weight might get me deep enough.)

2. Any recommendations on who to rent boats from? So I have a canoe, but perhaps I really need that down-rigger and want to hit the eastern waters. I read in one post that the area around Huckleberry hollow isn't bad.

3. Any lure/bait advice? I have some of my favourite spinners and spoons that I'll be trying, but any proven lures or bait on this lake for mid-June would be good to know.

Many thanks for your advice. If I succeed in catching something edible I'll snap a few photos for the forum before I filet.

Barry

Hi Barry

Welcome to Fish-Hawk

As far as fishing Charleston...
My pointers may be considered suspect (haven't done very well so far this year)

1) Runnings..Lots of deep water once you get out past the islands. The west shore line drops very quickly to 200+ ft.
I've never had a lot of success in runnings but others here have.

2) Huckleberry is a long haul in a canoe (about 3km if paddling from the Runnings side of the park, a little closer if from the boat launch)

3) I would also try out from the boat launch.
Once out of the bay head right towards croziers point. Run north south parallel to the island (if you don't have a depth finder stay out about 50 to 100ft from shore

4) My best choice in a canoe would be to head left out of the boat launch bay and run a diagonal from the point over to the marker about half way to Frizzle island (stay to the right of it). There is a shoal that is 120 on the right, 30ft on top, 80 on the left side. Once near the marker head on a diagonal towards the point farthest from you.
It can also be a good place to jig if the wind is not blowing.

Of course everything depends on the wind..

As far as baits, White minnow baits (2-3inch), narrow spoons or flutter baits (dartees, williams ect) usually silver/blue combos.

As far as boat rentals,, the only places I know of that may have some available would be Kelseys Marina and Lake Line Lodge. They are both out of Charleston Lake Village on the far north end of the village. You will have to drive around to Athens (about a 20 min drive)

Good Luck and have fun

Dartee knows the lake far better than I, so heed his advice...but if I may add to his lure suggestions by mentioning 1 more: a "Crippled Herring" (get the larger one), this is an effective lure for lakers. Being a heavier spoon, it'll get you down pretty nicely; just cast it out and take your time counting it down before you begin your troll with the canoe. You should be able to feel the action/flutter on the rod as you go.

Have a nice time with your family. Charleston is a natural playground sent from God, for sure.

W.

If you're using a canoe, I would recommend using tube jigs and fish them starting at the bottom of the lake and work your way up with a nice controlled jigging action....white tubes or white with silver speckle flake works very well for Lakers...

Thanks very much everyone, especially Dartee. Your insights are much appreciated.

I didn't mention that I will have an electric trolling motor and fish finder on the canoe. That definitely ups the odds.

Barry

A week ago on Charleston I got 13 lakers in some of those places Dartee suggested. The trout were anywhere from 20 ft to 70ft. The majority around 30-50. By Sunday night they seemed to go deeper and will continue to do so with the warmer weather.

I have given up on downrigger fishing Charleston. Never liked it in the first place plus the bottom is up and down like a yo-yo and trout often hold tight to shoals. I met a guy at the ramp who told me he lost 3 cannonballs the first week!

Jigging is difficult because of holding the boat in position While fishing over deep water. I recommend heavy jigging spoons like Champs, Kastmster or Hopkins. You can pull a tube over them (like a condom :lol )

Early in the season to troll I simply use a bass casting rod with a nice long handle and reel spooled with very thin 20 lb test/6lb diameter no stretch line (very important for feel). I can get 150 yards on it. I tie that to a 3 way swivel and a dropper of 3 ft with 2 ounces of lead and then a leader of 4 ft. You need a long dropper for the sinker mainly because if the lure even ticks bottom you end up snagging a zebra mussel or two. I can fish this down to about 50 ft on a slow troll with half the line out.

If I find fish suspended I use a similar bass rod with a bigger (but not huge) Penn reel and 10 colours of 17 lb leadcore. I know the depth the leadcore sinks to.

I like Panther Martin spinners because they are different than the spoons everyone else uses, they have a "sonic" pulse and you can troll them much slower than any other spinner.

I am going to experiment doing controlled drifting in the wind (using the electric to make adjustments) with a fly rod and leadcore. I will use a very thin spoon like a Lake Clear Wabbler as an attractor with a 18"-24" leader with a streamer fly or threaded minnow or worm behind it. The Wabbler will flutter at a snails pace and get deeper with less line then other methods. No need for an expensive rod/reel a cheapy rod/reel from Wamart or CTC would be best just make sure its something like an 8 weight.

BTW you can bait fish for lakers too.