Elk Lake Trout Species

[romeyjdogg]

I will be up to Elk Lake near Traverse City next week and was wondering if anybody knows anything about the trout fishing. I know there are lakers, but I know that they plant rainbows and browns. I have also heard talk about some Atlantic Salmon and suspended Walleye. I'm wondering how deep to try this time of year for any of these fish. I don't have downriggers, but I do have one of those magnum dipsys that goes 100' deep and I have been using 3 way swivels with 1/2 lb. sinkers to drag the bottom. How long do you guys make your leaders? Thanks

[Brian S.Kroll]

I live right "next door", on Skegemog.
About three weeks ago, my neighbor caught two very nice Lakers over on Elk. One was at 50 feet, the other at 100 feet.
Elk does have both Browns, and Rainbows, but I don't hear a lot of success stories about them. You'll find Atlantics up on Torch Lake, in the trough, on the East side, South of Alden. The guy who really knows about the Atlantics in Torch, is Dan, who owns Jack's sport shop in Kalkaska. He charters on the lake as well. For Atlantics, you need to get the herring that they feed on. Jack's sells both the bait, and the rigs to hold them.
I have caught some huge walleye just inside Skegemog, in the "bowl" that used to be Round lake. This is the deepest area of skegemog from where the Torch river flows into Skegemog, over to the cut into Elk lake.
I usually run a mast with Rapalas that go from almost the surface, down to about 12 feet. This is trickier now because the weeds are higher, so adjust technique accordingly.
...Good luck.