I'm going to be doing a short trip to Algonquin Park in late September (the last 4 days of the Laker season) and I need some tips.  I've fished for Lakers before with pretty good success but always in summer when they're deep.  How do you fish for them just before the spawn once we're into the Fall?  At that point are they pretty shallow (10 feet and up) and hanging around structure?  Do they move out of their deep summer pools and move in towards shore?  Can you fish for them with stick and jerk baits the same way you would for bass or Pike?  Anything anyone can tell me about going after these big boys would be much appreciated.

Not being familiar with Algonquin I will assume that LT habits are consistent region to region.  That being said, I would go by water temps to find them.  Cool nights will bring the surface temps down to ~60* or so by late Sept?  So, I would guesstimate that if your surface temps are around 60* that a 12-16' crank bait would probably reach the 45-55* temps that they typically hang out in?  I don't know.  Is there a rule of thumb that can estimate the ratio of water depth to temperature that anyone is aware of?

Kerry we fished Algonquin in mid September about 5 years ago. It was a great trip as the colors were at their peak and the weather was very nice. However we did very poorly fishing even though we gave it a good effort. Perhaps it was where we fished............Tim lake up to Big Bob and went into the Petawa(?) river where we caught a few cuts. Other than that we struck out on Tim lake lakers. Not sure what we would do differently.

BTW..........the crows are quite sharp in obtaining any food, they even went into a stuff sack and drug out containers and popped holes. "Hey, look at all those crows..........they sure look excited about something" ;D

Algonquin is my home territory so to speak. Its great in fall. Just as Phantom says, depends on water temps. Its sort of like the spring in that with good temps and depending on when turnover occurs, they could be anywhere, although there is not the explosion of life in the fall in the shallows to draw them there to the same extent. The spawn is usually later in Nov. So think of where the food is. Raps and spoons will work if you locate fish. Also depends on what lake you are on. They are not all the same fishing wise....What lakes are you going to be on? I've been to most of the lakes in the park, and can head you in the right direction...pm me if you like.

Moonman.

moonman wrote on Sep 12^th, 2012 at 6:47pm:

Algonquin is my home territory so to speak. Its great in fall. Just as Phantom says, depends on water temps. Its sort of like the spring in that with good temps and depending on when turnover occurs, they could be anywhere, although there is not the explosion of life in the fall in the shallows to draw them there to the same extent. The spawn is usually later in Nov. So think of where the food is. Raps and spoons will work if you locate fish. Also depends on what lake you are on. They are not all the same fishing wise....What lakes are you going to be on? I've been to most of the lakes in the park, and can head you in the right direction...pm me if you like. Moonman.

Hi Moonman-PM sent.  Would love to hear from you.

How was the laker fishing?

Not even a nibble and I trolled the lake pretty extensively with a variety of baits at different depths.  However, after I gave up on trout,  I did manage to catch a very feisty 4 lb. smally, so no complaints.