I'm in the middle of planning my trip to Quetico and I am going to be fishing a deep lake with a known population of lakers and BIG pike.
In doing research on lakers, I have read many "how to" articles on catching them. The common thread in them is a suggestion or even a "rule" that you use small baits, usually small spoons and spinners.

I have a different idea.

I plan on using large baits like big Daredevil spoons and large pike sized crankbaits. I will be looking for mid lake humps and main lake points on the main basin, focusing on deep water near inlets or swampy (mesotrophic) bays.
I have an educated guess that the largest pike and lakers use the same structure when feeding on pelagic baitfish during the summer. Structure that is not usually fished, or fished with those small "laker" baits. I plan on using musky sized jigs and salt water crankbaits run deep with inline weight added (I did see the fish looking weight thread, but I have the same fear of a fish hitting the sinker). I have a handfull of 8-10" crankbaits and jigs, inline weights up to 4 Oz, and 30# line all set to go.
The last time we tried jigging 6" Kahlin's grubs on a main lake point my cousin caught a 34" 12# walleye (Sunday lake, but I will NOT tell which point  ). That got me sold on large baits. I have caught walleye up to 7# on large jigs and smallies over 6# on large crankbaits in Quetico since then.

So am I right in my thinking or am I all wet?
What do you think of my plan - would you bet on me being skunked?
Any comments or ideas would be appreciated.

seems to me that any time I try trolling with big spoons, they start twirling and twist the hell out of the line - maybe ok if going really slow - I'd try just drifting a big spoon going with the wind, just jigging a bit,  if its slow enough;  otherwise, its usually a rapala or wally diver that goes deep that works for me on lake trout

but I use big plugs too - was using an 8" silver/blue that works well on big pike (only caught one this year, if you want to humor me and say 35" is big, or at least a little big) and waleye (forget the brand - likely something I got at wal-mart or dick's) - even smaller 15" waleye were hitting on that - nice thing, its heavy and can be cast a long way

I figure most fish are going to go after what they can see, and I'd guess that a bigger lure could be seen a little bit farther ?

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I had the same problem. I was told by a avid fisherman friend that to avoid that problem it was imperative you use a good swivel and not tie directly to spoon?
Is he right?

Another tip on avoiding line twist is to use two high quality ball bearing snap swivels back to back. Tie one to the end of your line, then connect the snap to the snap of another swivel, then tie another 3-4 feet of line and finally your lure to the last snap.

Haven't done it myself that way but I've heard it works even better than the single snap.

Moonman.

Good stuff on the use of swivels/flutter spoons.
I have used swivels on spoons but still got the line twist. I see now I should of used a leader with a swivel at the line end or maybe there and at the spoon too.

What 1lb test swivels do you use? Any special type of snap swivel? I like the Coast-Lock type, seem easier to open/close.