where to icefish on big blue lake in kalkaska county lake trout when referring to the depth maps

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FishGPT · Accepted Answer

**Ice-fishing Big Blue Lake for lake trout using depth maps (early winter) – a practical plan of attack 🎣**

- **Read the depth map like a map of fish highways**: look for deep basins, sharp drop-offs, saddles, and long shelves. Lake trout in cold water love structure where the bottom suddenly drops away or where a ridge intersects a basin. On depth contours, identify edges where 40–60 ft woodlines give way to 70–120+ ft water. 
- **Target depth range (start here, then refine)**: begin around *60–90 ft*. If you’re not marking fish, push a bit deeper toward 90–110 ft, especially near a pronounced drop or a trough. If the map shows a long, deep shoulder, start on the shoulder at 70–90 ft and then probe the basin edges outward.
- **Where to drop your lines on the map**: prioritize: 
  - the ends of steep breaks (where the depth changes quickly)
  - deep flats adjacent to basins
  - saddles and humps that break from 50–70 ft into deeper water
  - transitions between rocky/pebble bottoms and mud (lakes trout will sit on appropriate bottom or mid-water column depending on temperature)
- **Gear and technique (early winter)**: 
  - set up a two-pronged approach: a jigging rod at ~60–85 ft and a tip-up or second rod at ~80–110 ft
  - jig with a glow or white/tale-color spoon or lure in 1/4–3/8 oz range; slow, deliberate drops with a short, sharp jig to entice suspended fish
  - use live minnows or high-contrast spoons if you’re seeing trout on electronics at depth
- **Electronics matters**: a fish finder or flasher with a chart overlay helps you confirm a bottom depth and locate suspended toastier-water pockets. If you mark arches near a shelf, your depth targets are on the money.
- **Weather and season notes (early winter)**: cold fronts can slow bites; keep presentations steady and patient. Clear days may push trout deeper; overcast or post-front days can bring fish up to mid-water shelves. Stay flexible and move a little when the map shows a new contour line you didn’t fish yet.
- **Safety first**: check ice thickness, bring floatation gear, and fish with a buddy.

> Quick visual reference: this clip shows real ice fishing for lake trout on deep water and how structure and depth maps guide the drill: [Ice Fishing Monster Lake Trout Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrtlojvVE9c)

Tight lines and let those depth-lines tell you where the trout are holding this winter! 🧊🐟

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Where to icefish on Big Blue Lake, Kalkaska County for lake trout when referring to the depth maps?

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🎣 Big Blue Lake, Kalkaska County, Michigan, USA