Lake Trout

Key Identifying Characteristics:

• Back is green, grey, brown, or almost black; sides are lighter; belly is white
• Light wormlike markings and spots on dark background, none red
• White leading edge on lower fins, but no black line
• Deeply forked tail

Distribution/Habitat:

• Lake trout, like other members of the char family, are typically northern in distribution. In Ontario they occur in Lake Ontario, Lake Huron, Lake Superior and across the deep, cold lakes of the Canadian Shield.

• Lake trout normally inhabit only lakes with a depth greater than 15 meters (50 feet).

Angling Tips:

• In spring, just after ice goes out, lake trout are found near the surface and can be taken on a fly rod, or with spinners, spoons and plugs. As the water warms up they go deep and must be sought with special deep-water tackle -- wire line, lead-core line, downriggers, diving planers, etc. 
• In the summer, lake trout hit best in the morning when surface waters are calm. In early spring, trout seem to feed during other parts of the day, some feeding aggressively before dark. Large spoons, spinners and plugs are good summer trolling baits. Jigging, or still-fishing with large, dead minnows in deep water are sometimes effective in summer. 
• Ice fishing for lake trout is often done with minnows or lake herring, or, by jigging with spoons and jigs with bait attached. A medium-action spinning outfit with 8-pound test line is fine for fish under 10 pounds. Trophies are caught regularly in northern waters, but require stronger line.

Common Baits:

• Spoons
• Plugs
• Jigs
• Large live minnows or dead-bait

Illustration credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service