Lake Trout

Length:  30 - 80 cm (12 - 31 in.)

Distribution/Habitat:
cold waters of deep lakes throughout much of Ontario

Similar fish:

• Brook Trout 

Key identifying characteristics:

• light wormlike markings and spots on dark background, none red;
• deeply forked tail;
• white leading edge on lower fins, but no black line

The lake trout, like other members of the char family, is 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).

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. 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.