How To Identify Lake Trout
Lake trout belong to the family of fish known as chars. The bodies of these fish can be a grey or green color with yellowish colored markings that also appear on their fins. Their bellies are lighter than the rest of their body. The lake trouts tail has a deep forking compared to other chars. It is also much stronger and larger than most chars, often weighing more than 100 pounds. Lake trout have numerous strong teeth.
Flyfishing With A Spinning Rod
YES! You heard it right, and maybe heard it here first! Flyfishing with a spinning rod is one of the most underused methods for catching trout in a lake. This method is best during the morning and evening.
To flyfish with a spinning rod, you should use a torpedo adjustable bubble filled with a small amount of water. Then, you should tie a two-to-three-inch fly behind it.
The best wet flies to use are black gnats, adams, renegades, muddler minnows, and brown bears. Alternatively, ask your local fly shop about what is currently hatching.
Top tip: use small wet flies.
Where To Ice Fish Lake Trout
Lake trout are water predators and are often cruising over basins while searching for prey. They do not stay still once the temperatures cool down and have access to the whole lake. Lake trout are often found in packs looking for prey, often in deep structures such as points, submerged humps, and islands where they are baitfish.
Ice lake trout hunt in clear waters to easily spot their prey from a distance. They often feed on weed beds and yellow perch once they get to feed on the shallow feeding fish. You can find lake trout anywhere around 15-foot shallows, healthy weed beds, and any other structure that makes a great habitat for perch.
You can use your bathymetric electronics map to find points of structure on the reservoir or lake. Here you will find smaller gamefish and bait fish in high concentration. These spots are often 10 to 80 feet of water and can often include saddles of shallow water between islands, underwater humps and boulder reefs, sunken points, and shallow bays.
Once you find any likely points, you can drill some prospect holes and look for the structures with an underwater camera, transducer, or fish finder. Do not look for the large lake trout but for large concentrations of smaller gamefish and bait fish. Hungry lake trout roam around their prey.
Ensure you drill your holes in a grip pattern or zig-zag so you can set up around the different structures and maximize your chances of catching the fish.
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Trolling For Lake Trout
One of the most effective methods for catching lakers is trolling. It all starts in the spring as soon as the ice comes off the lake. The fish can be found plying the shallows, where the water is oxygenated, warmer, and where baitfish can be found. Fly-fishermen can troll streamers in these areas, or you could opt for a bait-caster or spinning outfit, pulling pixee spoons, vibrax spinners, floating or mid-depth rapalas or other minnow-type plugs.
As summer arrives and lake water warms, fish move into deep water. This requires a change in tactics. Trolling is still the best option use banana weights or divers to keep your line in the depths. In some situations a downrigger is required. Flashers or dodgers can make a big difference in attracting larger fish. Other lures to consider are Flatfish, Kwikfish, J-plugs, Wiggle Warts and deep-running Rapalas.
Your chances improve exponentially with the use of a fish-finder, as lakers tend to move around a bit and are found at various depths in the water column.
What Are The Best Lures For Lake Trout
While bait is efficient in catching lake trout, lures are often more effective. Lures are flagrant and flashy and can easily trigger the lake trouts attention, causing them to attack easilysome of the most effective lures include flash spoons and swimming lures.
Soft baits on jig heads are also very effective with lake trout, as with pike. A jig head can be used as the weight on the tube jig to create a tempting lure for a feeding trout.
If the lakers you are targeting are finicky about taking other bait, you can try using other lures like larger jigging raps tipps with deador live shiners or tube jigs.
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Lake Trout Salvelinus Namaycush
Lake Trout is a Canadian freshwater fish and the largest member of the char family. This trout species is most prevalent in northern North America lakes and is recognizable by its long, rounded shape and a deeply forked tail. The lake trout species has several other names, including namaycush, lake char, Mackinaw, touladi, grey trout, and togue. They are known as siscowet, lean, and paperbelly in Lake Superior.
Lake trout family are considered char within the family Salmonidae. They are not true trout, and their closest relative is the Arctic char. The lake trout is one of the largest freshwater fish species that prefer living in large, deep lakes abundant in aquatic insects and good water quality.
Lake trout are native to Alaska, Canada, the Great Lakes, New England, and Montana. They are native to North American waters but were artificially stocked in Sweden, New Zealand, South America, and Asia.
The lake trout species is known to hybridize with Brook trout, which creates a species called Splake, which is usually sterile. Fisheries around the United States raise and stock splake in water bodies to provide more sport fishing opportunities for anglers.
Fishing for lake trout can be an unforgettable and exciting experience for any angler.
Bait Fishing For Trout
Still-fishing with bait is this is the most common way to catch trout, and perhaps the most fool-proof. One of your first decisions is whether youll fish near the bottom or suspend your bait from a bobber . Its best to come prepared for both techniques, as trout feeding habits change quickly.
Bottom fishing can be very effective because trout in still waters often cruise just above the bottom in search of food.
If trout are surfacing or cruising near the surface, fishing bait beneath a float is effective and also a fun way to see the bite as the bobber moves or plunges underwater.
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How Do I Cast A Trout Fishing Rig From The Lake Shore
The last thing to learn how to lake fish for trout is knowing how to cast. Fixed bobber rigs should be cast when there is little to no wind. Once the line is out, let it stay stationary until you get a hit. You can slightly jig to get a trouts attention however, you may also risk scaring the fish away. Fixed bobber rigs are essentially set and wait casting lines.
Slip bobber rigs require a little more precision and should always be cast when the wind is to your side or at your back. Let the line hit the water and sink to the desired depth. Strikes usually happen fast with this rig so if you dont feel any hits within a few minutes, it is best to recast.
Slip sinker rigs can be cast far and wide from the shore. Be sure to pick a spot that does not put you in danger of snagging low hanging tree limbs or other anglers. Cast your line as far out as the trout are biting for a good catch.
How To Fish For Trout In A Lake Reservoir Or Pond
Learning how to fish for Trout in a lake is different than in a river or stream. Many lakes are stocked with Trout, and some even hold native populations. These lakes offer an amazing Trout angling opportunity that can rival productive rivers and streams, as their forage and climate often produce larger and more abundant populations. However, Trout behavior in lakes, ponds and reservoirs is different than in their moving water habitats. Different conditions and feeding patterns require different Trout fishing tactics and techniques. Locating Trout, applying the right tactic, and presenting your bait effectively are the most important factors to a successful Trout fishing trip in open water.
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Fishing In The Adirondacks
Discover the best spots in the Adirondack Mountains to fish for Lake Trout.
Get more information on Lake Trout season dates, minimum keep, daily limit and more!
Where & When To Fish
Lake trout prefer to live in the dark deep water of a lake. Lake trout are readily available in large numbers in the cold dark depths of the lake. So, locating the depth is vital for knowing where you need to target.
The depths in which you can find the trout change with weather, season, and eating habits.
In the early season during April and May, lake trout prefer to move in shallow water and anglers prefer fishing from the shore. But as the season passes they shift to the deep waters of the lake.
Using a depth finder can help you avoid wasting time and effort in the wrong location. It lets you enjoy a fruitful day instead of going empty-handed back home.
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Trolling Lures For Trout
Another great way to catch trout is by trolling lures, which works in part because you can cover so much water and fish at a variety of depths until you find the fish. Spinners, spoons and other lures designed for trolling are often lighter in weight.
These types of lures produce tantalizing action as they are pulled through the water, and some anglers will enhance the offering with a bit of bait on the hook.
Many anglers will use weights or downriggers to sink their lures down to where deeper fish are holding, and some also use shiny flashers or gang trolls above the leader to attract fish toward the lure.
Lures that are primarily designed to be trolled for trout through the water are lightweight and typically fished with attractors and often additional weight or a downrigger.
Some lures including the previously mentioned weighted spinners and spoons that work well for casting also can be trolled, and they might not take as much weight, and often without an attractor.
The ever-popular Rooster Tail spinners are another casting lure that has boated many trout for us when trolled with a fairly flat line behind the boat, using just enough speed to feel the lures blade pulsate while it turns.
Try this approach without extra weight if the trout are running shallow, which is often the case if plenty of them are jumping or dimpling the surface.
How To Fish For Lake Trout Final Thoughts
The basic technique for catching a Lake trout is the same as any other lake fish. But there are some things to consider for a successful Lake trout fishing trip
You should know about the habitat the Lake trout enjoy and what they eat. You should also know which season is best for catching Lake trout. Before starting the expedition, do a survey about well-stocked lakes in your vicinity.
I hope this guide was helpful and informative. If you liked it then please like and share it with your friends.
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Fly Fishing Without A Fly Rod
No, you dont actually need to use a fly rod to catch trout with artificial flies. Anglers with spinning or casting gear can often catch trout, often with the help of a casting bubble in both lakes and streams.
Be sure to read all fishing regulations, because some areas have strict rules for fly-fishing only waters.
We have also had some great days trolling flies very slowly behind a boat or float tube or similar craft, using either conventional or fly rods.
Usually wet flies with some natural action, including woolly buggers, are most effective for this kind of fishing.
If the fish are right on the surface, you might do well without any additional weight, dragging the fly slowly just inches below the surface.
If thats not reaching fish, though, dont be shy about adding just a little split shot weight or two to your line, a few feet above the fly.
How To Fish For Big Lake Trout
When& Where to Fish
The keyto finding big lake trout is locating the best habitat on the lake and knowingthe seasonal patterns and behaviors of these fish. If you can figure out thesethings, youll dramatically increase your fishing success. Here are someimportant areas to look for when targeting lake trout:
KeyAreas to target
- Any type of structure
Fishingthe Right Depth
Depthis a huge factor in all types of fishing, but is especially important if youare targeting lakers. In general lake trout will be deeper than what most troutanglers are used to, here is a basic guide that will help you locate lake troutby season.
Whereto Find Lake Trout by Season
Spring Thespringtime can be the best time of year to target lake trout. During this periodthese fish are hungry and more aggressive. At ice off and in the early springthey can often be found around the surface and close to the shoreline. As theweather heats up and it gets closer to summer they will start to move deeper.
Summer Laketrout love cold oxygenated water and in the summer time they will follow it tothe deepest parts of the lake. During this season its best to fish for lakersin the early mornings or before dusk. Youll also have the best chance atcatching these fish on days with low light conditions such as over cast dayswhen there is less light penetration in the water.
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About The Grizzly Creek Lodge
Located in the southeast corner of Canadas Yukon Territory, Grizzly Creek Lodge has been in business for 47-years. Surrounded by some of the last pristine wilderness left on the planet, our clients enjoy some of the finest trophy freshwater fishing available in the northern hemisphere. We host a maximum of 6 guests per week so we can focus on our commitment to giving each of our clients the highest degree of personalized service.
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Bucktail And Other Jigs
Perhaps the most unusual, and potentially most effective, way to catch river lake trout is with a jig. Any type of jig will work, but bucktail jigs are especially good. The beauty of a jig is that it can be fished in a variety of ways in the current. You can pitch it upstream and drift it down, swimming it as you go. You can cast it into a pool and work it back upstream with short hops. Troll it, swimming it just off the bottom. Or, if the water is deep enough, you can drift and vertically jig it. There is no wrong way to fish a jig. It pays to have a few different weights of the jig, usually from one-quarter to five-eighths depending on water speed, depth etc. The lighter jigs are better for drifting and fluttering behind a boat. Heavy jigs get down in deep holes and heavy current.
River lake trout fishing is both fun and challenging. If youve never tried it, this is the year to do it. I guarantee you will never look at lake trout fishing the same way again.
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Bait Fishing Can Harm Fish
A final note on bait fishing for trout: Fish often swallow bait deeply and quite frequently dont survive either being unhooked or having the leader cut.
For this reason, bait-fishing is prohibited in some waters, especially where catch-and-release fishing is required or encouraged. Bait fishing is most often prohibited when there is one or more protected fish species inhabiting the waterway.
Where fishing with bait is allowed, we recommend it primarily for anglers who plan to keep their catch.
Artificial lures and flies also discussed in this article are often better choices when you hope to release fish unharmed.
Float Fishing For Trout
Floats also can be very effective for trout fishing, especially when the fish are near the surface or you are trying to keep the bait above aquatic weeds or other snags. And, frankly, floats are also plain fun because you can see the bite happening when the float moves.
For bobber fishing, most anglers will use baits that sink, including natural or artificial options.
For float fishing, you can use a similar main line and leader set-up as described with bottom fishing, but instead of a weight you will use the float above your bobber.
If you need some extra oomph for casting, you can use a heavier float or even pinch on a little weight immediately below the float. Separating the weight and float will make casting more difficult.
I like about 24 to 36 inches of leader for float fishing, but sometimes a slightly longer leader results in more strikes and is worth a bit more challenge in terms of casting.
Floats also can be used in rivers and streams. Unless you know the fish are near the surface, set your bobber so that the bait drifts just above the bottom, where stream trout most often hold.
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Lake Trout Fishing Tips For Beginners
If it is the first time that you are going on a Lake trout fishing trip, then we have some excellent tips for you. Whether you are fishing in shallow waters or jiggling in deep parts of a lake, these tips can help you make it an enjoyable and effortless day.