lake-trout
Species Facts

Science Name: Salvelinus namaycush
Other Names: Laker, Mackinaw, gray trout, togue
Ideal Temp: 50 to 57
World Record: 72 lbs NW Terr.
Environment: lakes
Techniques: medium-tackle, bottom fishing, downrigger
Description

This species is 15-20 inches long, weighing an average of 10 pounds but they have been known to exceed 100 pounds. The body, colored light green or grey, dark green, brown or almost black with lighter colored spots is typically troutlike, elongate.

The Lake Trout is highly prized both as a gamefish and as a commercial species. Anglers catch this species by fly or spin fishing early in the spring. The flesh may be white, pink, orange or orange-red, the color being influenced by the diet.

This fish spawns in late autumn in inland lakes up to depths of 40 feet. The female lays 400-1200 eggs and hatching occurs 4-5 months later. The lake trout is predaceous and feed upon crustaceans, insects, many species of fish and even small mammals.

The grey trout is highly prized both as a gamefish and as a commercial species. Anglers catch this species by fly or spin fishing early in the spring. The flesh may be white, pink, orange or orange-red, the color being influenced by the diet. It has an excellent flavor and is mostly eaten fresh but it is sometimes smoked.

Subspecies Although there are dozens of geographic races of lake trout, most experts recognize only two subspecies: the lean trout, and the siscowet or fat trout. The fat trout is named for its high fat content.

Hybrids Lake trout occasionally hybridize with Arctic char. Female lake trout are artificially crossed with male brook trout to produce splake or wendigo, which are stocked in numerous oligotrophic lakes in the northern states and Canada.

Table Quality Excellent when eaten fresh or smoked. But the high fat content causes the flesh to turn rancid when frozen for long periods. Depending on the fishâ??s diet, the meat can vary from bright orange to off-white

Habitat Lake trout inhabit deep, cold lakes especially those with boulder strewn or gravel bottoms. In a few northern areas where water temperatures remain relatively low, lakers sometimes move into rivers that are connected to lakes to feed. In New York these fish can be found in shallow water near shore only during colder periods of the year. At other times they are restricted to deeper, cooler waters.

Feeding Habits In most waters, lake trout rely heavily on small fish like ciscoes, smelt or sculpins. But in some lakes, they feed almost exclusively on plankton, insects or crustaceans. In this situation, lake trout never reach the size of those in fish-eating populations.

Age and Growth Lake trout are slow-growing and long-lived, sometimes reaching an age of 40 years. In the far North, it may take 15 years for a laker to reach 2 pounds.

Tips for Fishing

Lake trout are mostly fish eaters. They eat a variety of baitfish, including smelt, ciscoes, alewives, suckers, shiners, and chubs, as well as other lake trout. For this reason, the natural baits most commonly used for lakers are baitfish and strips of flesh cut from fish, particularly suckers. Smelt, alewives, ciscoes, small suckers, and chubs of about 4 to 7 inches long are frequently used, but fathead minnows and shiners (where legal) will also work and are widely available.