Lake Trout Fishing: How to Catch Trout in a Lake

There’s something about lake trout that fascinates anglers. 

Whether it’s their voracious, sustained fighting ability, their size (ranging anywhere from 2 pounds to 100 pounds), or their availability throughout the year in lakes and rivers across the northern U.S. and Canada, anglers are clearly hooked on this fish.

In fact, in his book Trout and Salmon of North America, author Robert Behnke writes, “The lake trout has an almost fanatical following among anglers across North America.”

But unlike the ubiquitous trout familiar to anglers–rainbows, browns, or cutthroats, for example—the lake trout isn’t a member of the trout family. Despite its trout-like appearance, it’s considered a char, with the Artic char being its closest relative. To muddle things even more, in some areas of the western U.S. where  the fish was introduced in the 1890s, it’s also called a mackinaw or “mac”, and Midwesterners commonly refer to them as simply “lakers.”

So, while its name may be a little confusing, make no mistake about it: Lake trout are one of the top freshwater fish in North America.

[Note: The Fishbox app is a great destination for finding fish in your specific geographic area. It can tell you what’s biting near your home and help you save time and money. Our technology is to your advantage!]

Here’s the information you need to know about lake trout and how to ensure your day on the lake is well worth your while…

An Introduction to Lake Trout

Lake trout are native to North America, from Nova Scotia to Alaska and the Great Lakes. Of course, they can be found in other areas as well, like Lake Tahoe and Yellowstone Lake in Wyoming (where they are currently devastating the cutthroat trout population), but they aren’t native. 

Read also: Trout of North America: The Complete Guide

Generally, adult lake trout are apex predators where they reside. They are known for being voracious feeders, eating everything from plankton and insects to small invertebrate animals to other fish.

In terms of habitat, lake trout favor rocky lake shorelines and shoals as water temperatures drop, making them easy to target in shallow water. As the air and water temperatures start to rise in the spring, they slowly start moving into the shallows, before heading into deeper waters (anywhere from 60- to 200-foot depths) in the late spring through the fall. 

Many outfitters report that the summer months are best for catching lake trout, as the larger fish congregate in basins and the additional daylight hours increase time spent feeding. After all, they are sight feeders that like to see their prey before attacking. 

The Best Gear For Catching Lake Trout

Many experienced anglers often report that catching rainbows, browns, brooks and other trout is easier than landing a lake trout (which remember, is not technically a member of the trout family).

Certain equipment seems to give anglers an edge when it comes to catching and landing a lake trout. 

The Fishbox app or lake contour map can help identify where the lake’s shallows and flat areas are before the water depth significantly deepens. Most of the year, lake trout prefer deeper waters, but often enter the shallows to feed. Look for a spot that will let you cast into deep water and retrieve toward shallow water.

Along with understanding a lake’s contours, many outfitters swear by depth finders when targeting lake trout, simply because they are known to live off structures and rocky outcroppings, along with inlets and drop-offs in deeper waters. Having  a thermometer is also nice to have; if the water surface temperature is above 60F degrees, chances are the lake trout will be deeper, cooler waters.

For gear, a good place to start is using a medium-action 7-foot rod with either 6-8 pound test for smaller fish or 10-20 pound test monofilament line with 5-6 foot clear fluorocarbon leaders when you’re targeting larger lake trout.

This set-up all but guarantees some challenging action once one of the “Lakers” hits. 

Typically, they hit rather hard; you’ll quickly notice your road bent like a bow once you’ve hooked onto one. They are also prone to “running” so be prepared to vary your angle while retrieving or try to steer the fish to one side of your boat by putting your rod tip just above the water.

The Best Baits And Techniques

Where the lake trout congregate will dictate the best bait and ice fishing techniques to use.

In deeper waters, weighed Carolina rigs are often used, along with jigging and bouncing lures close to the bottom of the lake. Outfitters report that spoons, spinners, and soft plastic lures with size 2 hooks seem to work best.

Spoons provide the most diversity in terms of shapes, weights and structure and their flash and vibration often entice strikes. Since there are so many choices when it comes to spoons (size 2 and 1/0 are often mentioned by outfitters), the best bet is to experiment with different presentations to see what works best. Several outfitters report having the best luck with lightweight flutter spoons, which can be fished fast and trigger aggressive hits, especially on sunny days when lake trout are actively sight feeding. 

Keep in mind that lake trout have relatively small mouths, so smaller lures are often the most effective. Several outfitters suggest trying Sutton Silver Spoons and #1 or #0 Mepps lures in yellow or orange in bright conditions and black or grey in darker conditions.

(Mepps also has a six-spinner pack in different  colors and sizes called the Mepps’ Killer Trouter Kit that could be worth investigating.)

Live bait is also an option during most times of the year, including minnows, salmon eggs, grubs and smelt. The bait shops in the area in which you are fishing will know exactly what’s working, and more importantly, what isn’t. 

Read also: Best Bait for Trout: A Complete Guide

When jigging after a long cast, wait a moment before jigging as close to the bottom as possible with a slow retrieve. This technique is often mentioned by local guides across the country.

Where To Find Lake Trout

If you’re looking for the some of the top destinations for Lake trout fishing, here are suggested destinations in North America: 

Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada

It’s no surprise that the deepest lake in North America (2,014 feet), which covers more than 10,000 square miles, is considered one of the top Lake trout fishing destinations in the world. Whether it’s the deep, cool waters or remote location, Great Slave Lake regularly yields fish in the 50-60 pound range during the short season, which typically runs from mid-July through early September before the lake starts to freeze over.

Guides typically steer anglers looking for large Lake trout to reefs, rock ledges, humps, sandbars, and channels on the lake’s eastern arm at depths ranging from 10-90 feet. Large spoons, crankbaits and soft plastics all seem to work best.

The easiest way to access the lake is via Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories.

Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada

While several varieties of trout are available in this deep, alpine lake which straddles the California/Nevada border, local outfitters will tell you that Lake trout is the most prized catch. The praise is based on their fight and size (usually upwards of 20 pounds). Fishing for Lake trout (called Mackinaw here) is available year round and given the lake’s size (191 square miles), plenty of prime spots are available. While some anglers favor the eastern and western shores during the warmer months, Most look to get to the deeper waters of the lake via boat. Several charters are available out of Tahoe City Marina on the California side of the lake, but there are also charters in Nevada at Kings Beach and Incline Village.

Lake Ontario, Ontario, Canada/New York

 More than a quarter of the Lake Trout population in North America lives here. Deep waters—50 feet or deeper– on the eastern section of the lake (the New York side) is a good place to start. While available all year, most anglers favor May-October when the sun is pout, the atmospheric pressure is high and the surface of the lake is calm. There’s an old saying in western New York that has to do with bothersome insects and fishing: “If the flies are biting, the lake trout are biting.”

Read also: Your Comprehensive Guide to Ontario Fishing Seasons

Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

Fishing for Lake trout in the Kenai Peninsula is available year ‘round, although most outfitters prefer either summer months for trolling in area lakes or ice fishing in the winter months. 

The clear, deep waters of Hidden Lake offer the best experiences in both seasons, while glacial lakes such as Skilak Lake, Trail Lake, and Tustumena Lake are more suited for shore-based fishing near inlet streams. 

For those fishing from shore, guides suggest spoons and spinners, together with plugs resembling baitfish. Others suggest using live bait such as herring and salmon eggs suspended just off the bottom (where bait is legal in the area).

Lake Champlain, New York/Vermont

One of the ice-fishing capitals of the Northeast U.S., Lake Champlain gears up for lake trout in the winter months. 

Near the deeper waters of the main lake on the New York part of the lake, the towns of Westport and Port Henry are the most popular spots for lake trout with plenty of lodges and guides available in the area. What makes lake trout fishing in this area so consistently good is the depth of the water in this area, which can be up to 100 feet.

Most ice-fishing guides suggest using  topographic maps before getting out on the ice to find fish congregating near reefs and humps; some also use fish finders and apps like Fishbox. In terms of bait, plastic jigs with scent and  white tubes, or plastic shads for bait give anglers the best chances for hooking up during the winter.

For onshore anglers during the winter, drifting dead smelt in the sand and rock-bottomed flats near deep drop-offs is a sound tactic.

Conclusion

So, whether it’s fishing in Alaska, the Northwest Territory in Canada, or the waters bordering New York and Vermont, Lake trout fishing can be a challenging, exhilarating experience. While they tend to congregate in deeper waters once the temperatures reach 70F degrees– which means starting in May in most areas of the contiguous U.S.—and offer some of the best fights of any freshwater fish available, there are a lot of variables when it comes to hooking a Lake trout. 

All it takes is some trial-and-error and flexibility when it too comes to bait and equipment choice and plenty of patience. After those aspects are mastered, catching a Lake Trout moves from being an angler’s dream to a wonderful reality.