Lake trout prefer to be in approximately 53 degree water. Their depth and eating habits will change with the weather. In the early spring and fall lake trout swim at a depth of between 35 and 45 feet (10.7 to 13.7m). Later in the spring and in the summer they move deeper to 50 to 65 feet (15.4 to 19.8m).
What is the deepest a Lake Trout can go?
How deep do Lake Trout live? The deepest living trout in North America is the Siscowet variation of Lake Trout. In scientific studies they have been caught as deep as 1300ft (405m), although in Lake Superior they seem most abundant between 300 to 600 feet (90-180m).
What is the best bait for Lake Trout?
Live bait is generally the most consistently effective way to fish for lake trout. Minnows are usually the best option. Other good live bait options are nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, or anything similar to their native prey. One of the best artificial options for deepwater trout is a big bucktail jig.
How far should trout be from the bottom?
Bait your hook with a leech and set the depth to roughly 1-3 ft. off the bottom. Even if Trout are holding low, they always feed upwards so always keep separation from the bottom.
What colors are best for Lake Trout?
Work With Bright Jerkbaits
Since many of your prized monster trophy Lake Trout will reside in darker waters, it’s imperative to use brighter colored jerkbaits. Blue, silver, orange, pink, and chartreuse are all great colors to ensure your lure is visible at depth.
What is considered a big lake trout?
Lake trout vary widely in size and weight and are commonly found around the 19-inch mark but can reach lengths of over 48 inches. According to the International Game Fish Association, the world record lake trout caught on rod and reel is 72 pounds in 1995 on Great Bear Lake in the Northwest Territories.
How do you target lake trout?
Best Lake Trout Lures
When learning how to catch lake trout, it’s important to know that they prefer light lures so consider stocking up on small spinners and spoons. If you want to try live bait, try night crawlers, salmon eggs, or minnows that mimic their native prey.
What is the best time of day to fish for lake trout?
The best time of day for lake trout fishing is early morning from dawn until 2 hours following sunrise. The second best time of day is late afternoon 3 hours before sunset all the way until dusk. Lake trout can be caught in very deep, colder water during the middle of the day but the midday day can be very unreliable.
What size hooks for lake trout?
size 8 to 14
In general, trout hooks that are size 8 to 14 are going to be best. Always use barbless hooks for trout unless you plan to eat what you catch. Smaller hooks are always best for trout because they will see larger hooks if the water is clear enough.
What type of lures do lake trout like?
Lake Trout Fishing Lures; Common lure selection for medium to small lake are: small swimbaits, jerk or twitch baits, jigs, flies crankbaits, spoons, spinner and inline spinner baits. Habitat: Lake trout require, cold, clear, well oxygenated water, so they are found almost exclusively in oligotropic lakes.
Should I use a bobber for trout?
Is it better to fish with or without a bobber? If fishing live bait for trout, panfish, and bullheads, or you want to suspend your bait off the bottom, a bobber is beneficial to most fishermen. If you are fishing large bait for bigger fish or fishing on the bottom, a bobber can be detrimental to your fishing success.
What is the best setup for trout fishing?
Bobber rigs are among the most effective trout fishing setups, and work especially well in shallow ponds and streams, as well as in shallow bays of bigger lakes, and basically in any situation where trout are active close to the water surface.
What month is best for trout fishing?
It’s also year-round in most areas. Normally, the best months to target trout are July to Early September when the waters are at their warmest and many insects are hatching. Because of this, dry fly fishing becomes incredibly effective.
What is considered a trophy lake trout?
For Brown Trout, the stock length is 8″, quality is 12″, preferred is 16″, memorable is 20″, and trophy is 24″. A trophy Brook Trout is 23 inches. Based on these categories, there are very few Brown Trout and almost no Brook Trout that are “trophies” in Wisconsin’s streams.
What is the lifespan of a lake trout?
Lake trout are generally slow-growing, but long-lived, which means that populations are susceptible to overfishing. They reach sexual maturity at 6 or 7 years, commonly live in excess of 25 years, and have been recorded up to 60 years old.
Are lake trout good eating?
Lake trout can grow very large and are fun to fish for. However, they are not prized for their flavor. Many anglers consider lake trout greasy. The flavor can be very fishy because of the fat content.
Why is lake trout meat orange?
The reason that most salmonid species (including trout and char) have red- and orange-tinged flesh is because of what they eat. And that is typically food with plenty of carotene. Yep, the same stuff that makes carrots orange.
Do lake trout eat PowerBait?
If you’re more into fishing with lures, there are a variety of options available. Spinners, jigs with big tails, and jerk baits can all produce monster lake trout. Flies, spoons, and inline spinnerbaits are also decent options. Finally, PowerBait or Power Eggs can work well, but only for introduced or stocked fish.
Do you need a leader for lake trout?
If you’re using a spinning reel for trout, you don’t need a leader but can benefit from using one anywhere from 1 to 4 feet long. If you’re fly fishing, leaders ranging from 7.5 to 12 feet are recommended. In general, the clearer the water, the longer the leader.
Do lake trout fight hard?
Lake trout are hard-fighting gamefish that taste great, but are often misunderstood.
How do you catch deep lake trout?
Trout like drop-offs so you would want to troll parallel to the string of shoals and not over them. When you drop your line to the bottom, count how many times you let out line. You can get a good estimate of the depth. For Lake Trout, try to stay in 30 to 60 feet and close to shore.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.