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Here’s an interesting fact about Lake trout that holds true with
Brook trout as well. Lake trout are a member of the Char family
living mainly in lakes, (hence the name, lake trout) and
is the largest
trout native of the Great lakes.
They are prized as a game fish and the reward is they are a good
as a food fish. Lake trout like cold, oxygen-rich waters
with
temperature in 45-55 degrees F range. In spring and fall they
are sometimes found in shallow waters ranging in depth from 10 -
15 feet but are
often found in depths of 60-200 feet where water temperatures
are better suited. |
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What Do Lake Trout Look Like?
Like all trout, Lake trout too, can be identified
by two dorsal fins that includes an adipose fin near the
tail. They have light spots on their skin contrasting a dark
gray background. Their lower fins have white edges much like
their brook trout cousins but their tails are more forked. Lake
trout are slow growing trout and are late to mature becoming
sexually mature at 6 or 7 years of age. They seem to return to
use the same spawning beds in the fall, but not all of them
exhibit this homing behavior. The life span of Lake trout is
around 20-25 years, so, fish growing to weights of 45-50 pounds
is not unusual. |
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What Do They Eat?
Primarily a feeder of other fish, they will also eat
crayfish, insects and small mammals. Lake trout
will travel many miles in search of prey to quench their
appetites.
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How To Catch ‘Em?
My
experience Lake trout fishing, on the Great Lakes,
primarily lake Ontario, has been trolling for them using
outriggers while fishing for Salmon. We would put out
the legally permitted number of rods per person fishing
with different colored spoons, adjusting the trolling
speed and depth of the lures to catch these “monster”
trout. I have caught “Lakers” on many a fishing trip,
but for me so far 16 pounds has been my largest. They
are a cool looking trout to me, and a nice addition to
the repertoire of “caught” trout. |
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