Fishing for Lake Trout
Identification, habitat, techniques, and tackle—then find a captain who targets them.
Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) are a large cold-water char with an elongated, fusiform body, a large head, and a small adipose fin behind the dorsal. Color ranges from olive-green, gray or brown
Lake trout are primarily a lake species—preferring deep, cold, oxygen-rich water in oligotrophic and mesotrophic lakes—but they also inhabit large reservoirs and connected rivers. They concentrate
Trolling is the most productive method for many anglers—downriggers, leadcore, and weighted lines allow you to place spoons, plugs, hoochies or swimbaits at precise depths where trout are holding.
For open-water trolling use medium to medium-heavy rods (6.5–8.5 ft) with 10–20 lb braided or monofilament line; 10–15 lb braid with a 12–20 lb fluorocarbon leader is common. Downrigger weights or
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Captains Who Target Lake Trout
No captains in our directory currently list lake trout as a species they target. Browse all captains to find someone who might target it, or check back later as our network grows.