Lake Trout
Also known as: Laker or Gray trout
Deep Summer, Shallow Springs
The Lake trout has a deeply forked tail. You‟ll find light spots on a background that can be either light green or grey, dark green, brown or black. Light spots cover the head.
Lake trout need cold, clear, well-oxygenated water. In summer they often move to depths of 50 – 100 feet, but in spring and fall you can find them at depths of 20 feet or less. In most waters, Lakers rely heavily on small fish like Ciscoes, Perch or Sculpins. But in some lakes, they feed almost exclusively on plankton, insects or crustaceans.
Tough, Underwater Battles
Lake trout do not leap, but instead wage a strong, determined underwater battle. Most are taken by trolling with spoons or minnow-like plugs attached to wire-line rigs or downriggers. They can also be taken jigging with whole or cut fish, or with a variety of spoons suited for deep water jigging.
Best Eaten Fresh
Lake trout is 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 fish’s diet, the meat can vary from off-white to reddish orange and has excellent texture and flavor. Manitoba is also home to a human-made hybrid of the Lake trout, known as the “Splake”.
Preferring cold water, Lake trout are found in deep lakes throughout the Canadian Shield region of Manitoba. They are also found in northern streams and shallow lakes. Lake trout are stocked in Clear Lake, Riding Mountain National Park and in the Duck Mountains Provincial Park. Splake are stocked mostly in the Whiteshell region. Lake Athapapuskow (a drive to trophy fishery) produces many of Manitoba’s top catches. One characteristic of Lake trout fisheries is the enormous size of the bodies of water where they can be found. Anglers have to practice caution when in pursuit of these deep-water trophies. It goes without saying that the bulldog fight of a large Laker is one that you’ll not soon forget.
Expert’s Tip: Use a variety of small silver or gold spoons and consider a 3-way swivel for rigging for deep water trolling.
For more great tips on Lake Trout fishing in Manitoba, check out our Lake TroutTips & Tricks page.
Manitoba Record: In 2001 on Nueltin Lake, the record Laker measured 137.16 cm (54”) and was released.
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