Lake Trout

The Lake Trout goes by a variety of names, such as: Mackinaw, Namaycush, Lake Char, Touladi, Togue, Grey Trout. Those caught with dark coloration may be called Mud Hens. The most commonly nicknamed “Lakers” or “Lakes”. In Objibwa, called “Namegos” meaning “Lake Trout” or “Namegoshens” referring to “Rainbow Trout” literally meaning “little lake trout”.

These freshwater fish are native only to the northern parts of North America, principally Canada. Lake trout have been widely introduced into non-native waters in North America and into many other parts of the world.

Lake trout inhabit cold, oxygen-rich waters and often live at depths of greater than 15.4 metres (50 feet). They are slow-growing fish and very late to mature. Populations are extremely susceptible to overfishing. Lake Trout one of the largest member of the Char family. They can be distinguished by its color of green, grey, brown or almost black back, with lighter sides and a white belly. White to yellow wormlike markings and spots on dark background, none are pink or red. They have white leading edge on lower fins, but no black line and deeply forked tail. Their body is elongated with a lateral line slightly curved anteriorly. The snout usually protrudes slightly beyond lower jaw when mouth is closed. Pale spots are present on dorsal, adipose and caudal fins and usually on base of anal; sometimes orange-red on paired fins, especially in northern populations. Their scales are tiny and they have several rows of strong teeth, which are weak, less numerous, or absent in other Char.

Lake Trout tends to get to length of 30 to 80 centimetres (12-32 inches) on average with average weights of 1-5 kilograms (2-10 pounds).

However, 6.8 to 18.1 kilograms (15–40-pounds) are not uncommon with the average length of 61 to 91 centimetres (24 – 36”).

The largest caught on a rod and reel according to the International Game Fish Association IGFA was 72 pounds (33 kg), caught on Great Bear Lake in Northwest Territories in Canada by Llyod Bull on August 19, 1995 with a length of 59 inches (150 cm). The Ontario record is 28.6 kilograms (63.1 pounds).

Life span of the Lake Trout varies greatly depending on prey availability. Lake trout from northern populations can reach 50 years of age and typical live 15-25 years are not uncommon. Because of this it’s not uncommon for them to reach weights exceeding 30 pounds. Fish up to 30 pounds are not uncommon and trophies over 40 pounds are caught every year by anglers fishing in far northern waters.

Lake Trout spawn in the Fall between September and December in water temperatures of 48 to 57°F (10 to 16°C). They prefer to spawn over large areas of Lakes with boulder or rubble bottoms and they are also known to occasionally spawn in rivers. The eggs fall into cracks and crevices where they will remain for between four and five months before hatching in March or April.

Young trout are referred to as troutlet, troutling or fry. They typical feed on zooplankton, insect larvae, small crustaceans, clams, snails, leeches and various species of fish including their own kind. In the far north they feed extensively on whitefish, grayling, sticklebacks, suckers and sculpin. In general, trout longer than 12 inches prey almost exclusively on fish, where they are available. Adult trout will devour smaller fish up to a third of their length.

Due to their preference for deep, cool waters, lake trout are most accessible to anglers immediately after the ice out in the spring or during the winter months when they become a primary target for ice-fisherman. For most of the summer they prefer to remain below the thermocline, in water temperatures around 50°F. clear waters of large, deep lakes and rivers.

Casting from shore, especially along rocky shorelines and around tributaries in early Spring In most large waters, like Big Vermilion Lake and Minnitaki Lake are predominantly caught by anglers trolling slowly with flashy spoons and deep-diving plugs.

Most common baits used to catch Lake Trout are spoons, plugs, jigs, live minnows or dead bait.

Because Lake Trout are cold water fish, during the winter they move up from the depths to the shallows, replacing the small fish that inhabit the area during the summer. In the winter they constantly cruise in shallow depths looking for food, usually traveling in groups, although bigger fish may travel alone and in water that’s somewhat deeper around 12 feet.

Lake trout season is closed on Big Vermilion from October 1st to December 31st. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry say that Big Vermilion Lake is one of the few lakes in the Sioux Lookout district with Lake Trout, which is a sensitive and slow-growing species. Enhanced regulations have been in place on the lake since 2004 to help sustain its stressed population. The MNRF’s regulations state that it is also illegal to fish for closed-season fish, even if you practice catch and release. If you accidentally catch a closed-season species, you are urged to immediately release the fish and change your location.

Please check the fishing regulations for Zone 4 prior to your visit with us. Click here for link.

Angling tips for fishing Lake Trout

1. Lake Trout are usually found near the surface just after the ice goes out in the spring, and deeper as the water warms up.

2. Best time to fish in early spring is just before dark when they feed aggressively.

3. Best time to fish in the summer is early morning when the surface water is calm.

4. Use flashy spoons, deep-diving plugs, jigs, live minnows or dead bait are the common baits for Lake Trout fishing.

5. Use special deep-water tackle in the summer – Wire line, lead-core line, downriggers, diving planers.

6. Try jigging or still-fishing with large, dead minnows in deep water in summer

7. Ice fish with minnows, lake herring or jigs with spoons or bait attached

8. Take fish under 10 pounds with a medium-action spinning outfit with 8-pound test line.