How to Catch Lake Trout
Like bass and pike, lake trout are visual feeders. Light conditions and water clarity will affect their ability to find prey. Because they tend to stay in deep water, lake trout are fairly well-adapted to low-light conditions. Siscowet, pictured below, are particularly well suited to this kind of environment: they occupy the pelagic zone from 80m to bottom depths greater than 400m during the day. Now that's deep!
It takes lake trout less time to capture a greater amount of prey when light levels increase. This is pretty obvious: fish can't catch what they can't see. So in low-light conditions, reaction distances are only 70% of maximum values. For the angler, this means that you have to be very precise with the depths you're fishing. So keep an eye on those electronics. But two other factors are also really important: prey mass and prey movement.
Prey mass is a significant factor: larger prey elicit higher reaction distances at all light intensities. So, especially in low-light conditions or, if you're like me, if you occasionally fish without electronics in smaller lakes, tie on a bigger lure: make the trout's job easier! And remember, certain spinners and spoons are most effective in particular conditions.
Prey movement is the other major factor. At high light intensities, there are greater reaction distances for moving prey as compared to stationary prey. Other freshwater species, such as largemouth bass, have likewise shown an increase in reaction distance with prey motion and are more likely to pursue moving prey over stationary prey. Even though most fishermen troll for lake trout, it's still something to keep in mind when you're jigging or even drop-shotting after ice-out: shake that bait!
Finally, don't forget that there are almost always exceptions to rules. Even in the summer, big lakers will sometimes swim right up to the surface at night to feed on terrestrial insects. And, particularly in smaller lakes, they're not always super deep. Even though knowledge is important, it's no substitute for experience: learn what you can, but don't forget to pay attention to what the fish are doing on any given day.
Greg Cholkan is a lawyer, fisherman, and Hemingway impersonator. He works in Huntsville and Haliburton with Barriston LLP and his practice focuses on real estate, wills and estates, and corporate matters.
It takes lake trout less time to capture a greater amount of prey when light levels increase. This is pretty obvious: fish can't catch what they can't see. So in low-light conditions, reaction distances are only 70% of maximum values. For the angler, this means that you have to be very precise with the depths you're fishing. So keep an eye on those electronics. But two other factors are also really important: prey mass and prey movement.
Prey movement is the other major factor. At high light intensities, there are greater reaction distances for moving prey as compared to stationary prey. Other freshwater species, such as largemouth bass, have likewise shown an increase in reaction distance with prey motion and are more likely to pursue moving prey over stationary prey. Even though most fishermen troll for lake trout, it's still something to keep in mind when you're jigging or even drop-shotting after ice-out: shake that bait!
Finally, don't forget that there are almost always exceptions to rules. Even in the summer, big lakers will sometimes swim right up to the surface at night to feed on terrestrial insects. And, particularly in smaller lakes, they're not always super deep. Even though knowledge is important, it's no substitute for experience: learn what you can, but don't forget to pay attention to what the fish are doing on any given day.
Greg Cholkan is a lawyer, fisherman, and Hemingway impersonator. He works in Huntsville and Haliburton with Barriston LLP and his practice focuses on real estate, wills and estates, and corporate matters.
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