Species guide
How to catch Lake trout
Salvelinus namaycush

Lake trout are large, long-lived freshwater fish known for inhabiting deep, cold northern lakes. They are solitary predators that feed mainly on smaller fish and various aquatic organisms. Renowned among anglers for their size and fighting ability, lake trout are prized game fish in many regions.
Where they live
Lake trout live in deep, cold lakes across northern continents, often staying in depths from about 3 to 60 meters. They tend to avoid brackish water and prefer large, deep lakes especially in southern parts of their range.
Typical size
Up to about 150 cm
What they eat
- small fish such as ciscoes
- freshwater sponges
- crustaceans
- insects
- small mammals
Best baits
- live baitfish
- cut bait
- worms
Best lures
- jigs
- spoons
- plugs
- soft plastic swimbaits
How to fish for them
- trolling
- deep jigging
- bottom bouncing
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