Lake Trout
Salvelinus namaycush
The largest char in North America, lake trout inhabit the cold, deep waters of the Great Lakes, Canadian shield lakes, and select deep inland lakes across the northern United States. They are a cornerstone of big-water fisheries and grow slowly to impressive sizes, rewarding anglers who master deep-water tactics.
Seasonal Activity
Jan
Good
Feb
Good
Mar
Good
Apr
Prime
May
Prime
Jun
Prime
Jul
Good
Aug
Good
Sep
Prime
Oct
Good
Nov
Good
Dec
Good
Best Techniques
- deep trolling with downriggers
- jigging spoons
- vertical jigging
- ice fishing deep lakes
Top Baits
- spoons
- flashers with flies
- tube jigs
- whitefish/cisco imitations
- cut bait
State Records
Official rod & reel records by state. Log your catch to see how you compare.
| State | Weight | Length | Angler | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MI | 61.5 lb | 49 in | — | 1997 | Lake Superior |
| WI | 47 lb | — | — | 1946 | Lake Superior |
| MN | 43.5 lb | — | — | — | Lake Superior |
| NY | 41.5 lb | — | Jesse Wykstra | 2003 | Lake Erie |
| CA | 37.38 lb | — | Robert Aronsen | 1974 | Lake Tahoe |
| WA | 35.63 lb | — | Phil Colyar | 2013 | Lake Chelan |
| PA | 31.81 lb | — | Keith Miller | 2019 | Lake Erie |
| OH | 26.63 lb | — | James J. Beres | 2017 | Lake Erie |
| TN | 22.13 lb | — | Jack Forbes | 2008 | Watauga Reservoir |
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