WHAT LAKE TROUT ARE

📚Submitted by: 🎣 https://www.facebook.com/jason.gunthers.1

WHAT LAKE TROUT ARE

Lake trout are cold-water predators that live deep, grow large, and feed methodically.
They follow temperature, depth, and baitfish — not shoreline cover.

If the water isn’t cold, lake trout won’t be there.

WHERE TO FIND LAKE TROUT

✔ Deep basins ✔ Drop-offs & ledges ✔ Underwater humps & points ✔ Rocky bottoms ✔ Areas holding baitfish (smelt, cisco, whitefish)

Depth by season:

• Spring: 10–40 ft
• Summer: 50–150+ ft
• Fall: 20–80 ft
• Winter (ice): shallow to deep basins

BEST WAYS TO CATCH LAKE TROUT

🎣 VERTICAL JIGGING (MOST EFFECTIVE)

✔ Fish directly over deep water ✔ Drop to bottom, lift slowly ✔ Let the lure flutter down ✔ Most strikes happen on the fall

Top lures:
White tube jigs • Bucktails • Heavy spoons (¾–2 oz)

🚤 TROLLING (COVER WATER)

✔ Slow speed near bottom ✔ Use downriggers or lead-core line

Top lures:
Large spoons • Swimbaits • Deep-diving crankbaits

Slow and steady beats fast every time.

❄️ ICE FISHING (GIANT LAKERS)

✔ Fish over deep basins ✔ Jig aggressively, then pause ✔ Lakers often chase upward

Ice fishing consistently produces the biggest fish.

BEST LURES & BAIT

✔ White tube jigs (top choice) ✔ Silver, white, or chartreuse spoons ✔ Paddle-tail swimbaits ✔ Cut bait (where legal)

Lake trout hunt by sight and vibration, not speed.

GEAR SETUP (SIMPLE & EFFECTIVE)

✔ Rod: Medium-heavy to heavy ✔ Reel: Quality spinning or baitcasting ✔ Line: 20–30 lb braid ✔ Leader: 10–20 lb fluorocarbon

Many bites feel like dead weight — stay alert.

WHY ANGLERS STRUGGLE

❌ Fishing too shallow ❌ Moving lures too fast ❌ Ignoring water temperature ❌ Not staying near bottom

Lake trout reward patience and precision.

THE KEY TO SUCCESS

✔ Find cold water ✔ Fish deep ✔ Move slow ✔ Stay near bottom

Do this — and lake trout will find you.