Knowing
Knowing the characteristics and locations of the fish you want to catch is just as important as having the right fishing bait and equipment. Lake troutfishing can be a rewarding experience, but these fish are only found in specialized locations in North America.
If you want to catch a lake trout, or lake char as they are sometimes known as, you will need to find lakes with very cold water. Any lake water that reaches temperatures of 65 degrees or more will be too warm for these fish. The colder the water, the better it is for their survival. They are prevalent in Canada and the Northern United States, such as in the Great Lakes. Some cold water mountain lakes in the West will also contain them. Lake trout become easily over fished because they grow very slowly, so depending on where you are fishing, you may only be able to catch and release. They are characterized by their forked tail. These fish have excellent vision, but since they congregate in such deep and dark waters, it is not utilized when they feed. Instead, they use their sense of smell to find their prey. Splake are a hybrid of brook trout and lake trout and are also considered to be part of the trout family. Their tail is less forked than that of a normal lake trout.
Obviously, since cold water is important for the well being of lake trout, they often congregate in deep waters. However, if you are fishing a lake in an extreme North region like Canada, the water will always be cold enough for these fish to swim in both the deep waters and the shallows. They will also swim in the shallows in the spring after the ice melts off the top of the lake, and also in the fall to prepare for the spawning season. If you are going to try fishing in the shallows, try a trout lure such as a spoon. Vertical jigging or down rigging are great techniques for attracting fish in deep waters. Just make sure you don't have too much depth so that your rig hits the bottom. Determine at what level the fish are swimming and then adjust your lure to a depth slightly less shallow than that.
If you want to catch a lake trout, or lake char as they are sometimes known as, you will need to find lakes with very cold water. Any lake water that reaches temperatures of 65 degrees or more will be too warm for these fish. The colder the water, the better it is for their survival. They are prevalent in Canada and the Northern United States, such as in the Great Lakes. Some cold water mountain lakes in the West will also contain them. Lake trout become easily over fished because they grow very slowly, so depending on where you are fishing, you may only be able to catch and release. They are characterized by their forked tail. These fish have excellent vision, but since they congregate in such deep and dark waters, it is not utilized when they feed. Instead, they use their sense of smell to find their prey. Splake are a hybrid of brook trout and lake trout and are also considered to be part of the trout family. Their tail is less forked than that of a normal lake trout.
Obviously, since cold water is important for the well being of lake trout, they often congregate in deep waters. However, if you are fishing a lake in an extreme North region like Canada, the water will always be cold enough for these fish to swim in both the deep waters and the shallows. They will also swim in the shallows in the spring after the ice melts off the top of the lake, and also in the fall to prepare for the spawning season. If you are going to try fishing in the shallows, try a trout lure such as a spoon. Vertical jigging or down rigging are great techniques for attracting fish in deep waters. Just make sure you don't have too much depth so that your rig hits the bottom. Determine at what level the fish are swimming and then adjust your lure to a depth slightly less shallow than that.