Lake Trout/Splake
Lake trout/Splake, along with brook trout, belong to the "char"
sub-group of salmonine fishes that is distinct from the "true" trout
and salmon. Lake trout inhabit deep, cold lakes, and are strongly influenced
by annual temperature events within a lake. During winter, when most lake
waters are a uniform 0 - 2° C, lake trout can range throughout a lake
and prey upon small fish and bottom insects. In late April or early May, lake
trout feed actively upon minnows, crayfish, and abundant insect larvae that
are active at that time of year in shallow areas. When warm surface water
becomes established during June in nearshore areas, lake trout are forced
into deep, cold waters far below the surface where prey is relatively sparse.
As summer temperatures cool off in September, the warm upper lake cools off
and lake trout once again hunt regularly in more productive surface waters.
Lake trout spawn at night on rocky shoals in the fall, usually during late
October or early November. Fertilized eggs settle within rocky crevices where
they remain until hatching about four to six months later in late February
to April.
Growth rates of lake trout vary widely from lake to lake, depending on whether
they feed upon fish or generally feed upon crustaceans or insects. Plankton-feeding
lake trout seldom get much larger than one to two pounds, even though fish
of this size often can reach ages of 20 to 30 years. However, lake trout that
feed upon fish can reach huge sizes greater than three feet in length and
30 pounds, though such fish are never abundant.
If you want to fish for these very palatable fish you need a boat. Very few
are caught from shore. Most are caught by trolling with downriggers or wire
line rigs. However, at some offshore reefs they are caught by jigging and
casting. In the very early spring they can be caught off of breakwalls such
as at Marquette's Lower Harbor. Stannard Rock in Lake Superior is a very popular
place for Lake Trout jigging.
Several Charters are available for Lake Trout and Splake fishing.
You may elect to vist the websites of the Charter Comapanies listed below:
They will be happy to assist you in Lake Trout/Splake Fishing
