Lake Trout Fishing Tips
Lake trout are a popular catch for many reasons. They are notorious for putting up a good fight, which is always appealing. Also, lake trout that feed on other fish have the potential to grow quite large, tipping the scales with weights over 25 pounds quite often. If you have aspirations of landing one of these trophy fish, then take these lake trout fishing tips with you on your next outing to try out.
Lake Trout Characteristics
This species of trout live their lives in the cold waters of deep lakes, mostly in Canada, Alaska and Northeast America. Lake Trout can be found at depths to 100 feet, but the rule of thumb is that they will be found where the temperature is between 40 and 52 degrees Fahrenheit. Because this zone changes with the season, so does the strategy for finding and catching these trout. For example, as soon as the ice leaves the surface of the lake, the fish will be found in the top 15 feet of water. However, in the middle of the spring season, they will have moved down to a 30 to 50 foot depth. In the summer, as the water temperatures continue to rise, the Lake Trout will drop down to where the colder water is, between 50 and 100 feet below the surface. However, they will also be found in that 50 degree layer of water also, primarily if they are feeding. This is because the bait-fish that make up much of their diet are at this level. Furthermore, as the seasons change to fall, and the temperature begins to drop, the trout will move back toward the surface, staying in their 40 to 52 degree comfort zone. In September and October, these fish will spawn, depositing up to 20,000 eggs! Interestingly, they usually spawn only every other year, one reason it is so important to protect these beautiful fish.
Proven Techniques for Success
Many fishermen have good luck catching Lake Trout by trolling. Some bottom-fish with jigs or bait-fish, others prefer to use large spoons attached to down-riggers. The largest Lake trout results usually come off of herring or smelts from deep in the lake. Fishing techniques change some with the weather, so be sure to be prepared with the best method for the time you are out.
Spring Time
For example, in the spring, just after ice-out, Lake trout are moving along the shoreline, in the shallows between the surface and about 15 feet. Until the water temperature begins to rise, this will be where you can find them, and using cut bait or minnows with a float will give you great results. If you prefer to use a lure, long-line trolling with a spoon or minnow type plug or crank-bait works great, especially along break-lines, points and bays. Trolling in low light conditions is ideal. This would include rainy, cloudy or foggy days, or early morning and evening times.
Summer Time
As the calendar moves into summer, the water warms, and the trout drop deeper. Along the rocky bluffs, points and drop-offs, you will find them in the 50 to 100 foot depth. Use trolling down-riggers and 3-way swivels to show off your best spoons and crank-baits. A 3-way swivel is standard practice for Lake trout fishing, and is not as difficult to set up as you might think. It involves a swivel with 3 different lines attached to it. The first is the main line, which joins the swivel to the reel. Use 10-12 pound test line for this part. The second line going off from the swivel is called the drop line, and attaches to your sinker with a 3 foot length of 8 pound mono-filament line. You can vary the weight depending on how slow or fast you are trolling, and how deep you want to go. The third, and final line that is attached to the swivel is the one you secure your lure to. Use a leader made of fluorocarbon, about 4 or 5 feet long, and attach a good snap swivel, which will allow you to remove and replace lures quickly and easily.
Moving on To The Fall Season
Once the temperatures begin dropping in the fall, you can expect the Lake trout to start to come back up to the shallow water in preparation for spawning. Lake trout fishing season closes as spawning season begins, because they are easy to catch during this time, and care is given to protect them. Your methods for the fall will be the same as during the spring, and often with better results.
Lure Selection
Your choice of which lure to use will depend on a number of factors. Depth, size of trout, time of year and what bait-fish are present, all contribute to your decision. Asking the local tackle shop, fish and game staff, ranger or fellow anglers often is rewarded with key information about what lure is hot at the time.
Other Equipment
One piece of equipment that is highly recommended when fishing for Lake trout is a depth finder. You don’t need this for other species of trout, but being able to spot where the schools of bait fish are located is key for Lake trout. You want to target the waters just below the area the bait-fish are in, because that is where the trout will be found. Start by looking in the 40 to 60 foot depth zone.
Final Lake Trout Fishing Tips
If your personality is one that is known to be stubborn, persistent and patient, you have all the makings to be a great Lake trout fisherman! These fish require you to stick with it, because their feeding times can start and stop without warning. You can be fishing for days, without any luck, and all of a sudden, they start hitting like mad. A couple hours later, they completely stop again. This is part of the reason that Lake Trout have a reputation as being harder to catch than other trout species. But if you keep at it, it is all worth it when you catch these wonderful fish!
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Montana Trout Fishing
God’s Country. That’s what a lot of people call Montana. And I wouldn’t argue with that at all. And being a fisherman, it is even more understandable. Montana has some of the most pristine waters and clean air in the world, and to top it off, fly fishing is world-renown here too. Montana’s clean, cold water is ideal for trout habitat, and you can find rainbow, brook, brown, lake and cutthroat throughout the state. There are so many rivers and lakes sporting one or more varieties of trout, that any angler can find what they want on a Montana trout fishing adventure.
For the fisherman that prefers lake fishing, the list includes lakes that are popular and well-fished, and less accessible and more remote. Each one is beautiful, and trout can be found there. Some of the better fishing lakes are Whitefish, Lake Frances, Bighorn, Canyon Ferry, Deadman’s Basin, Holter, Placid, Georgetown, Fort Peck, Hebgen, Ashley, Hungry Horse, Tiber, Helena, Seeley, Bull, Clark, Flathead, Fresno, McDonald, Koocanusa, Gibson, Hauser, Noxon and Willow Creek.
The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks regularly stocks trout. Some of the more popular lakes and streams to fish have planted fish in abundance. But the more remote regions have some of the best fishing in Montana. Remember that ninety percent of trout are caught by ten percent of the anglers. Often this is because ninety percent attempt to fish in the same place as everyone else. Usually easy access is a determining factor, and a short trek away will take you to more, and often, bigger fish. Many fishermen can be found along the more famous rivers. These rivers are known for the large trout they produce, partly because of the fertile conditions. The small streams feeding into these rivers are a great place to fish, as they also have the right conditions for trout to thrive, and are often overlooked by anglers. Feeder streams can be more fertile than the river they feed into, and produce still bigger fish. In some cases, one of Montana’s designated Blue Ribbon trout streams is a desired location for many fishermen, but what they don’t know, is that parts of this stream just out of sight offer better fishing than in the main sections. Within that ninety percent group, trudging through willows and bushes isn’t worth it, when open access next to the road is so handy. What they don’t realize is that willows are a great indication of trout habitats. The fish can hide, watching for bugs and insects that are around the willows. The difficulty level rises for casting opportunities, which also drives many fishermen away. Their loss, your gain.
Southern Montana is known for having more Blue Ribbon trout streams and rivers, and the northwest parts of the state boast the scenery and solitude that appeal to many. Fly fishing is the standard, here, although other methods are equally practiced and enjoyed. If you intend to fly fish, take a course or get a lesson before you go, so you will have at least a basic skill level to work with. Montana has a huge selection in the way of guides, programs, resorts and packages. You may want to hire a guide that can get you quickly catching your limit of trout. These professionals have the knowledge and expertise to know the where, when, why and how of your fishing outing.
River fishing in Montana is very popular. In the Northwest, the Swan and Thompson Rivers are great for wading, fly fishing or bait fishing. You can find native cutthroat and rainbows here primarily. In between this part of the state, and the southeast portion, some desert areas offer a different, but equally rewarding trout fishing experience. Montana is a big state, and with the Rocky Mountains and other ranges, there are incredible numbers of streams and rivers being fed. Southwest Montana is the most popular area for fishing, and no wonder. Incredible mountains all around, with scenery unbeatable. The amazing rivers formed from high up in these mountains offer quality fishing that people travel from across the globe to fish. Some of the rivers in Southwest Montana include the Madison, Ruby, Jefferson, Yellowstone, Missouri, Gallatin, Beaverhead, Rock Creek, Big Hole and Bitterroot. Each of these rivers is famous for large trout, and it would take any fisherman many, many trips to Montana to try all of them!
Any fishing trip to Montana is sure to be successful, no matter how many trout are caught. The natural splendor of the landscape and the wildlife are unequaled. I look forward to any opportunity I get to go to Montana and take it all in. In fact, I think I’ll plan another Montana trout fishing trip soon!
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Trout Fishing Techniques for Beginners
One of the best experiences a trout fisherman can have is introducing the sport to someone new, and watching the passion begin to grow as the “rookie” gets hooked along with the fish! It doesn’t matter if you bring a friend from work that has been listening to your stories for years, or your own 5 year old granddaughter to the edge of the stream, the thrill is unmistakable. The introduction of the right trout fishing techniques to a beginner is like a grand opening of the biggest and best store in the world!
A New Discovery
For someone who has never felt “the pull of the pole” it can be one of those things that nobody can accurately describe. Only experiencing it will provide an understanding of the excitement of the sport. In that moment, you can see a fellow angler emerging before your eyes. Once “hooked” the feeling seldom leaves, but in most cases grows and grows, sometimes leading to overloading the calendar with fishing trips! The key to opening this world of fishing to someone new is using the techniques and strategies that produce great results. Spending hours casting and retrieving with no catch is not likely to sway a beginner to return. So, be sure to do some preparation to ensure a successful, exciting trip.
Laying Out a Plan
In order to properly show a new angler the winning methods of trout fishing, be sure to develop a good plan. For example, have the tackle, bait and equipment ready that matches the location, weather and setting
conditions you will be at. Also, consider the type of trout you will be targeting, and have the right lures, rod, reel, line, flies, hooks and bait packed and set up ready to catch them. If you will be hiking along a small mountain stream, there is no need to assemble the hottest flies of the season. On the other hand, if your setting is a rushing river, don’t plan on cheese surviving the rapids while remaining on your hook long enough to interest the fish. As you can see, a little planning will go a long way.
Learn By Doing
As important as it is for you to demonstrate or describe the best trout fishing techniques to use to catch a limit of fish, ultimately the individual method that a beginner develops through trial and error is the key to success. When you can get your newest fishing buddy to be able to set up his or her own gear, bait the hook, cast it, retrieve and land a fish, you have done your job. The rest will come with experience and practice. Of course, you can be an important resource in learning to read the water, understanding how seasons and varying weather conditions alter tactics and equipment selection, and additional necessities such as cleaning the fish, but a new fisherman will develop his own methods quickly.
New Stories
Now that the world of trout fishing has a new member, be ready to hear bigger and better stories! Thanks to your assistance in starting out right, however, the stories are most likely to be about the ones that were caught, instead of the one that got away!
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