Lake Trout: Where and How to Catch Them by Season
Where Lake Trout hold, what to throw and when the bite peaks, season by season, with lakes to try.
When the bite is on
Across 101 lakes in our guide that list this fish, the bite rates highest in April, May, June. Bars show how strong the bite is, month by month (tallest bar in red is the peak).
Season by season
Right after ice-out, with water around 38-45F, lake trout feed in shallow water near rocky shores, 10-40 ft. Casting spoons or trolling is productive.
In summer they move deep to cold water under the thermocline, 40-100+ ft. Jigging tubes, spoons and cut bait with downriggers or heavy jigs. Fish rocky structure.
When water cools to 50F, fish move to rocky reefs and shoals to spawn, 5-40 ft. Casting spoons and jigs at night can be exciting, though local rules often protect these areas.
They stay active under ice. Jigging with tubes, large minnows or spoons at 40-100 ft is common. Midday is effective.
Spawning occurs in fall at 45-50F over clean rock. They do not build nests, and lake trout grow slowly, so releasing big fish matters.
Baits that work
- Jigging spoons
- Tube jigs
- Cut bait
- Large minnows
- Trolling spoons
Common mistakes
- Fishing too shallow in summer
- Using light line in deep water
- Pulling fish up quickly from depth
- Keeping too many large fish
Lakes to try
Lakes in our guide where this fish rates at its best, with maps, boat ramps and bait shops on every page.