Rods
Ugly Stik Bigwater Trolling Rod
A long, forgiving trolling rod for downriggers and planer boards.
Check PriceSpecies / Lake Trout
Trout & Salmon
Lake Trout Fishing
A deep-water char of big, cold lakes. Lakers come shallow after ice-out and in fall, and are taken through the ice or by trolling and jigging deep in summer.
Best Months: May to Jun, Oct to Feb
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Best Flies, Lures & Bait for Lake Trout
Month
2 picks for October.
Paddle-Tail Swimbait 3 to 5 in
LureSoft Plastic · Jigged deep.
Shop This LureCasting Spoon 1/4 to 1 oz
LureSpoon · Shallow after ice-out.
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Rod & Reel
Lake Trout Setup
Lake Trout
Fly 8 to 9 wt rod with a full-sink line when fish are shallow after ice-out.
Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-heavy spinning or baitcasting rod, 20 to 30 lb braid with a fluorocarbon leader, or downrigger trolling gear.
The US
Where to Catch Lake Trout
Lakes & Reservoirs · California
Lake Tahoe
Alpine lake on the CA/NV line. Mackinaw and trout by boat, wading the shore in spring.
Lake Trout · Rainbow Trout · Kokanee Salmon
Lakes & Reservoirs · Colorado
Grand Lake
Colorado's largest natural lake, on the west side of the Continental Divide.
Lake Trout · Rainbow Trout · Kokanee Salmon
Lakes & Reservoirs · Idaho
Lake Pend Oreille
A deep glacial lake famous for Gerrard rainbow trout and lake trout.
Rainbow Trout · Lake Trout · Kokanee Salmon
Lakes & Reservoirs · Massachusetts
Quabbin Reservoir
A huge water supply reservoir with lake trout and smallmouth bass.
Lake Trout · Smallmouth Bass
Lakes & Reservoirs · Maine
Moosehead Lake
Maine's largest lake, with brook trout and togue in a remote North Woods setting.
Brook Trout · Lake Trout
Lakes & Reservoirs · Montana
Flathead Lake
Largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi outside Alaska. Lake trout, bull trout, and yellow perch.
Lake Trout · Bull Trout · Yellow Perch
Lakes & Reservoirs · Montana
Fort Peck Lake
A 134 mile Missouri River reservoir on the plains with walleye, lake trout, and pike.
Walleye · Lake Trout · Northern Pike
Lakes & Reservoirs · New Hampshire
Lake Winnipesaukee
New Hampshire's largest lake with rocky smallmouth structure and deep lake trout.
Smallmouth Bass · Lake Trout
Lakes & Reservoirs · New Jersey
Round Valley Reservoir
New Jersey's deepest lake and one of only two in the state with lake trout.
Lake Trout · Brown Trout
Lakes & Reservoirs · New York
Lake Ontario (Oswego)
Charter and harbor fishing for kings, lake trout, and brown trout on the eastern lake.
Chinook Salmon · Lake Trout · Brown Trout
Lakes & Reservoirs · Utah
Flaming Gorge Reservoir
A deep reservoir on the Wyoming line with trophy lake trout.
Lake Trout · Kokanee Salmon · Smallmouth Bass
Recommended
Gear for Lake Trout
Spoons
Acme Kastmaster Spoon
A dense spoon that casts a mile and flutters on the fall.
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