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Lake trout, also called mackinaw, grow pretty darn big. The world record was caught in 1991 in Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories. It went 66 pounds, 8 ounces. (A 102 pound laker was taken in a gillnet in Lake Athabasca, Saskatchewan, in 1961.)
The Utah record, caught in 1988, was 51 pounds, 8 ounces, 45 1/8 inches long, with a 31 3/4 inch girth, caught in Flaming Gorge.
Lake trout can be caught by trolling with large, shiny spoons or minnow-like plugs attached to wire-line rigs or downriggers, or by bottom bouncing jigs.
Lake trout are the largest of all trout, weighing up to 100 pounds. They grow very slowly, often not maturing until 8-10 years old. In the far north it may take 15 years for a laker to reach 2 pounds. Because of the late spawning age, heavy fishing pressure severely depletes lake trout populations. They are very long lived. Larger fish are 20-25 years old and some reach the age of 40.
The fish spawn at night, in the fall, over large cobble and boulder substrates.
Native to Alaska, Canada and the Great Lakes, they are most abundant in the Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, Alaska, Labrador, New Brunswick, Vermont and Maine. They have been widely introduced to cold waters throughout Canada and the United States.
Lakers have a raised tooth crest on the head of the vomer. The tail is forked. The least colorful of all trout, the body is generally blue-gray or bronze-green with pale spots on the side and back. During the fall spawning season fins near the tail become a pale orange.
They are unique among salmonoids because they are restricted to still waters of lakes and reservoirs. Lake trout require cold, clear, well oxygenated water, thus they are found almost exclusively in oligotrophic (poor in plant nutrients, minerals and organisms and rich in oxygen at all depths) lakes. In summer when colder, denser water sinks to bottom of lake they follow it down. Spring and fall they can be found at depths of 20 feet or less. They prefer water from 40 to 52 degrees Siscowets (big,fat lake trout) are found at depths of 330 to 500 feet, sometimes as deep as 600 feet. In summer anglers seeking siscowets must use long lines and heavy lures to fish in the deep waters.
Young lake trout feed on freshwater shrimp, plankton, insects and other aquatic invertebrates. Larger ones feed on small fish like cisco, smelt, sculpins, kokanee, whitefish and tullibee.
Theres a rock band called Lake Trout.
Bear Lake Mostly smaller lake trout, up to about 20 pounds.
Fish Lake Good numbers of small and medium-sized fish, to about 30 pounds.
Flaming Gorge The Utah record fish, caught in 1988, was 51 pounds, 8 ounces, 45 1/8 inches long, with a 31 and 3/4 inch girth.
Bear Lake
Palisades Reservoir
Payette Lake
Lake Pend Oreille The largest fish ever taken from this water was a mackinaw, 43 lbs., 6oz. in 1995.
Priest Lake The state record laker was taken here in 1971, a 57 1/2 pounds, 49 incher.
Warm Lake
Jackson Lake The Wyoming record laker was taken here, 50 lbs., 46 inches, in 1983.
Beartooth Lake
Brooks Lake East of the Tetons.
Brooks Lake In the Wind Rivers.
Bull Lake
Burnt Lake
Christina
Flaming Gorge Shares Wyoming state record, 50 lbs., 48 inches, girth 32 inches, caught in 1995.
Fremont Lake
Grassy Lake Reservoir
Heart Lake Lake trout were illegally introduced here. ALL lake trout caught in Heart Lake must be kept and not released.
Half Moon Lake
Jenny Lake
Kearny Lake Reservoir
Lake Solitude
Leigh Lake
Louis Lake
Moccasin Lake
New Forks Lakes
Palisades Reservoir
Middle Piney Lake
Raft Lake
Ring Lake
Lower Slide Lake
String Lake
Torrey Lake
Trail Lake
Yellowstone Lake Lake trout were illegally introduced here. ALL lake trout caught in Yellowstone Lake must be kept and not released.
Willow Lake
Blue Mesa Reservoir State record laker taken here, 38 lbs., 66oz.
Lower Big Creek Lake
Dillon Reservoir
Taylor Reservoir
Grandby Lake
Grand Lake
Gross Reservoir
Rampart Reservoir
North Catamount Res.
South Catamount Res.
Shadow Mountain Res.
Turquoise Lake
Twin Lake