5 Lake Trout Fishing Tips From A Vermont Fishing Guide

Lake Trout also known as (Salvelinus Namaycush) is a type of trout that lives in North America waters. It has over time been introduced to other countries of the world. These fish live in fresh water and are one of the most popular type of fish. This is also one of my favorite fish I enjoy fishing for as a Vermont Fishing Guide.

 

Vermont Fishing Guide

Lake trout primarily feed on small crustaceans, snails, leeches, insect larvae and other small fish. Lake trout primarily prefer to live in larger lakes that are deep with cold water. They typically spawn in the fall season depending on the weather patterns and location. 

 

Lake trout can be identified by their color variation, which is typically yellowish to white spots on their dark green to gray body. They have elongated stout heads like other trout. Their belly can be white at times, and they have an orange-reddish pair of fins. 

 

Here are some tips to catching lake trout: 

 

  1. Trout like cold water (depth)

Most lake trout prefer cold waters, and the depth that you fish for trout is important. You will need to go deeper as you get into the warmer seasons. Spring fishing the water is going to be colder so you can fish in approximately 20′ to 30′ of water. As the spring season moves closer to summer, you’ll have to move to deeper waters. Trout will move to 30′ to 45′ of water to stay in the cold waters. During the summer months may be a little more challenging as lake trout like to stay where the water temperatures are around 53 degrees. They will gravitate towards shallow holes where cold water is fed into the lake by a natural spring or go very deep in a larger lake. 

 

 

  1. Choose your lure

There are a number of factors in selecting a lure for fishing lake trout. These factors are: 

  • Average size of the trout
  • Current lake trout population
  • Depth
  • Season
  • Type of bait available

 

Talk to you local bait shop and find out what the native bait fish is that trout are feeding on. Follow other anglers to see what works for them with lake trout. One type of lure you can try is a spoon lure. Spoon lures are great for trout, panfish, and bass. Here is a link to them on Amazon. 

Other types of lures that work great for trout are: 

 

 

  1. Consistency in fishing

Lake trout tend to stay in the same area. Find your spot and stick to it for a while. The odds are that if you find lake trout in one spot, you’re most likely to find more there. Stay in that area and keep fishing! 

 

 

  1. Live bait options

When it comes to fishing for lake trout, nothing really beats a good old fashioned night crawler. If you don’t have any night crawlers, get some medium sized minnows or salmon eggs. Those two types of bait can be effective in catching lake trout. 

 

 

  1. Find the fish

If you’re fishing on a lake, you need a fish finder! Most good fish finders are expensive, but they will significantly increase your odds of finding that monster lake trout. Fishfinders also help you to determine how deep you need to cast to land that monster too. 

 

 

Happy Fishing! 

Keith

C K
C K
February 22, 2022.
We had an excellent time with Keith for Ice fishing! Caught a Northern Pike on a jigging rod of all things! Keith was always professional, friendly, and very instructive. Highly recommend!
Erin Courcey
Erin Courcey
January 24, 2022.
Keith really runs a terrific private ice fishing excursion!! From the start, Keith was extremely responsive, organized and full of knowledge and excitement over our family’s desire to try ice fishing for the first time. Keith was thorough in his planning with us so that we were prepared and comfortable with our plans. The day was amazing—-Keith is an expert fisherman, and he so was patient with all of us non fishermen/women. We learned so much and really had the time of our lives with Keith! We will definitely do another excursion with Keith soon, and highly recommend him!
David Malfetano
David Malfetano
January 17, 2022.
Keith is a fantastic guide and was very helpful to our inexperienced crew. Would certainly book this tour again!
Jon Boudreau
Jon Boudreau
January 17, 2022.
Keith and his dad run a great service and provided us with an excellent time on the lake. He knows what he’s doing and takes his time to teach the tour group. Absolutely would book again.
Luke C
Luke C
January 17, 2022.
One of the best fishing experiences I’ve had. Everything was organized, well run, and an absolute blast. Hard to find a better charter!
Kristin Bitter
Kristin Bitter
October 10, 2021.
My family and I had an awesome time out on Lake Morey this weekend with Keith!! He had a great boat, a bunch of different tackle, and put us onto some really nice fish.
Sean Bitter
Sean Bitter
October 10, 2021.
Great fishing! Lots of big fish! Keith is the best
Mike Seaton
Mike Seaton
September 2, 2021.
We went out with stay bent recently and had a great experience! We caught many fish and the guide was very knowledgeable
Christopher Augello
Christopher Augello
August 31, 2021.
Awesome day on the lake. Keith was awesome , great teaching my kids how to fish and me . Caught a bunch of fish too.
Chris Ritter
Chris Ritter
August 30, 2021.
We had a blast fishing with Keith last week. He put us on nonstop action on a hot day, which is not easy. The lake was beautiful and fun to jump in as well. My nine-year-old daughter does not have a ton of fishing experience, but he was able to get her working the retrieves perfectly, and she ended up out fishing me by a long shot! We got largemouth, smallmouth, rock bass, Pickerel, Perch, and sunfish. Keith is great with kids, and a lot of fun to hang out with for grown-ups. His boat and equipment are top notch as well. I would recommend this guy to anyone, And we are looking forward to our next trip which might be some ice fishing.

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