Mackinaw Lake Trout

The Lake Trout is in the Char family, the same as the Brook Trout. Their body coloration ranges from light green to brown, grey, dark green, or black, depending on their environment. The head and body is covered with light spots and worm like markings. The bone in the center of the roof of their mouth has a small patch of teeth on it. This fish has a deeply forked tail.

These native fish eat about anything including insects, crustaceans, and forage fish. They average 10 pounds in size but range up to 40 pounds. The Lake Trout will prefer to stay in water that is 48 to 52 degrees F. In the spring they will feed all over the lake and typically near shore, looking for insects and small fish. They can be found in the top 20 feet of water in the spring until the water warms and they seek the deeper water, where the temperature is about 50 deg. They will go to depths of 600 feet. In the fall when the lake turns over they will be found all over the lake again.

A Mackinaw will spawn in the fall, at night, over cobble and boulder surfaces.

The World Record Lake Trout was taken in the Northwest Territories at 72 lbs.

Fishing Techniques

Lures or bait matching the common forage species in the lake is presented wherever the fish are at the time. In the spring casting from the shore is effective. Fishing from a boat and casting towards the shore works as the hungry fish search for food. Trolling in the first 20 feet of water is the best method in the spring.

As the summer approaches and the surface water warms the fish will seek the depth where their preferred water temperature occurs and where food is available. At depth the food is usually small fish. A thermometer can be used to find 50 degree water. Troll this depth where it meets bottom structure. A depth finder will help locate the fish. Troll a little above the fish so they can look up, they will seldom attack downwards.

Bucktail streamers or flys are excellent for Lake Trout.

5 inch Hoochie Lure

Herring Dodger

Flashers and Dodgers trailing a hoochie is a popular rig for trolling. Large lures like Rapalas are also used. Some fishermen put some squawfish or other meat on the lures.

A popular rig is a Herring dodger with a large streamer fly back about 18 inches.

To get down to 100 or so feet where the fish are hanging out a downrigger is commonly used. If you don't have a downrigger, you can try jigging. First locate a good spot where the water temperature meets structure or just find a school on the old humminbird. A dead smelt or similar bait fish will work for jigging. Put your bait, anything that smells good, or fresh frozen fish found at the bait shop, on a leadhead jig. Let it hit bottom and jig it up and down a couple of feet. A Mack will find it if it is in the area.

Mackinaw can be caught through the ice.

In Idaho Lake Trout can be found in Priest Lake, Pend Oreille, Payette Lake, Warm Lake, Stanley Lake, and Bear Lake.