Lake Trout – The Coldwater Titan of Canada
Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), often called "lakers" or "mackinaw," are powerful, deep-dwelling predators native to the coldest and clearest lakes of Canada. Known for their impressive size, elusive nature, and thrilling fights, they are a prized catch for anglers seeking adventure in the country’s vast northern waters.
Biology & Habitat
Lake trout are the largest native freshwater char in Canada and thrive in deep, oligotrophic (nutrient-poor) lakes with high oxygen levels. Unlike other trout, they often inhabit depths of 20 to 60 metres (65 to 200 feet), especially during summer months.
- Average size: 1–5 kg (2–11 lbs)
- Trophy class: 10–20+ kg (22–44+ lbs)
- Lifespan: Can exceed 25 years; some individuals reach over 40 years in cold, deep waters.
- Spawning: Occurs in fall over rocky shoals or shallow lake beds, often at night. They do not construct nests and leave eggs to develop unattended.
Fishing Techniques
Catching lake trout requires specialized tactics due to their depth and cautious feeding behaviour:
- Trolling: The most popular method uses downriggers, lead-core line, or deep-diving lures. Spoons, crankbaits, and fluttering baits are effective.
- Vertical jigging: Heavy jigs tipped with baitfish or soft plastics excel in deep summer water.
- Ice fishing: Jigging with tubes, spoons, or dead bait over deep basins is popular in winter.
- Casting: Effective in spring and fall when lakers move into shallower water.
Lake trout often strike aggressively and battle hard, testing gear and angling skill alike.
Regional Differences
British Columbia
Lake trout are native to deeper, colder lakes of the central interior and the northern regions.
- Top lakes: Kootenay Lake, Kinbasket Lake, Williston Reservoir
- Often found alongside kokanee or whitefish populations
- Targeted with deep trolling and jigging in large reservoirs
- Fish can grow over 20 kg (44 lbs) in nutrient-rich systems
Alberta
Lake trout are native to cold mountain lakes and are stocked in select waters.
- Native populations exist in lakes like Cold Lake (produces fish over 18 kg), Lake Minnewanka, and Waterton Lakes
- Stocked in a few deep lakes such as Spray Lakes and Lake Abraham
- Best fished in spring and winter; summer trolling in deep basins is common
- Cold Lake is Alberta’s premier destination for trophy lake trout
Saskatchewan & Manitoba
These provinces offer world-class wilderness lake trout fisheries.
Saskatchewan
- Lake Athabasca and Cree Lake are trophy destinations with fish over 30 kg (66 lbs)
- Dozens of remote fly-in lodges target lake trout exclusively
Manitoba
- Lake trout thrive in the Northern Region and Canadian Shield lakes like Clearwater and Kississing
- Heavily regulated and often catch-and-release in sensitive waters
- Spring and fall offer the best shallow-water action; ice fishing is productive in winter
Ontario
Ontario boasts some of the most famous and accessible lake trout waters in Canada.
- Lake Superior and Lake Ontario contain native populations of deep-dwelling lakers
- Inland lakes such as Lake Temagami, Lake Nipigon, and Lake of the Woods also support strong fisheries
- Wild and stocked populations exist throughout the Shield region
- Downrigging and jigging dominate summer tactics; spring shoreline casting is popular
Quebec
Lake trout (known as touladi) are widespread in Quebec’s cold, deep lakes, especially in northern and mountainous regions.
- Found in Lac Saint-Jean, Réservoir Gouin, and remote northern lakes
- Highly prized in regional angling culture and protected by strict quotas
- Trolling with heavy spoons or jigging deep water are standard methods
- Many outfitters offer multi-species trips combining lake trout and northern pike
Atlantic Provinces
Lake trout are dominant apex predators in many Arctic and subarctic lakes, with some of Canada’s most untouched fisheries.
Northern Territories
Perch are generally absent from Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut due to unsuitable habitat and cold water temperatures.
Yukon & NWT
- Abundant in lakes like Great Bear and Great Slave, home to world-record-class fish
- Trophy potential: 20–30+ kg (44–66+ lbs)
- Long growing seasons mean slow growth and extreme longevity
Nunavut
- Lake trout are found across the territory’s inland lakes
- Crucial to both sport and subsistence fisheries
- Some of the most remote and pristine angling experiences in the world
Canada’s Deepwater Legend
Lake trout symbolizes Canada’s wild, cold northern waters – tough, elusive, and rewarding. Whether trolling Great Slave Lake or ice fishing a deep Ontario shield lake, lakers offer a world-class angling experience from spring thaw to the depths of winter.
Seasonal Patterns
Identifying Lake Trout