How to catch lake trout · Mid-May to September
Lake trout follow the cold water: shallow in spring, deep in summer, back on the rocks in September. Here’s where to find them each month and what to drop down to them. — Jeb
Start here
Lakers are simpler than they look. Get these six down and the monthly game plans below will make sense.
1
Lakers like water around 50°F. When the surface warms past the high 50s in June, they head down to the cold layer and stay there until fall.
2
In summer a layer of warm water sits on top of cold. Lakers hold in the 10 to 20 feet just under it, often 40 to 90 feet down on Sydney.
3
From late June on, rent a Garmin at camp. Mark the fish or the bait, put the boat right over them, then drop.
4
White tube jigs, and silver or gold spoons that look like cisco, are the most-repeated lake trout baits there are.
5
Troll fast in spring, 2 to 3 mph. If a laker follows your jig on the screen, reel it away fast. They hate letting a meal escape.
6
Lakers often bump a lure twice and have soft mouths. Wait until you feel weight, then sweep the rod. Don’t jerk, and keep your drag loose.
Month by month
Pick your month for the game plan: where to look, how deep, what to throw and when to go.
Depths are where most lakers sit on Sydney Lake. In summer the cold layer sets the depth, so find the thermocline on your depth finder and fish just below it.
Mid–late May · Water 45–55°F
Right after ice-out the whole lake is cold, so lake trout cruise the shallows. It’s the easiest month to catch one, even from shore at camp.
Jeb’s play
Troll a spoon way back and keep changing it up: speed up, slow down, make S-turns. The change in speed is what gets the strike. Keep your drag loose.
June · Water 55–68°F
As the surface warms, lakers slide deeper. Early June can still be shallow at first light. By late June they’re under the warm water for the summer.
Jeb’s play
Start on your May spots and work out deeper. The shallow bite only lasts a few weeks, so follow the fish down the drop.
July · Thermocline about 30–40 ft
Summer lake trout live in the cold layer under the thermocline. Find it and jigging them is a blast: just like walleye fishing, only deeper.
Jeb’s play
Hold the boat right over the fish: slip the motor in and out of gear and watch your jig on the screen. If a laker chases it but won’t bite, reel up fast. They hate letting a meal get away.
August · Surface water 68–73°F
Lakers are at their deepest. Many sit on deep edges, and some of the biggest suspend over the open basin near the cisco.
Jeb’s play
Watch the screen as your jig falls. Lakers often grab it on the way down, so stay ready the whole drop. And bring deep fish up slowly.
September · Water 55–64°F
Lakers start their climb toward the fall spawning reefs and feed hard on the way. The month starts deep and ends with fish on the rocks, and some of the heaviest lakers of the season.
Jeb’s play
The season closes September 30, so make the last week count: pound the rocky shoals at first light. Most big September lakers are full of eggs, so snap a photo and let her go.
Tackle
You don’t need downriggers or a big boat. This fits in one tackle box and covers the whole season. See the full packing and tackle list.
Myths and mistakes
✕
You don’t. Spring casting and trolling, summer jigging and simple three-way rigs all work from a 16 ft boat.
✕
In summer many suspend in open water. Watch the whole screen, not just the bottom.
✕
Fast spring trolling and a quick reel-away trigger plenty of strikes.
✕
Without a depth finder you’re guessing in 60 ft of water. Rent one at camp.
✕
Lakers have soft mouths and often bump twice. Wait for weight, then sweep the rod.
✕
Lakers from deep water can die later. Bring them up slowly and get them back in fast.
Keep and release
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