Superior Lakers on the fly
Lake trout are members of the char family, found mainly in the lakes of North America in oxygen-rich, cold, fresh water. Because of the lake trout's slow maturation and popularity, it is especially susceptible to overfishing. It's one of the biggest fish found in the Great Lakes, such as Lake Superior and adjacent bodies of water. With a variety of spots, a cream-white belly, and white bordering the fins, it's a very attractive fish. It’s a tremendous fighter when on the line and a favourite of anglers, especially on the fly!
Once the water temperature reaches around 60 degrees in the summer, lake trout tend to swim to the deep depths. Downriggers or conventional gear appear to be the most popular methods for catching lakers. It is, nevertheless, very possible to catch them on the fly.
Here are the essentials you need for summertime lakers on the fly:
ROD: 8-9 wt fast action The 9', 4 pc rods will do great. These rod weights will be able to throw heavy sinking lines and big clunky streamers.
REEL: Smooth drag with large arbour: Lakers never stop pulling once hooked, so a good drag can help stop them from slowly taking all of your backing out into the depths.
LINE: Sub-surface 350+ grain full sink lake line is a must with a 7-foot tapered leader in 20 lb test.
Flys: Streamers are my top choice. Everything from cone-headed zonkers (in an array of colours) to pink flesh flies, to Godzilla sculpin in olive and white, to all white flesh flies. If I tie my own fly, I like to wrap the hook in lead wire as the base to give a faster sink rate, and I use barbell eyes (weighted) along with rabbit fur and some flash. A typical size is 2.5 to 4-inches in length with a 4 - 2/0 hook.
Lake trout locations
Lake trout often swim in well over 30 feet of water during July and August, so having a quick sinking line and fly to reach them is critical.
Lake trout give a tremendously fun fight on the fly rod!
Use barb-less hooks and keep your hands out of the gills if you intend to release your catch. If you keep your catch, smoked lake trout is amongst my all-time favourites!
