- Nick Nied
- August 28, 2024
- 7:25 pm
- 0 comments
Chicago Area Fishing - Lake Trout
Unless you are a Lake Michigan angler, you may not know that Chicago area waters of Lake Michigan produce more lake trout than the majority of other ports around the lake. The Lake Trout is the only native species to Lake Michigan that recreational and charter fisherman catch. You might say it is the original “King” of Lake Michigan waters. In fact, the Lake trout was harvested by both commercial and recreational fisherman as table fare for many years prior to the introduction of the Chinook Salmon. The State record Lake Trout came in 2021 outside of Montrose Harbor.
Back in the 1950’s an invasive sea lamprey was introduced to Lake Michigan by means of ballast waters from incoming ocean freight boats. The sea lamprey targeted the lake trout as prey and nearly decimated the population of native Lake Trout. Since then, there have been multi-state and federal efforts to eliminate the sea lamprey and bring back the Lake Trout through stocking programs. Both have proved successful over the past 6 decades. Lake Trout are once again plentiful and fun to catch!
Once the Chinook Salmon were introduced to Lake Michigan, they stole the glory from the Lake Trout. Many charter captains in this newly developed fishery helped to create an unpopular reputation for the original “King” of the lake as they preferred to target silver salmonoids rather than Lake Trout. There should be nothing unpopular about the Lake Trout as it still provides excellent table fare and they are one of the best smoked fish we’ve eaten.
Here are some fun facts about our tasty Lake Trout
- Unlike Chinook and Coho which have a 4 or 3 year life cycle respectfully, the Lake Trout can live to be 30 years or more.
- Since the commercial fishing has stopped in Illinois, more lake trout die of natural causes than through harvesting.
- It's possible to catch a trophy Lake Trout upwards of 40lbs or more in Lake Michigans southern Basin. Hey, that's where we fish!
- The Illinois state record Lake trout was caught on May 31st, 2021 on Lake Michigan – Cook County using 20-pound-test line and a dodger fly. It weighed in at 39 lbs. 2.6 oz. (or 39.16 pounds), was 45-1/2 inches in length and had a girth of 28 inches.
- Lake trout can successfully hybridize with brook trout to form "Splake". This can occur naturally or more commonly in hatcheries by fertilizing lake trout eggs with brook trout sperm. Splake will live for 5 or 10 years and can reach 16 pounds in weight.
- Lake Trout continue to be stocked at Julian’s Reef SE of Waukegan Harbor
- Some of the best Lake Trout fishing can be found around the reefs that are scattered between Waukegan Harbor and South toward Chicago. North Reef, South Reef, Lake Bluff Reef, Julian's Reef, and Wilmette Reef are all Lake Trout breeding grounds.
- The Lake Trout prefer water temperatures between 44 - 55 degrees. Hence, they are often caught in shallow cool water during the spring. Once the water heats up they migrate to deeper waters up to and beyond 200 foot.
- As with any fish there is a safe consumption guide. Lake Trout over 22 inches is considered safe to eat once a week.
- Lake Trout have adapted their forage to include round gobies unlike other salmonoids
- A 20 year old Lake Trout consumes less alewife in its lifetime than a 3.5 year old Chinook Salmon
- A Lake Trout with a clipped adipose fin has a coded wire implant for research purposes
- As states stocked Lake Trout in Lake Michigan and they would fin clip them. Therefore, a Lake Trout caught with no fin clipping is considered to be naturally reproduced.
For more information and references on Lake Trout in Lake Michigan see the links below:
https://midwestoutdoors.com/fishing/lake-trout-forgotten-kings-lake-michigan/
www.michigan.gov/dnr/education/michigan-species/fish-species/lake-trout
https://ftw.usatoday.com/2021/06/patience-pays-off-as-illinois-doctor-lands-record-lake-trout