The lake trout also known as togue throughout the northeast is a large char. It almost always inhabits deep, clear water lakes, although stream dwelling populations do sometimes occur where the rivers are connected to lakes. This occurs most often in Canada, Labrador and Alaska. The lake trout inhabits the cold waters of New England, the Finger Lakes Region, the Great Lakes and scattered through the western states where it has been introduced. In the southern most sections of it’s range the lake trout is restricted to waters the exhibit thermal stratification and have an adequate supply of oxygen in their deepest areas.

The lake trout is distinguished by a raised tooth crest on the head of the vomer and the tail id sharply forked unlike the square tail of the splake hybrid. There is considerable variation in color but the body in generally blue-grey or bronze-green with pale spots on it’s side and back, and pale spots on the dorsal, caudal and adipose fins. There are 11 rays on the anal fin. The flesh color varies from almost white to red. Lake trout are known to reach weights of 100 lbs. But rarely reach weights in excess of 40 pounds in the sport fishery.

Lake trout breed in the fall over gravel or rocky bottoms in depths varying from 100 feet in the Great Lakes and Finger Lakes of New York to shoal water in more shallow lakes. No nest or redd is built by the female as is true with members of the trout family. The area is "swept" clean before spawning. The spawning period varies greatly from lake to lake but generally occurs between September and December. The act of spawning is attended by one or more females and several males, the eggs being scattered over suitable bottom. The eggs settle in the cracks between the rocks and are eaten by other lake trout, suckers, eels, bullheads yellow perch and other species. The incubation period is 166 days at 37 degrees and 49 days at 50 degree. The young fish remain in deep water after hatching as they tend to develop cataracts when they inhabit shallow water in direct sunlight as under hatchery conditions. The food of the young is made up of insects and crustaceans. Adult fish feed on fish.

During the late fall, winter and early spring, when the water is cold, the lake trout may inhabit the shallows, but at other times it inhabits deepwater. In the northernmost sections of it’s range it is far less restricted as surface water remains cold throughout the summer.

The present natural distribution of the lake trout extends almost entirely within the Pleistocene glaciation. South of the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence and Hudson Bay drainages they occur in Nova

Scotia, New Brunswick and some headwater lakes of Atlantic drainages as far south as the Hudson River. The also inhabit areas of the west coast and into Alaska.

South of their natural range, lake trout have been successfully planted and sustain natural populations in New England, westward to the Canadian prairie provinces, and in the high lakes of some western states as far south as Nevada, California and Colorado. Lake trout in their southern most habitat are confined to deep cool lakes, but towards the north they inhabit shallower lakes and even rivers. Although they are primarily lake spawners, stream spawning does occur in some tributaries of Lake Superior and are apt to be more common towards the north.

There are no records of lake trout from salt or brackish waters in the southern portion of their range. However, like several other species that are considered to be purely freshwater they are sometimes encountered in brackish waters in colder regions.

The lake trout is a very popular gamefish and it may be taken by fly casting, spinning or bait casting when it is found inshore. Streamer flies, spoons, spinners, and plugs are effective lures. However the most popular method for catching lake trout is to troll with large spoons and live bait. This is done primarily with wire line and at great depths. Lake trout are extremely sensitive to water temperatures, and some local knowledge of the area fish will be a great advantage.

An excellent food fish, the lake trout once constituted a large commercial fishery in the Great Lakes. With the increase in pollution and the presence of the parasitic sea lamprey, the landing of lake trout have fallen off remarkably. Most of the commercial catch of today comes from northern Canada. The lake trout is prepared in numerous ways such as stuffed and baked, steaked and broiled and smoked.

Lake trout fishing is a challenge and often times fishermen go for some time before they hook up. Once you catch your first lake trout you will be hard pressed to pass up any opportunity that presents the challenge of catching this incredible gamefish.