Native to the Great Lakes and most of Canada's Great White North, lake trout (salvelinus namaycush) are members of the char family. Char are very adaptable fish, provided that basic water quality requirements are met. As such, lake trout have been successfully stocked in many areas, including some deep inland lakes around the Metro Detroit area. As water temps rise immediately after ice-out, lakers begin to prowl the shallows looking for baitfish and other prey. This behavior puts them within casting distance of fly rod anglers.
Lake trout spawn in the fall, dropping their eggs and milt on rocky shoals from 8-20 feet deep. Springtime finds them far removed from the business of reproduction, and this puts them onto their other favorite pastime - eating. Lake trout are prodigious feeders that have evolved where other species failed, i.e. cold, relatively sterile water with low biomass, a short summer growing
season, etc. In order to survive, they've developed the genetics and instinct to eat most anything that moves. This may be seen by some anglers as "stupidity." For fly anglers, it pays dividends in terms of fly selection and flexibility. You don't need to "match the baitfish hatch" for lakers. Most small to medium (3-6") baitfish or sculpin pattern will take lakers in shallow, if angler pressure and boat traffic isn't too extreme.
Similar to stalking other cold-water predators, south-facing shorelines and inlets with flowing water should get first priority. Ice-out time is magic for lake trout, with uniform water temps shallow or deep. They are free to cruise the shallows, finally heading deeper when water temps get above 55 degrees F. Through mid-spring, early morning and late evening times will find the lakers prowling shallows to depths of 10 feet.
A short sink-tip can help you probe these areas without hanging up too badly on weeds or bottom structure. Lakers will also rise readily to investigate a stripped fly, so it's worthwhile to make a few casts over deep water and see what comes up.
Being able to stand in a boat and sightfish for these grey ghosts can help kill the boredom of hours of blind casting. The areas where lakers cruise are also likely haunts for post-spawn pike, so make sure to keep a heavy leader in case you connect with Mr. Esox instead of Mr. Namaycush.
Overall, an 8 weight rod is a good match for most laker fishing. This will handle most normal lake trout duties, floating or sink-tip lines and large flies cast over the shallows and drop-offs. You may want to step up to a 10 weight if you are determined to throw 9 and 10 inch flies on a full sinking line, or if spring winds kick up and play hell with your casting.
Stick to a 9 foot tapered fluorocarbon leader, with 2 or 3 feet of 17# fluorocarbon tippet at the end. This will keep your fly in the "magic" zone of 4-10 feet deep, disappears in water and helps protect you from losing fish to an errant tooth nick or a thrashing by a northern pike.
The Metro Detroit lakes with lake trout are not big water, and the lakers are not likely to be huge. However, the depths of these lakes may hide a kraken or two, and springtime is probably your best bet to tangle with one. Gear up accordingly and be ready to slug it out with whatever hammers your fly. Tight lines!
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