Lake Trout

Rusty Myers Sesaganaga Lake is home to some of the finest lake trout fishing in Canada. Lake trout exist only in deep, cold lakes like Sesaganaga and we will show you where to look on Sesaganaga.

Following the Cycle

Understanding the habits and life cycle of lake trout is essential to catching them. Lake trout prefer water temperatures between 48 and 52 degrees Fahrenheit, and they cannot survive in waters warmer than 65 degrees. Even in the relatively cool Canadian climate, summer temperatures can drive lake trout into depths of 100 feet or more in search of more comfortable water, though in the far north they may never need to go deeper than 20 feet. In spring, lake trout head to the shallows immediately after ice-out, remaining there until the water warms. They return to shallow water again to spawn during autumn and then head back into deep water for the winter.

Fishing Tips and Tactics

Deep trenches, channels, reefs and shoals are the best places to find lake trout in summer. During spring and fall, they utilize a variety of shallow cover, including rocky points, river mouths, shallow reefs, points and gently-sloping drop-offs near islands with a depth between 5 and 20 feet. When lake trout are in shallow water, you can catch them with a fly rod or by using spinners, spoons and live minnows. To find lake trout in deep water, the most effective method is to troll over likely spots, and then switch to a jig, live minnow or cut bait once you find fish. Many anglers use similar baits to catch lake trout through the ice in winter. Lake trout are big fish, often weighing in at 10 pounds or more, but they strike most readily on small baits.