Lake Trout

Salvelinus namaycush

The lake trout, or mackinaw as it is commonly known, is native to Canada and The Great Lakes but they have made their home in many of the deepest and largest lakes we have here in Wyoming. Lake trout are a very popular species targeted through the ice during our long Wyoming winters.

Although called a trout, lake trout are a char, meaning they have light spots on a dark body and white margins on their fins. They can also be distinguished by their forked tail, yellow or orange fins, and a dark, blueish-gray body covered in small, light spots.

Phylum:

Chordata

Class:

Actinopterygii

Order:

Salmoniformes

Family:

Salmonidae

Subfamily:

Coregoninae

Genus:

Salvelinus

Species:

namaycush

Native or nonnative?

Nonnative

Wyoming classification

Sport fish

Diet

Carnivore

Length

30 to 40 inches on average, with some individuals exceeding 50 inches

Weight

Their weight can vary greatly depending on their habitat

Lifespan

20 to 30 years in the wild

Lake trout fun facts

Lake trout are one of the largest species of freshwater trout, growing up to 50 pounds.

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They can live for several decades, with some individuals reaching over 40 years old.

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Lake trout are often sought after in recreational fishing, especially for their large size.

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They are known for their aggressive predatory behavior and are primarily piscivorous, feeding on smaller fish, including other trout species, as well as various invertebrates such as midges, mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies.

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Lake trout are known to have two forms. One that is piscivorous and the other that feeds on invertebrates. The piscivorous form will grow to large sizes whereas the other will terminate its grown around 20 inches and a few pounds.

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Why is this species important?

Lake trout are a top predator in cold-water ecosystems, playing an essential role in the fish community, especially those they prey upon. They are also a fast growing, large, cold water fish that is highly desirable from anglers. However, their introduction to non-native habitats has often disrupted balance by competing with native species for resources, highlighting their complex role in ecosystems.

Habitat

Lake trout are found in cold, clear, deep lakes with temperatures ranging between 4 to 10°C (39 to 50°F). They prefer deeper waters, typically between 20 to 70 meters (65 to 230 feet) in depth, and are usually associated with rocky lake bottoms.

Reproduction

Lake trout are sexually mature between 4 and 10 years of age, depending on the environmental conditions. They spawn in the fall, typically from October to November, in shallow, gravelly areas of lakes. Female lake trout can lay anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 eggs per year, depending on their size. The eggs hatch in late winter to early spring.

Predators

Adult lake trout have few natural predators, except for large birds of prey, mammals such as otters, or humans. However, their eggs and young fish are vulnerable to a variety of predators, including other fish species.