Lake Trout On The Fly

The name Lake Trout lends a slight misnomer to the actual species of this incredible fish that is actually not a trout at all, but a char. The Lake Trout resides in some of the most spectacular places on earth and the trip that spurred this article is no exception.

The Newhalen River, near Iliamna Alaska, is where this trip took place and the intention was to land some nice early season Rainbows. Although Rainbows were indeed landed the Lake trout took center stage as they fed in frenzies on the tiny smolt that were venturing out into the currents for the first time.

The first feeding frenzy we spotted drew much attention as we expected huge Rainbows were cruising the shallows. Not one person expected what happened next. Wham! The Marabou Muddler was engulfed as it was stripped quickly through the rising pod of what turned out to be Lake Trout.

Lake Trout, for the most part, tend to elude most fly-fishing lore and go unnoticed. The depth at which they dwell and the difficulty in locating a group of fish to target within the parameters of the fly angler all contribute to its lack of attention, however; there is an exception and that is early spring just after break-up when Lake trout, usually in the 20 to 30 inch range, journey from the big lakes and cruise the shallows of the rivers that enter and exit them. So while Rainbows, Dollies, Coho and Kings steal the lime light, the Lake Trout still continue, unmolested, gorging on the many salmon fry that struggle in the currents as they begin to learn the perils of life as a salmon.

It is during this time that fly anglers can easily locate and entice Lakers into taking their fly, even on top. The Lakers can be located by the many swirls and splashes as they travel in schools. They remind me of my younger days when we used to go to the lake before school in hopes of catching rockfish "in the jumps" and hopefully catch one without being too late for class.

Once the frenzy is located the angler must quickly introduce their fly into the frenzy and utilize a fast strip-stop retrieve to get the Lakers attention. The takes are no joke and I have found the quicker you retrieve the more attention you get. One may want to hesitate for just a second after a few feet of retrieve before resuming the fast strip technique.

Any fly pattern that imitates a small fish should do the trick but I can only speak for the Maribou Muddler as I found no reason to change while the Lakers continued to slam them with reckless abandon. There is one note of interest you might want to know. Just because of the hard takes don't think the Lakers are a pushover. For some reason the Lakers are hard to hook. It seems they strike haphazardly at the fly but I think nerves played a huge part of the misses I encountered.

If you have ever had the opportunity to fish Northerns or Musky on top water you are familiar with the torpedo wake as the fish ambushes your fly or lure from behind. With Lake Trout you get the same visible approach which can unnerve an angler as they try to predict when the strike will occur as the Laker dips under the fly before coming from under for the take. Often times I would set the hook too soon, missing the fish entirely and sending him searching for a new prey as I duck to miss my fly.

The Lake Trout may not get too much attention but that is quite all right with me. I will be glad to have these dwellers of the deep to myself and will also enjoy the Rainbows, Dollies and Grayling in between. If you are like myself and prefer less crowded angling you should try early spring in Alaska and remember the Lake Trout. The forgotten Lake Trout just might be an added species found in your journals of your trip of a lifetime whether you expect it or not.

Visit Rambling Angler Outfitters for more information. Also order you custom fly rod for your trip of a lifetime. We at Rambling Angler Outfitters can also put together a fly box specifically for your trip. Give us a try. Thanks.

http://www.ramblingangler.com

---

The Old Man And His Bluegills

I started fishing a little lake just south of Somerset,... Read More

Caring for Your Inflatable Boat - Common Sense & Consistency Are the Keys

Thousands of years ago, the first inflatable boats, made from... Read More

Fly Casting - the Overhead Cast

The overhead cast is the most basic fly cast. Learn... Read More

Ice Fishing in the Wisconsin Winter

It's late December... temperatures are racing towards 0 degrees. Ice... Read More

Gear Needed for Fishing with Nymphs

Now that we've covered what nymph fly fishing is all... Read More

Fort Lauderdale Swordfishing - The Perfect Fix for the Experienced Angler

If you are looking to do battle with the toughest... Read More

Choosing the Right Fly Fishing Rod

Choosing a good rod is a major decision for the... Read More

Saltwater Fly Fishing in Washington State

When most people think of saltwater fly fishing their minds... Read More

Catch More Fish - The American Way

These are busy times we live in.Running a full time... Read More

Fly Fishing Journals ? Keep Track of Your Trips

Fly fishing is addictive. Once you start, you'll never stop.... Read More

Organization is Key to Successful Fishing

Talk to a professional angler like Kevin Schweder(2003 PWT Rookie... Read More

Join The Vespa Fishing Team

High fuel prices got you down?Imagine how most of us... Read More

A Guide to Non-Typical Catfish Fishing Techniques - Part II

Method 1EquipmentI fish baits at all depths, not just the... Read More

Erie Steelhead Flies

As we stated in our article on Pacific Steelhead flies,... Read More

Choosing Steelhead Gear

Steelhead GearLike many things in fly fishing you can ask... Read More

The Old Heddon Meadow Mouse

Have you ever fished with a Heddon Meadow Mouse? How... Read More

Why The Moon Is Your Key To Night Fishing Success

Want To Catch More Fish At Night, Watch the Moon!Sounds... Read More

Finding Trophy Bass

Have you ever noticed some people have all the luck... Read More

Fishing The Henrys Fork....With Jack Karpawack

Jack Karpawack here.Well, as I suspected, there was no high... Read More

Dry Fly Techniques

Dry fly angling is at the top of any fly... Read More

Cincinnati Catfishing Bait

Some of the baits I have used for used for... Read More

From Personal Belly Boats to High Performance Racers - An Overview of Inflatable Boats

Inflatable boats, also called rubber boats or dinghies, have been... Read More

What Has Happened to the Cod Stocks Off the Shores of Newfoundland?

The Newfoundland cod stocks. What has happened to cod fishing... Read More

Information on the Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout are a fresh water fish. They are aggressive... Read More

Fancy Catching Something Slightly Different? How About an Angler Fish?

The true Angler Fish lives in both shallow and deep... Read More

Saltwater Fishing Tips

Get Rid Of SharksSharks buggin' you? To get rid of... Read More

Lake Trout On The Fly

The name Lake Trout lends a slight misnomer to the... Read More

Concentrate on Your Bass Fishing

I was watching a TV Show with Bill Dance and... Read More

Hawaii Sport Fishing

If you're coming to experience Hawaii sport fishing, you have... Read More

Saltwater Fly Fishing -- A Tide Runs Through It

Saltwater fly fishing is all the rage these days. This... Read More

Introduction to Lake Fly Fishing Techniques

Often lake fish will gather in schools and cruise around... Read More

Ever Said: We Should Have Caught Bass By Now?

Have you ever been on a lake and thought to... Read More

Fort Lauderdale Sport Fishing Charters - The Perfect Way To Get Away

Whether it's the peaceful and serene beauty of being on... Read More