Species profile
Lake Trout
Salvelinus namaycush
Identify Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 52 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 5 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Quebec); the most generous is 20 (Federal Waters (DFO)).
Confirmed by 1,215 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Ontario, Michigan, and New York the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Like brook trout, lake trout are actually a char (genus Salvelinus), not a true trout.
- They can live up to 60 years, among the longest-lived freshwater fish in North America.
- Verified catches exceeding 70 lbs have been recorded from Canada's Great Bear Lake.
- They prefer deep, cold lakes and are regularly found at depths exceeding 200 feet.
- Unlike most salmonids, lake trout spawn on rocky reefs without digging or building nests.
Where Lake Trout are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Lake Trout
Background
Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) is a freshwater char living mainly in lakes in northern North America. Other names for it include mackinaw, lake char (or charr), touladi, togue, and grey trout. In Lake Superior, it can also be variously known as siscowet, paperbelly and lean. The lake trout is prized both as a game fish and as a food fish.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Lake Trout article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Lake Trout?
Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 5 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Lake Trout?
Lake Trout is Salvelinus namaycush.
Is Lake Trout regulated for fishing?
Yes — Lake Trout has fishing regulations in 52 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Lake Trout?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Lake Trout along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.