Lake trout live deep, eat big, and reward anglers who fish structure with a plan. Downriggers take the guesswork out of getting there. Here's how to set them up right.
Fishing snapshot
Lake trout hold in cold water below the thermocline through summer — often 60 to 120 feet down in western lakes that hold them. Trolling slow and deep near drop-offs and humps is the standard play. Check each lake's rules; some waters have size limits or gear restrictions aimed at protecting or reducing lake trout numbers.
Best for: boaters with downriggers (or heavy weights) targeting deep-water trout in summer. Key takeaway: find the bait and the temperature break, then troll just above the marks on your screen.
Lake-specific rules vary. Confirm regulations for the water you're fishing before you launch.
Depth: start at the food
Your sonar tells you more than any article can.
- Idle the drop-off or basin edge you plan to fish
- Mark where bait balls sit — usually above bottom but below the warm layer
- Set your downrigger balls 5–10 feet above the deepest marked fish
Fish rise to hit, rarely dive far down. A lure dragging bottom catches rocks.
Speed and spread
Lake trout like it slow.
- Speed: 1.5–2.2 mph on GPS. Slower than most trout trolling.
- Spread: two rods per rigger with stacked releases, or run one rigger shallow (25–40 ft) and one deep
- Turns: wide S-turns. The inside rod slows and drops, the outside speeds up and rises — a change of pace triggers followers.
Lures that produce
- Spoons in 3.5–4.5 inch sizes — silver, white, glow patterns
- Small plugs that wobble at slow speed
- Tube jigs trolled on the bottom for finicky fish
Glow finishes earn their keep in deep, dark water. Charge them with a flashlight before every pass.
Reading the screen while trolling
- Marks tight to bottom: drop your ball down
- Marks suspended high: raise baits to them
- Followers that won't commit: slow down or add a flasher ahead of the spoon
Fighting and landing
Deep fish come up with slack air in their system. Big lakers often blow up like a balloon when raised fast. If you're releasing, bring fish up slowly and be ready to vent or use a release tool per current guidance for the water you fish. Keeping a few for the table? Lake trout are excellent smoked or baked.
Wrap-up
Find bait on sonar, set baits slightly above the marks, troll slower than feels productive, and let S-turns work the spread. Deep water looks empty until you put a lure in front of a hungry lake trout.
Sources Checked
- State fishing regulation pamphlets — lake trout size and bag rules vary by water