Fishing and Outdoors in WNY: Lake trout is pretty cool

By Capt. Frank Campbell

Destination Niagara USA Director of Outdoor Promotions

It’s finally here – no, I’m not talking about the cold weather or Cyber Monday. As of Dec. 1, lake trout can be legally targeted on the lower Niagara River and Lake Ontario.

Why is this so special? Well, it’s because lake trout are the only salmonid species that have a closed season to help protect them spawn. Starting Oct. 1 until Dec. 1, lake trout cannot be possessed on Lake Ontario and its tributaries, as they are a native species that does successfully spawn in those waterways.

Lake trout prefers to spawn in areas that mix gravel and rubble rock to allow the eggs to settle in the crevices and stay silt free. The preferred water temperature is in the low 50s, which normally occurs in late October or early November in our region. The lake trout spawn out in the open lake on reefs in most waterways but, in the Niagara River, a rather usual scenario plays out and the lakers actually choose to spawn in the river.

The most impressive part is that there is documented natural reproduction occurring in the river. About 20 years ago, researchers tagged several lake trout and discovered some of those fish used the lower Niagara as their spawning grounds, something most anglers knew way before the researchers made the discovery. Then in 2011, the first documented natural reproduction of lower Niagara lake trout was verified, and it has since led to more data supporting a pretty unique population of lakers we have here in the river.

I am fairly confident that, although researchers first discovered a lake trout population that does have some successful reproduction – in 2011 – those fish have been using the Artpark area along with several other drifts on the lower Niagara for many decades prior to this discovery.

A couple of interesting facts about Lake Ontario’s population of lake trout include the fact that the stocking that occurs is a federal program, due to the fact lake trout are native to Lake Ontario. Additionally, lake trout is actually from the char family, and their closest relative is the arctic char. Lake trout can also get big; the lake record is a 39-pound specimen caught off the Niagara Bar in the 1990s.

After the lake trout spawn in the fall, they will normally winter over in deep, slow-moving pools throughout the river system. The great thing about lake trout is their willingness to cooperate with anglers offering a variety of different baits. Not really thought of as “a good eater,” mostly due to their long live span – which creates a good amount of fat content and additionally a stronger-than-normal fish taste – the average size and strong fight make them an important piece to the world-class fishing opportunities here on the Niagara Frontier.

I know Christmas is right around the corner, and I am going to offer some of the same gift ideas as in the past years. The gift of fishing can last forever with a lifetime fishing license offered by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. I bought one 30 years ago, and it’s been one of the best investments I have ever made.

The second is a fishing charter with a local captain. The trip should include all needed supplies provided by a qualified U.S.C.G. licenses captain that will create a lifetime of memories. You can find a complete list of charter captains on the Niagarafallsusa.com website under the outdoors tab.

I hope to see you enjoying the local outdoors. Every week, I produce a fishing report – Niagara County Fishing Hotline. You can access it online at www.niagarafallsusa.com or by simply calling 716-282-8992, Ext. 4, to hear what’s up in the world of fishing. It is updated every Wednesday.