| The name Lake Trout lends a slight misnomer | | | | their fly, even on top. The Lakers can be |
| to the actual species of this incredible fish | | | | located by the many swirls and splashes as |
| that is actually not a trout at all, but a | | | | they travel in schools. They remind me of my |
| char. The Lake Trout resides in some of the | | | | younger days when we used to go to the lake |
| most spectacular places on earth and the trip | | | | before school in hopes of catching rockfish |
| that spurred this article is no exception. | | | | "in the jumps" and hopefully catch one |
| | | | without being too late for class. |
| The Newhalen River, near Iliamna Alaska, is | | | | |
| where this trip took place and the intention | | | | Once the frenzy is located the angler must |
| was to land some nice early season Rainbows. | | | | quickly introduce their fly into the frenzy |
| Although Rainbows were indeed landed the Lake | | | | and utilize a fast strip-stop retrieve to get |
| trout took center stage as they fed in | | | | the Lakers attention. The takes are no joke |
| frenzies on the tiny smolt that were | | | | and I have found the quicker you retrieve the |
| venturing out into the currents for the first | | | | more attention you get. One may want to |
| time. | | | | hesitate for just a second after a few feet |
| | | | of retrieve before resuming the fast strip |
| The first feeding frenzy we spotted drew much | | | | technique. |
| attention as we expected huge Rainbows were | | | | |
| cruising the shallows. Not one person | | | | Any fly pattern that imitates a small fish |
| expected what happened next. Wham! The | | | | should do the trick but I can only speak for |
| Marabou Muddler was engulfed as it was | | | | the Maribou Muddler as I found no reason to |
| stripped quickly through the rising pod of | | | | change while the Lakers continued to slam |
| what turned out to be Lake Trout. | | | | them with reckless abandon. There is one note |
| | | | of interest you might want to know. Just |
| Lake Trout, for the most part, tend to elude | | | | because of the hard takes don't think the |
| most fly-fishing lore and go unnoticed. The | | | | Lakers are a pushover. For some reason the |
| depth at which they dwell and the difficulty | | | | Lakers are hard to hook. It seems they strike |
| in locating a group of fish to target within | | | | haphazardly at the fly but I think nerves |
| the parameters of the fly angler all | | | | played a huge part of the misses I |
| contribute to its lack of attention, however; | | | | encountered. |
| there is an exception and that is early | | | | |
| spring just after break-up when Lake trout, | | | | If you have ever had the opportunity to fish |
| usually in the 20 to 30 inch range, journey | | | | Northerns or Musky on top water you are |
| from the big lakes and cruise the shallows of | | | | familiar with the torpedo wake as the fish |
| the rivers that enter and exit them. So while | | | | ambushes your fly or lure from behind. With |
| Rainbows, Dollies, Coho and Kings steal the | | | | Lake Trout you get the same visible approach |
| lime light, the Lake Trout still continue, | | | | which can unnerve an angler as they try to |
| unmolested, gorging on the many salmon fry | | | | predict when the strike will occur as the |
| that struggle in the currents as they begin | | | | Laker dips under the fly before coming from |
| to learn the perils of life as a salmon. | | | | under for the take. Often times I would set |
| | | | the hook too soon, missing the fish entirely |
| It is during this time that fly anglers can | | | | and sending him searching for a new prey as I |
| easily locate and entice Lakers into taking | | | | duck to miss my fly. |