Food sources for Lake Trout
Cameron Larsen
We previously discussed favorite lairs of lake trout, this article will focus on food sources of lakes. While many of the same patterns that are used frequently in river fly fishing will also apply in lake fishing. There are some different areas of concentration for lakes.
First of all let me state that this is intended as a general source of information. There is nothing like first hand information for the lake you are intending to fish. Either by observation, collection of samples, or talking with locals, direct information about your location is always the best. However there are some generalities and some fundamental information that can be applied to lakes in general.
I keep several fly boxes dedicated to just lakes, they are filled with midges, mosquitoes, scuds, damsel and dragons, leeches, buggers, crayfish, and terrestrials.
Midges are of primary importance to lake fishers. They are small worm-like in shape, and are in abundance in the majority of lake habitat. They are a reliable food source for lake trout, and can emerge every month of the year that the lake is ice free. Reliable patterns include, chironimid pupa, rs-2 emerger, wd-40, and for low visibility situations the disco midge can't be beat. And for dry fly fishing try the Griffith Gnat as well as small parachute patterns, work very well.
Virtually every alpine lake fly fisher, knows the both the curse and blessing of the mosquito. They can both foil and save the fly fishing trip. Showing up unprepared in your fly box is bad enough, but showing up without skin protection will quickly end your trip. Mosquitoes are a hearty species indeed, hibernating all winter to show up at the earliest possible time when warming begins. They drop their resilient eggs in shallows and are valuable to fish both as larva and as adults. They can vary greatly in size so be prepared with everything form 12-16 in dries, and use chirnomids for the larva.
Scuds are without a doubt my favorite food source for lake trout. They have high caloric content for trout, so they are readily gulped. They are a great indicator of healthy trout populations. In fact, I know of no lake that doesn't have scuds that does hold trout. I am sure they exist but they aren't the rule. Scuds are simply freshwater shrimps, they are omnivores feeding on smaller creatures and vegetation alike. They can be many different colors depending on their diet, but are most commonly gray, tan and olive. Like midges they are constantly available and are probably more desired than midges due to their high caloric content.
Dragons and damsels are commonly found in weedy areas, although they can be mud dwellers as well. Dragon and damsel nymphs have huge appetites and their constant scavenging is what makes them so available to trout. Many fly fishers that focus on lakes are students of their local dragon and damsel population. Damsel emergences are likely to happen several times a year most often in the summer. While dragon emergence happens relatively constantly throughout the summer months. Both are more valuable as nymphs than as adults. But that is not to say enticing a strike on a dry pattern is unlikely, they happen all the time. And as dry patterns they have the added bonus of easy visibility.
Leeches, crayfish, and forage fish are all food sources for trout. They can exist in varying availability, depending on the lake and the season. But trout will not refuse these offerings, and they have the added bonus of attracting larger than average trout. They swim in different motions, and for most effective fishing try to imitate their natural motions with your retrieve. Leeches are fairly consistent in their motion. Crayfish fly off the bottom in a violent surge of activity.
Terrestrials are anything born on land, of most importance to lake anglers are ants, beetles and sometimes hoppers. Ant falls in particular produce great fishing. But all terrestrial fishing greatly improves with the aid of a high unpredictable wind. Concentrate on banks full of foliage where terrestrials might be lying.
Mayflies are not to be ignored just because your lake fishing. Again get to know your waters, but callibeatis, Tricos, and Hexagenia are all common in lakes, and their specific hatches can result in some of the hottest fishing of the year.
Like river fly fishing lake fly fishing requires patience and dedication to excel at it. Different but equally as rewarding, lake fly fishing as gained in popularity, but can still offer solitude that can be hard it find at popular river destinations.
About the author: Cameron Larsen is a retired commericial fly tier and fly fishing guide. He now operates The Big Y Fly Company. http://www.bigyflyco.com/flyfishinghome.html He can be reached at info@bigyflyco.com. This article will appear in the Big Y Fly Fishing E-Zine at http://www.bigyflyco.com/Bigyflyfishingezine.html