Ontario Lake Depths

Game fish · trout and salmon family

Lake trout

Salvelinus namaycush

Native to OntarioRecorded in 370 Ontario lakes
Illustration of a lake trout in side view
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph and not to scale.
Typical adult
30–80 cm (12–31 in), about 1–5 kg (2–10 lb)
Lives
Commonly 15–30 years
Spawns
September to November, on lake bottoms, at 9–14 °C (48–57 °F)
Eats
Invertebrates and small fish; cisco, whitefish or smelt where present
Needs
Cold lakes at least 15 m (50 ft) deep; prefers 9–13 °C (48–55 °F)

Where lake trout have been recorded

370 of the 1,347 Ontario lakes on this site with angler catch reports list lake trout, across 20 counties and districts. Tap a dot to open that lake’s depth map.

Lake Simcoe, York RegionMinnitaki Lake, Kenora DistrictRed Lake, Kenora DistrictWanapitei Lake, Sudbury DistrictKakagi Lake, Kenora DistrictManitou Lake, Manitoulin DistrictPanache Lake, Sudbury DistrictNorthern Light Lake, Thunder Bay DistrictBig Vermilion Lake, Kenora DistrictLake of Bays, MuskokaLake Rosseau, MuskokaRowan Lake, Kenora DistrictLake Joseph, MuskokaMameigwess Lake, Kenora DistrictBig Rideau Lake, Leeds and GrenvilleConfederation Lake, Kenora DistrictBark Lake, Renfrew CountyMatinenda Lake, Algoma DistrictMcKay Lake, Thunder Bay DistrictLarder Lake, Timiskaming DistrictGreenwater Lake, Thunder Bay DistrictKawagama Lake, Haliburton CountyCharleston Lake, Leeds and GrenvilleWakomata Lake, Algoma DistrictRound Lake, Renfrew CountyBasswood Lake, Algoma DistrictPagwachuan Lake, Thunder Bay DistrictSilver Lake, Kenora DistrictPaguchi Lake, Kenora DistrictGullwing Lake, Kenora DistrictRanger Lake, Algoma DistrictLauzon Lake, Algoma DistrictLittle Vermilion Lake, Kenora DistrictCliff Lake, Kenora DistrictWeslemkoon Lake, Lennox and Addington CountyMozhabong Lake, Algoma DistrictBaptiste Lake, Hastings CountyAylen Lake, Nipissing DistrictRabbit Lake, Nipissing DistrictCross Lake, Nipissing DistrictQuirke Lake, Algoma DistrictWatabeag Lake, Timiskaming DistrictSkeleton Lake, MuskokaBig Canon Lake, Kenora DistrictLake Bernard, Parry Sound DistrictTrout Lake, Nipissing DistrictAnima Nipissing Lake, Timiskaming DistrictLoughborough Lake, Frontenac CountyKukagami Lake, Sudbury DistrictWahwashkesh Lake, Parry Sound DistrictBorden Lake, Sudbury DistrictLake Vernon, MuskokaLake Clear, Renfrew CountyChandos Lake, Peterborough CountySharbot Lake, Frontenac CountyCentennial Lake, Renfrew CountyJack Lake, Peterborough CountyNorth Tea Lake, Nipissing DistrictWapageisi Lake, Kenora DistrictManitou Lake, Nipissing DistrictKennisis Lake, Haliburton CountyLac aux Sables, Algoma DistrictGrey Trout Lake, Kenora DistrictRestoule Lake, Parry Sound DistrictKatimiagamak Lake, Kenora DistrictMuskrat Lake, Renfrew CountyRedstone Lake, Haliburton CountyWaweig Lake, Thunder Bay DistrictLa Cloche Lake, Sudbury DistrictDevil Lake, Frontenac CountyWindy Lake, Sudbury DistrictGull Lake, Haliburton CountyVermilion Lake, Sudbury DistrictThunder Lake, Kenora DistrictMary Lake, MuskokaDunlop Lake, Algoma DistrictRock Lake, Algoma DistrictWhiskey Lake, Algoma DistrictFlorence Lake, Sudbury DistrictDrag Lake, Haliburton CountyApps Lake, Kenora DistrictTitmarsh Lake, Thunder Bay DistrictEels Lake, Peterborough CountyLake of the Mountains, Algoma DistrictHaliburton Lake, Haliburton CountyFlack Lake, Algoma DistrictVictoria Lake, Kenora DistrictSmoothwater Lake, Timiskaming DistrictKashagawigamog Lake, Haliburton CountyPeninsula Lake, MuskokaRollo Lake, Sudbury DistrictNet Lake, Nipissing DistrictPaudash Lake, Haliburton CountyCathchacoma Lake, Peterborough CountyCassels Lake, Nipissing DistrictFairbank Lake, Sudbury DistrictBear Lake, Sudbury DistrictFairy Lake, MuskokaRib Lake, Timiskaming DistrictBoshkung Lake, Haliburton CountyIcarus Lake, Thunder Bay DistrictEagle Lake, Frontenac CountyKushog Lake, Haliburton CountyWawa Lake (lac Wawa), Algoma DistrictMcCarthy Lake, Algoma DistrictElliot L., Algoma DistrictAnstruther Lake, Peterborough CountyCrystal Lake, Rainy River DistrictMijinemungshing Lake, Algoma DistrictMegisan Lake, Sudbury DistrictEmerald Lake, Sudbury DistrictEsten Lake, Algoma DistrictRaven Lake, Haliburton CountyBrule Lake, Frontenac CountySand Lake, Parry Sound DistrictKokoko Lake, Nipissing DistrictOtter Lake, Parry Sound DistrictEdward Lake, Kenora DistrictRadisson Lake, Timiskaming DistrictPalmerston Lake, Frontenac CountyBlackstone Lake, Parry Sound DistrictPercy Lake, Haliburton CountyHalls Lake, Haliburton CountyCrane Lake, Parry Sound DistrictCumming's Lake, Algoma DistrictTilden Lake, Nipissing DistrictMuskasenda Lake, Sudbury DistrictCrystal Lake, Peterborough CountySt. Anthony Lake, Timiskaming DistrictParadise Lake, Sudbury DistrictSpider Lake, Parry Sound DistrictHannah Lake, Sudbury DistrictButt Lake, Nipissing DistrictMcCaulay Lake, Rainy River DistrictKindiogami Lake, Algoma DistrictRed Pine Lake, Haliburton CountyRaynar Lake, Cochrane DistrictMississagua Lake, Peterborough CountyBuckshot Lake, Frontenac CountyLaundrie Lake, Sudbury DistrictEmerald Lake, Algoma DistrictGavor Lake, Algoma DistrictLittle Quirke Lake, Algoma DistrictBig Hawk Lake, Haliburton CountyDesert Lake, Frontenac CountyLukinto Lake, Thunder Bay DistrictGold Lake, Peterborough CountyStormy Lake, Parry Sound DistrictBiggar Lake, Nipissing DistrictMcCraney Lake, Nipissing DistrictSqueers Lake, Thunder Bay DistrictHangstone Lake, Nipissing DistrictCanoe Lake, Nipissing DistrictFox Lake, Kenora DistrictBella Lake, MuskokaTwelve Mile Lake, Haliburton CountyLittle Hawk Lake, Haliburton CountyWalker Lake, Sudbury DistrictWollaston Lake, Hastings CountyPecors Lake, Algoma DistrictRed Horse Lake, Leeds and GrenvilleGananoque Lake, Leeds and GrenvilleSoyers Lake, Haliburton CountyMaple Lake, Haliburton CountyMount Lake, Algoma DistrictTelfer Lake, Sudbury DistrictWavy Lake, Sudbury DistrictScattergood Lake, Kenora DistrictGranary Lake, Algoma DistrictHungry Lake, Frontenac CountyNelson Lake, Sudbury DistrictSemiwite Lake, Algoma DistrictMcLeod Lake, Thunder Bay DistrictCatastrophe Lake, Kenora DistrictLilac Lake, Rainy River DistrictLake St. Nora, Haliburton CountyWhitefish Lake, Parry Sound DistrictFrench Lake, Rainy River DistrictPathfinder Lake, Algoma DistrictBigwood Lake, Sudbury DistrictIndian Lake, Leeds and GrenvilleMoose Lake, Haliburton CountySherborne Lake, Haliburton CountyTurtle Lake, Nipissing DistrictMyrt Lake, Thunder Bay DistrictClear Lake, Parry Sound DistrictMcMahon Lake, Algoma DistrictFletcher Lake, Haliburton CountyTrout Lake, Algoma DistrictMiskwabi Lake, Haliburton CountyShabomeka Lake, Frontenac CountyWeequed Lake, Sudbury DistrictSummers Lake, Algoma DistrictEagle Lake, Haliburton CountyEsson Lake, Haliburton CountyKasasway Lake, Sudbury DistrictSilver Lake, Frontenac CountySpring Lake, Parry Sound DistrictGullbeak Lake, Algoma DistrictCauchon Lake, Nipissing DistrictLake St. Peter, Hastings CountyLittle Kennisis Lake, Haliburton CountyBob Lake, Haliburton CountyMink Lake, Nipissing DistrictIron Lake, Algoma DistrictClear Lake, Parry Sound DistrictGillies Lake, Bruce CountyKimball Lake, Haliburton CountyGrace Lake, Haliburton CountyWadsworth Lake, Renfrew CountyCross Lake, Nipissing DistrictGlamor Lake, Haliburton CountyLower Mace Lake, Algoma DistrictHavelock Lake, Haliburton CountyDevil's Lake, Algoma DistrictKecil Lake, Sudbury DistrictConacher Lake, Algoma DistrictGamitagama Lake, Algoma DistrictOliver Lake, Thunder Bay DistrictBig Mink Lake, Hastings CountyGeorge Lake, Sudbury DistrictDeer Lake, Haliburton CountyDarragh Lake, Algoma DistrictRobb Lake, Algoma DistrictRound Schooner Lake, Frontenac CountyJoeperry Lake, Lennox and Addington CountyTrout Lake, Renfrew CountyPringle Lake, Thunder Bay DistrictChub Lake, Algoma DistrictSalmon Lake, Peterborough CountyL'Amable Lake, Hastings CountyAdelaide Lake, Algoma DistrictBig Clear Lake, Frontenac CountyElla Lake, Sudbury DistrictBlack Beaver Lake, Algoma DistrictBurns Lake, Algoma DistrictAvery Lake, Sudbury DistrictOuellette Lake, Algoma DistrictUpper Island Lake, Algoma DistrictLower Stewart Lake, Kenora DistrictSheila L., Kenora DistrictBig Lake, Algoma DistrictWindigo Lake, Renfrew CountyMosque Lake, Frontenac CountyCrook Lake, Kenora DistrictDiamond Lake, Hastings CountySucker Lake, Peterborough CountyHarry Lake, Sudbury DistrictDotty Lake, MuskokaMichaud Lake, Sudbury DistrictLoon Lake, Parry Sound DistrictCentre Lake, Haliburton CountyBottle Lake, Peterborough CountyTom Thomson Lake, Nipissing DistrictSecret Lake, Kenora DistrictTrout Lake, Lennox and Addington CountyDiamond Lake, Algoma DistrictBurns Lake, Renfrew CountyMamainse Lake, Algoma DistrictAbbess Lake, Rainy River DistrictFallingsnow Lake, Thunder Bay DistrictShelden Lake, Algoma DistrictRobertson Lake, Algoma DistrictBay Lake, Parry Sound DistrictTeasdale Lake, Algoma DistrictDaisy Lake, Nipissing DistrictGarden Lake, Algoma DistrictNepahwin Lake, Sudbury DistrictLittle Trout Lake, Nipissing DistrictTimber Lake, Nipissing DistrictSilent Lake, Haliburton CountyTown Line Lake, Algoma DistrictKabakwa Lake, Haliburton CountyClear Lake, Parry Sound DistrictSucker Lake, Parry Sound DistrictMathers L., Algoma DistrictFortune Lake, Cochrane DistrictBoumage Lake, Algoma DistrictRathbun Lake, Peterborough CountyFaraday Lake, Hastings CountyBigwind Lake, MuskokaClear Lake, MuskokaLorne Lake, Nipissing DistrictYoung Lake, MuskokaLittle McDougal Lake, Nipissing DistrictBelanger Lake, Algoma DistrictCox Lake, Peterborough CountyLong Lake, Peterborough CountyAllen Lake, Haliburton CountyFern Lake, Algoma DistrictBoundary Lake, Algoma DistrictLavallee Lake, Hastings CountyCooper Lake, Algoma DistrictNorthland L., Algoma DistrictPetauguin Lake, Algoma DistrictKings Lake, Algoma DistrictCrooked Lakes, Algoma DistrictDuck Lake, Parry Sound DistrictPencil Lake, Peterborough CountyFortescue Lake, Peterborough CountyWhitebirch Lake, Nipissing DistrictVixen Lake, Algoma DistrictGrandview Lake, MuskokaChrysler Lake, Sudbury DistrictLipsy Lake, Haliburton CountyRiver Lake, Algoma DistrictEyre Lake, Haliburton CountyHighland Lake, Algoma DistrictEmsdale Lake, Parry Sound DistrictCrystal Lake, Timiskaming DistrictBijou Lake, Algoma DistrictSlipper Lake, Algoma DistrictWhitney Lake, Timiskaming DistrictCloudy Lake, Algoma DistrictSheldon Lake, Haliburton CountyMcFadden Lake, Haliburton CountyTom Lake, Kenora DistrictBenner Lake, Sudbury DistrictSaw Lake, Sudbury DistrictArrow Lake (North East), Thunder Bay DistrictCrystal Lake, Lennox and Addington CountyLower Island Lake, Algoma DistrictByrnes Lake, Algoma DistrictWest Lake, Haliburton CountyWaterclear Lake, Nipissing DistrictJarvis Lake, Algoma DistrictEmerald Lake (lac Emerald), Sudbury DistrictNorth Pigeon Lake, Haliburton CountyJamieson Lake, Hastings CountyWard Lake, Algoma DistrictMair Lake, Frontenac CountyBasshaunt Lake, Haliburton CountySpring Lake, Lennox and Addington CountyNalla Lake, Thunder Bay DistrictWabun Lake, Renfrew CountyBitter Lake, Haliburton CountyMorgan Lake, Sudbury DistrictMorrow Lake, Renfrew CountyShoe Lake, MuskokaWilbermere Lake, Haliburton CountyMarina Lake, Timiskaming DistrictSquare Lake, Algoma DistrictSisco Lake, Nipissing DistrictSnafu Lake, Algoma DistrictBevans Lake, Algoma DistrictLoucks Lake, Peterborough CountyBurk Lake, Timiskaming DistrictLittle Green Lake, Frontenac CountyBuckskin Lake, Haliburton CountyEast Lake, Haliburton CountyMcSourley Lake, Renfrew CountySmith Lake, Cochrane DistrictConcession Lake, Peterborough CountyLong Lake, Algoma DistrictNiger Lake, Haliburton CountyDuck Lake, Cochrane DistrictCherry Lake, Peterborough CountyDeception Lake, Thunder Bay DistrictPigeon Lake, Sudbury DistrictGillies Lake, Cochrane DistrictOriole Lake, Renfrew CountyBillys Lake, Renfrew CountyPhelbin L., Algoma DistrictWhigham Lake 41, Sudbury DistrictWhite Birch L., Algoma DistrictDuthorne Lake, Algoma DistrictJohnson Lake, Sudbury DistrictWhitefish River, Sudbury DistrictMoon Lake, Algoma DistrictMill Lake, Renfrew County

Recorded here Other lakes with catch reports

How we know

  • 370lakes where an angler logged one in Fish ON-Line; on 147 of them a single trip, one angler’s report

Self-reported by anglers, not a Ministry survey. A lake that isn’t listed may still have them: a lake appears here only once an angler has logged this fish there.

Lake trout are one of the species raised in Ontario's fish culture stations and stocked into provincial waters.

Inland lakes on this list run from 12 to 183,191 acres (median 680) and from 10 to 408 ft deep (median 105 ft).

When and how anglers catch lake trout

From 1,212 trip reports naming lake trout on the lakes above, logged by anglers in Ontario’s Fish ON-Line app. These are self-reported trips, not a Ministry survey: they show when and how people fish for them, not how many fish a lake holds.

Trips by month

The busiest month is February (20% of trips); 36% were logged December–February (lighter bars).

How they were fishing

From a boat48%
From shore3%
Through the ice49%

Share of the 1,203 trips that recorded boat, shore or ice.

Fish reported

3,679 lake trout reported on these trips. Anglers kept 39% of the ones they reported and released the rest. The app records no sizes.

Lakes on this site with the most trips

  1. Lake of Bays, Muskoka 23
  2. Fletcher Lake, Haliburton 21
  3. Wavy Lake, Sudbury District 21
  4. Rathbun Lake, Peterborough 17
  5. Boshkung Lake, Haliburton 16
  6. Lake Rosseau, Muskoka 16
  7. Muskrat Lake, Renfrew 16
  8. Peninsula Lake, Muskoka 16
  9. Lake Joseph, Muskoka 15
  10. Gull Lake, Haliburton 14

Trips that logged this fish on each lake. A busy lake gets more trips; this is not a ranking of fishing quality. 147 of the 370 lakes are listed on a single trip, one angler’s report.

Often found with

Share of these lakes that also list each fish.

How to recognize it

A grey, green, brown or nearly black back covered in pale worm-like marks and spots, none of them red, with a deeply forked tail. The lower fins have a white front edge but no black line behind it.

Don’t confuse it with

Splake — Splake have only a slightly forked tail and some red spots, where the lake trout's tail is deeply forked and it has no red spots.
Brook trout — Brook trout have a square tail, red spots with blue halos, and a black line behind the white edge of the lower fins.

Life in an Ontario lake

Lake trout are a cold-water fish of deep, clear lakes: the Great Lakes and the deep lakes of the Canadian Shield, across most of the province except the southwest. Soon after ice-out they feed near the surface, then move down below the thermocline as the water warms, usually into water around 12–23 m (39–75 ft) deep. Ontario holds about a quarter of the world's naturally reproducing lake trout populations.

They spawn in the fall over the lake bottom and only rarely in rivers. Growth is slow: fish take several years to mature and can live for decades. In lakes without cisco, whitefish or smelt to eat, lake trout stay small and feed on invertebrates and small fish; where that prey exists, they grow much larger. Lake Superior also has a deep-water form known as the siscowet.

Source: the sources below.

Rules and eating

Before fishing, check the current Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary for your Fisheries Management Zone, any exceptions for the waterbody, and your licence type. Angler catch reports show what people logged, not what is legal to catch or keep. Fish ON-Line itself (how to use it) maps the zones and exceptions. Before eating fish from a particular lake, check the Guide to Eating Ontario Fish.

All 370 lakes with lake trout

Show every lake, by county

Bruce County 1

Gillies Lake

Manitoulin District 1

Manitou Lake

York Region 1

Lake Simcoe

Sources

← All fish of Ontario