When most people think about fishing out of Whitehall, they think about king salmon. But some of the most fun—and some of the most important—fish we catch every season are lake trout.
To be honest, trout can absolutely make a good day even better.
Some days we’ll target them specifically, and other days we’ll slide into our trout program during the middle of the day to put a few extra fish in the cooler before setting back up for salmon later on.
A mixed bag of salmon and trout is hard to beat on Lake Michigan.
Why We Love Fishing for Lake Trout
Lake trout are one of the most dependable fish in Lake Michigan and are a big part of our fishery. They love cold water and they love the bottom.
They’re also a great way to add extra action to the day. Some of our best trips have included a mixed bag of salmon and trout, giving our customers a chance to catch a variety of fish and head home with plenty of fillets.
And every now and then, the trout decide to steal the show.
Whitehall Has an Outstanding Lake Trout Fishery
One of the things I love about fishing out of Whitehall is how quickly we can get into productive trout water.
Lately, the magic depth has been right around 120 feet of water. We’ll still catch bigger fish deeper from time to time, but the numbers have been best around that 120-foot range.
That’s one of the nice things about trout fishing—they’re usually pretty predictable. Find cold water, find the bottom, and you’re usually around fish.
Good Electronics Are Everything
I honestly don’t know how we’d consistently catch trout without good electronics.
We rely heavily on our Airmar TM-150 transducer, and for trout fishing it’s absolutely critical.
Lake trout spend so much time glued to the bottom that poor sonar can make them almost impossible to see. You need good bottom separation to pick out those fish laying tight to the lake floor.
The TM-150 allows us to clearly identify trout holding on bottom and helps us stay in the most productive water throughout the day.
If you’re serious about trout fishing on Lake Michigan, having quality electronics isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.
How We Find Them
Our approach is pretty simple.
We’ll start trolling northwest and keep covering water until we start seeing solid marks on the bottom.
Once we find a group of fish, we stay on that depth.
Lake trout tend to bunch up, and when you find them, there’s usually more than one down there.
A lot of our better trout days come from finding that productive depth and just staying with it.
The Claybanks Trout Grounds
About 9 to 10 miles north of Whitehall sits Claybanks, and this area has become one of our favorite places to target lake trout.
Over the years, we’ve found that the clay pockets off Claybanks seem to hold fish consistently. If we’re marking trout and seeing good bottom life, there’s a good chance we’re somewhere around these clay areas.
When we head north looking for trout, this is often where our search starts.
The combination of cold water, bottom structure, and those clay pockets seems to make this area one of the better lake trout grounds near Whitehall.
As with most trout fishing, the exact depth can change from day to day, but lately the magic number has been around 120 feet of water.
If you’re looking to add a few extra fish to the cooler or put together a mixed bag of salmon and trout, don’t overlook the waters off Claybanks.
Pound Bottom, But Respect It
One of the biggest things I can tell someone who’s new to trout fishing is don’t be afraid to fish tight to the bottom.
We intentionally keep our downrigger cannonballs right on the lake floor. In fact, we run 20-pound
cannonballs because they help us stay down and maintain good contact with the bottom, especially in deeper water.
Sometimes we’re ticking bottom. Sometimes we’re stirring up a little mud.
That’s exactly where lake trout live.
If you’re fishing ten feet off the bottom, there’s a good chance you’re fishing right over the top of them.
That said, pounding bottom isn’t risk free.
You never really know what’s down there. Rocks, old cable, logs, and other debris can all be sitting on the bottom, and every once in a while your cannonball finds something it doesn’t want to let go of. We’ve even brought up sticks and debris while targeting trout.
It’s a balancing act. Stay too high and you miss fish. Stay too low and you might end up donating a downrigger weight to Lake Michigan.
The key is learning how to stay as close to the bottom as possible while still fishing smart.
Our Favorite Trout Rig
I’m a big believer in keeping things simple.
One of our favorite setups is a:
And honestly, the trout seem to think it’s a pretty good combination too.
It’s a setup that’s produced fish for us year after year and continues to put trout in the boat.
When We Target Trout
One of the things I love about fishing out of Whitehall is that we have options.
A lot of times we’ll spend the early morning targeting salmon and then slide into our trout program during the late morning or early afternoon. As the sun gets higher, lake trout can provide steady action and put a few extra fish in the cooler before we set up for another salmon bite later in the day.
Having a solid trout program gives us another tool in the toolbox and allows us to make the most of every trip on Lake Michigan.
Planning a Trip to Whitehall
If you’re looking to chase kings and coho, be sure to check out our Whitehall Salmon Fishing Guide, where we break down when and where to target salmon throughout the season.
If you’d like to experience Lake Michigan trout fishing for yourself, visit our Fishing Charter Rates and Booking Information page to learn more about our trips.
Final Thoughts
Lake trout don’t always get the same attention as king salmon, but they’re an incredibly important part of our fishery.
They’re dependable, they’re fun to catch, and they give us another opportunity to put together a great day on the water.
Find cold water. Stay on the bottom. Trust your electronics. And when you find them, don’t leave fish to find fish.
That’s usually a pretty good recipe for putting some trout in the cooler.
Frequently Asked Questions
Looking for the latest conditions? Visit our Whitehall Fishing Reports page for recent catches, water temperatures, and what’s happening on Lake Michigan right now.
You can also read our latest Whitehall Fishing Report for the most up-to-date information before your trip.