Return of the Lake Trout

For now, better fisheries management has helped Lake Michigan see a return of lake trout.

The sport has changed for fishermen like Bentley, but he said there’s always been something biting on the end of his line.

Last year was the best in several years, he said. Though king salmon catches remained low, many of the fish from yesteryear, like lake trout, seem to be returning.

“We’ve seen Lake Michigan go through a lot of changes, but it all seems to work out and it always ends up being OK,” Bentley said. “Last two years, I’ve been encouraged by the comeback. I don’t think we’ll ever see the heyday of king salmon, but I think they’ll always be available.”

tbriscoe@chicagotribune.com

Fishing for Trout and Salmon in the Great Lakes

The fishing boats are out today.  Read about how the Great Lakes became a mecca for trout and salmon fishing in The Dynamic Great Lakes, a critically acclaimed non-fiction book.

The book is widely available in bookstores and on the net.  Barnes & Noble offers a good price.

The Freshwater Seas

The Great Lakes are really freshwater seas.  They contain about 18% of the fresh surface water in the U.S.  and can be treacherous for boaters and swimmers who underestimate their power.

Right now fish are migrating toward their spawning places in the lakes and in tributary streams.  Pacific salmon that were planted in the Great Lakes will die after they spawn.  Lake trout, a native species will continue to live after they spawn.

For more information about the Great Lakes and their biota, read my book, The Dynamic Great Lakes, available at bn.com, Amazon, and many independent bookstores.

salmon, steelhead, lake trout are in

Some salmon, steelhead, and lake trout are being caught at the mouths of rivers that flow into Lake Michigan. Suddenly the water went from the 70's to the 40's and the fish are heading for their spawning beds.