How do trout move around in a lake, compared to a stream?
The stream logic inverts. In current, food comes to a stationary fish; in still water, the fish must go to the food — so lake-dwelling rainbows and brook trout become cruisers, patrolling repeating beats along shorelines, drop-offs, and weed edges, often surprisingly close to shore in the 1–4 m (3–13 ft) band when temperatures allow. Watch a rising lake rainbow and you can time its circuit: it will come back through on a rhythm, and casting ahead of the cruise path beats casting at the last rise. Lake trout cruise too, but in three dimensions, tracking pelagic baitfish schools through open water. The stream angler's question is "where is the lie?"; the lake angler's question is "where does the path go?"
The full story
This answer is one piece of a longer lesson — setups, diagrams and the reasoning behind it.
More questions about Movement & range
Same topic, other species
- What decides the exact depth a school suspends at? — Crappie
- How deep do largemouth actually go? — Largemouth Bass
- Should I target structure-related fish or suspended fish? — Muskellunge (Muskie)
- Do schools shift depth during the day? — Yellow Perch
- Do big pike patrol regular routes? — Northern Pike
- Do smallmouth school? — Smallmouth Bass
- Do walleye school? — Walleye