Where are lake trout in summer, and how deep is deep?
They are wherever the water is 8–12 °C (46–54 °F), which after stratification means one specific stratum — typically 20–30 m (66–98 ft) down in mid-latitude lakes, shallower at 50°N-plus where the whole lake stays colder. This is the most predictable positioning in freshwater fishing: run sonar until you mark bait (cisco, smelt) at temperature depth, because the lakers are with the food inside the band. They will make brief vertical raids above it to hit a school and drop back. Meanwhile stream rainbows and brookies compress toward whatever cold the system offers — spring seeps, tributary mouths, deep shaded pools — and the 20 °C (68 °F) rule governs whether you should be fishing for them at all.
The full story
This answer is one piece of a longer lesson — setups, diagrams and the reasoning behind it.
Same topic, other species
- Why are summer crappie out over the open basin instead of on the bank? — Crappie
- How deep do largemouth go at midday in summer? — Largemouth Bass
- What is the core summer muskie pattern — weeds or open water? — Muskellunge (Muskie)
- What does a summer day look like for a perch school? — Yellow Perch
- How should I re-think a lake for pike in high summer? — Northern Pike
- What is the standard summer walleye program? — Walleye