FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
The Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) is a fresh and cold-water fish of the Salmonidae family. The biological nomenclature namaycush is from the word 'namekush' of communities of the southeast Cree inland. It is also from the Ojibwe word 'namegos' and 'namegoshens', which mean 'lake trout' and 'rainbow trout,' respectively. Another translation of namaycush is 'little lake trout.' They are primarily native fish of the lakes of North America. They can live up to 25 years. Many more names of this fish are gray trout, mackinaw, namaycush, lake char, great lakes tout, and touladi. They are only members of the Cristovomer subgenus. Lake trouts are a well-prized food, sports, and game fish. The Lake trout found in Lake Superior is called a lean, paper belly, and siscowet. Mud hens is the name given to the dark-colored ones. The subspecies of Lake Trout are the siscowet lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush siscowet), the common lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush namaycush), and the rush lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush huronicus). They can adapt to the environment very well. If the lakes they occupy have no prey fish, they become planktivorous, and in places where these prey fishes are present, they turn piscivorous. They also camouflage well. They can be found mainly in Canada and Alaska for trout fishing. Read on to know more.
You may also enjoy our articles on rainbow trout and brown trout.
The lake trout is a voracious, large, slow-growing freshwater char. They are deep cool lake water fishes. They are found in different colors in different environments so as camouflage in the surroundings. This fish moves to oxygen-rich, cool lakes in the summers, and during spawning, they migrate to idle regions of the lakes. They are one of the many types of trout fish. They are also popular sports and game fish among anglers.
The lake trout belongs to the class Actinopterygii of fish.
The exact number of lake trouts around the world is unknown
These species are native fish in North America. Lake trout live in northern Canada, Alaska, and also northeast America. They were introduced to waters where they are not native such as in Europe, Northern, and Southern America, and a few parts of Asia. Legally, they were introduced in the Shoshone, Lewis, and Heart Lakes of Yellowstone National Park in the 1890s. They are an invasive species in Yellowstone Lake after they were accidentally introduced in the '80s.
The lake trout habitat includes large shallow and cold lakes with high oxygen levels. They also occupy deep oligotrophic (low-nutrient) lakes. They are large predators of the Great Lakes. Their habitat also includes large rivers. They have no anadromous tendency like other Salmonidaes, so they live in freshwater. Only a few water bodies can support lake trout adaptations.
The lake trout live on their own except during the spawning season.
The lake trout's lifespan in captivity is around 12 years. In the wild, they live up to 40 years.
The Lake trout is slow-growing and they reach their maturity pretty late. They have low reproductive potential. Both the male and female trout reach maturity at around six years. A few factors like dissolved solid concentrations and the size of the lake impact the age of maturity of these fish species, research shows. The lake trout spawn in regions of the lake with high-density gravel, rubble, or cobble. The male cleans away any silts present in the bottom of the water to make space for the deposition of fertilized eggs. The spawning process takes place at night and in early winter or fall. Several males engage in amplexus which means clasping with the female when she enters the spawning area. Eggs take as long as four to six months to hatch due to cold water. Only after the yolk sac is completely absorbed does the developing trout remain in the spawning substrate. The lake trout babies or fingerlings travel deep down the water to feed on foods like zooplankton.
The lake trout populations were impacted by the commercial trade in Lake Superior in the annual commercial harvest from 1920-1950 of over 2 million kg trout. Also, overfishing and predation by the sea lamprey caused a decline in these species. Later on, the shutdown of the commercial fishery and the chemical control of sea lamprey helped in the restoration of the population of these species. The current conservation status is not evaluated. Anglers target these fish for sports and games. So, in their native water, their populations face the threat of anglers and pollution. In waters where they are invasive, their populations face the threat of trout fishing, climate change, and pollution.
These cold-water fish species are long and kind of round in shape. They have a light-colored body with dark spots. The tail (caudal fin) is deeply forked. Lake trout species are known to be the largest of the chars. These aquatic fish species come in a range of colors from light green or gray or black or brown to silverish, which depends on the environment. On the head, body, caudal, and dorsal fins small yellow spots are present. The lower fins are colored orange with a white edge. The flanks on their belly are white or milky in color. Unlike their relative fish brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) these fish species have 9-12 gill rakers and lack a black stripe on the anterior edge of their pelvic and anal fin. Their average length is 45-68 cm. On the sides of the young fish of this species, there are about 7-12 interrupted parr marks.
These aquatic fish species have dull colors so, we don't think that they are cute.
The trout fish communicates using touch and smell. They also communicate by releasing chemicals.
The lake trout is 17.7-26.7 in (45-68 cm) long and 4-7 in (10.2-17.8 cm) tall.
Lake trouts are not fast swimmers but there is no exact speed known.
The lake trout weighs 6.6 lb (3 kg).
There is no specific name for a female and male lake trout.
Baby lake trout are called fishling or fry when they are born.
Lake trout feed on many organisms. They feed on freshwater sponges, insects, crustaceans, and fishes. The young ones eat insects, plankton, larvae, and worms. The adult lake trout diet also includes smelt, minnows, small fishes, sculpin, and alewives.
No. They are not dangerous.
No, they would not make a good pet. They will require a big aquarium as they grow to a large size. They are preferred for trout fishing rather than as pets.
The hybrid of lake trout and brook trout is called splake. They have the features of both parents.
Lake trout can be found even at a depth of 200 ft (61 m) in cold deep water.
These plankton-feeding fish mature at an early stage but grow slowly. These plankton-feeding fish are smaller and die sooner than piscivorous fish.
The world record for the heaviest trout is 102 lb (46 kg) and 50 in (130 cm) long reported in Alaska.
To improve the populations of self-sustaining lake trout the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has collaborated with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and the states.
You can use the trolling method to catch one of these species. The Lake trout fishing season is from May to October. It is easier to catch a trout from the shore during the northwest wind.
Yes, people eat Lake fish. These species are oily fishes i.e. they contain oil in their belly cavity and tissues. Around 30% of oil is stored in their fillet. They contain minerals like iron, copper, and zinc. They provide vitamin B1, B6, D, B3, and B12. Their fillet is low in mercury content and nutrient-dense. A few lake trout recipes are grilled lake trout and pan-fried lake trout.
There are many differences between the Lake trout and the Rainbow trout. The Rainbow trout is greenish-blue or green whereas the lake trout is dull greenish-gray. Rainbow trout reach their maturity at three to five years whereas lake trout reach maturity at five to seven years. Rainbow trout eats spawn, fish, and insects whereas lake trout eats alewives and small fishes. Rainbow trout can be caught with worms, spawn, and corn whereas lake trout can be caught with minnows, jigs, spoons, and spinners
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other fish including muskellunge or Gourami.
You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our lake trout coloring pages.
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Salvelinus_namaycush/#reproduction
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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