The Lake Trout, Salvelinus namaycush, is also known as the gray trout, mackinaw, laker, and salmon trout. It is a large, fast-swimming fresh-water fish that is native to Alaska, Canada, and the Great Lakes area. This solitary fish has been introduced in other deep-water lakes, and is now widely distributed in North America. It has a life span of about 20 years and is slow-growing. Lake Trout are commercially valuable fish that are prized for their meat.

Anatomy: The Lake Trout is torpedo-shaped and has a deeply-forked tail. It has a large head with well-developed teeth on the jaws, tongue, and the roof of mouth. The Lake Trout grows to be about 50 inches (1.25 m), but is usually 17 to 27 inches (43-68 cm). Most weigh from 3 to 9 pounds (1.3-4 kg), but it can weigh up to 120 pounds (55 kg).

Diet: The Lake Trout is a carnivore (meat-eater), eating small crustaceans (like shrimp), insects, fish (including Whitefish and Cisco), and even some tiny mammals. Young lake trout eat plankton, insects, shrimp, and small aquatic invertebrates.