Fishing Big Trout Lake

Big Trout Lake offers excellent panfish fishing despite a complex management history. The Bluegill population scored 'good' on the Schneider Index with fish ranging 1-7 inches and 34% over harvestable size, though growth runs 1.3 inches below average. Pumpkinseed Sunfish provide better size structure with 82% over 6 inches and near-average growth. Black Crappie are establishing nicely with fish up to 12 inches and should provide increasing opportunities. The lake's 27 acres reach 18 feet deep, with good dissolved oxygen down to 15 feet in summer but dangerous winter conditions starting at just 5 feet deep. Water clarity is excellent at 10.5 feet Secchi depth. The shoreline has moderate development with 119 logs per mile of woody habitat. Nearly a century of trout management included six complete lake poisonings and multiple fish barriers, but warmwater species always recolonize from connected waters. The most recent Rainbow Trout experiment from 2014-2019 produced only one surviving fish. Brown Trout stocking continues as a final attempt, but the lake clearly favors warmwater species. Access is good via a state boat launch with parking for four vehicles. Fish hold around woody structure and in the deeper basin during summer, but winter fishing is risky due to severe oxygen depletion. The panfish provide the real opportunity here, especially for families targeting smaller Bluegill and quality Pumpkinseed.