Anybody know anything about lake trout?

[Joe Shlabotnik]

I was walking the dog tonight through our local park which runs along a creek ('bout 1/2 mile south) and drains into lake Ontario. The pathway is about 200 feet from the creek. It was pretty crappy and rainy out, but the dog and I heard all of this commotion in the creek (figured it was maybe a large rat). I dismissed it until we were on the way back, but then I thought, maybe I should check it out just in case someones lost poodle fell in the creek or something.

Turns out to be a big (I'm pretty sure) lake trout, about 2 1/2+ feet long; flopping around in about 4 inches of water. My first thought was to climb down and give it hand, but I realized that I had no clue what the fuck it was doing. Spawning? Laying eggs in the rip-rap? Lost? Isn't that an awfully big for lake trout? It looked super healthy too.

If I was my grandfather, then we'd be eating trout for dinner tomorrow, But I figured it'd be best if I didn't interfere and let do whatever it was doing. It was weird to see such a beautiful specimen of nature embedded into my dreary suburban creek.

[Angry Dragon]

1. I would think wrong time of year for spawning

[Brickbat]

2. Lake trout spawn in the fall.

That's a nice size!

ETA: Also, if I were you, I'd give your DNR a call just to let them know what you saw. Lake trout need all the help they can get.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

3. The thing is,

its probably only moved 100 feet away from where I saw it an hour ago. I could probably go back and find it. I'd have gotten all muddy and grabbed it and sent it on its way.... But I didn't know if it was heading south into the city where it would die, or heading north into the lake. Too bad I don't like to eat fish. It would make a beautiful trophy too.

[Brickbat]

4. Yeah, that's why I'd call the DNR and just give them a heads-up.

Even if the fish is gone by now, they'd like to hear about a big one like that, and know where it's spawning (or lost).