Tiger trout (Salmo trutta x Salvelinus fontinalis)

Tiger trout can be caught year-round, although the spring (after ice-out) and fall are the best times to target them.  During those seasons, the tiger trout will normally be found in the upper water column in search of food.  As the water warms up during the summer, the trout will move to deeper, cooler water.  As the surface temperatures cool down in the evening the fish will move up near the surface and into the shallows.

Tiger trout can be successfully caught on flies, spoons, spinners, and bait.  Since tiger trout are aggressive and piscivorous (they eat other fish), a minnow imitation such as a streamer or Rapala are a good choice.  These fish can be successfully caught from shore as well as from a boat or float tube.  For shore anglers, the best time to fish is either early in the early morning or in the evening.  The fish will be paralleling the shoreline for prey as the water is cooler and the low light conditions prevent them from being detected.  They are also less wary at this time of day.  When fishing from a floating device (e.g. a boat or float tube) trolling is an effective method.  One can use pop gear with bait or lures.  Some popular lures are: Kastmasters, Triple Teasers, and Jake's Spin-a-lure. Fly fishers do well with leech, muddler, woolly bugger, and nymph patterns.  If fish are taking flies at the surface use a floating line and a dry fly or emerging pattern.  Otherwise, a sinking tip or full sinking fly line would be best with streamers and nymph patterns.