Written by: Brian Kozminski, True North Trout
This splake went over 20 inches and hammered an articulated streamer.
Photos by Brian Kozminski
November fishing can be some of the most spectacular in northern Michigan. Last week, we were catching 20-inch fall back browns (heading back to the lake after spawning) on the upper Manistee, and this past weekend felt perfect for splake. The MDNR stocks thousands of these genetic, sterile hybrids of a male brook trout and female lake trout each year in some of our deeper, cold water lakes. This is a fish that grows rapidly and will readily chase a fly.
Splake hang out along deep banks of lakes and at the mouths of incoming streams.
To catch splake, I like to work deep banks and cuts or near feeder streams, and you can often see the fish in this particular lake coming out of the shadows and chasing your best large baitfish imitation. Fishing from a boat can give you a better visible line on the fish and habitat, as well as mobility, but I have seen anglers fish from shore, most often using spawn or perch minnows. It seems that the best days for catching splake feature less-than-desirable weather patterns; wind, hail, and chop make for exciting streamer action for these aggressive over-size hybrid trout.
Splake grow faster and larger than brook trout and readily take flies.
Most anglers use a 6- to 9-weight rod, with a sinking line (such as the TITAN taper from Scientific Anglers), which makes for a nice roll-and-shoot cast in open water. The 20-plus-incher above smashed a white Circus Peanut within two strips and made a few determined dives before coming to the net.
Brian Kozminski, “Koz” to his friends, owns and operates True North Trout guide service in Boyne City, Michigan.
What they lack in traditional brookie colors, they more than make up for in size and aggressiveness.
Maybe you could hold it out a little further. We can’t see it.
Easy now. We’d all rather see less of the angler and more of the fish, wouldn’t you? Gigantic fingers make obvious that there’s no deception intended. We all know it was just over 20” (quoted in the text). Great photo and thanks for the splake tips, Brian.
Thanks for a great piece….would love to be up north taking in all the great water!