This is a fish of excellent flavor, and some people consider it fully equal to salmon. The flesh is reddish, and hence it is often called the salmon trout. The color is dark or dusky grey, back and sides sprinkled with spots somewhat lighter, belly light brown or cream color - the teeth, gums, and roof of the mouth having a bright purple tinge. It is a large fish, usually averaging from two to five feet in length, and inhabits all the great lakes in the West, as well as the smaller lakes in the Northern part of the State of New York. It is entirely different from the common lake trout, so abundant in some of the Western lakes.

Sportsmen always take the salmon trout by trolling, or by set lines. For the latter they use the largest sized cod-hooks and cod-lines, and for bait, bits of lake herring or white fish are all that is necessary. In trolling, both tackle and bait are different, the minnow being chiefly used for bait. If you use a rod it should be a stout one with a hollow butt, and an extra top, which could be replaced in case of breakage. The line should be of a length adapted to the ground - firmly made of cotton or strong flax - and your leader should be of twisted gut a yard or more in length. A No. 1 Limerick salmon hook is generally used, with live bait, and No. 3 or 4 hook in fly fishing. A light swivel sinker is necessary when the fish run in deep water. In trolling use swivels freely to keep your line from getting tangled. When you have a bite, slack the line a little to allow the fish to gorge his bait, then begin to pull steadily, after arranging everything in a proper manner to enable you to play your fish. A gaff is generally used for securing the fish after he is brought to the sur face. In fly fishing the largest and most gaudy sal mon flies are generally chosen, attached to No. 3 or No. 4 salmon hooks. Trolling for salmon trout is most excellent sport, and amateurs sometimes spend a whole month at a time in the wilds of Northern New York in pursuing it.

There is a new method for fishing the salmon trout, by using what is called a train of hooks, being a row of hooks fastened on a large round piece of gut, about an inch apart. Three or four hooks are generally used, though some sportsmen use six seven. They should be hooked in different parts of bait, one in the mouth, one in the tail, and others in tough parts of the shiner. The size of the hooks used are No. 5, Limerick salmon, or No. 1 trout. The mouth hook is on a loop, so it can be moved and adapted to any length of bait. The tail hook is fastened on the end of the gut. To ensure success you should have an experienced hand to row your boat in trolling for this fish. The necessary tackle can generally be procurred at the tackle stores, as it is a favorite and delightful amusement for amateurs.