Splake fishing
Salvelinus namaycush x Salvelinus fontinalis. Hybrid cross between lake trout and brook trout; unlike most hatchery hybrids, splake are fertile and can reproduce.
Splake fishing uses a small spoon or a nightcrawler with a medium power spinning rod. Splake are maintained mostly through hatchery stocking as fingerlings, though the cross is unusual among hatchery hybrids in being fertile rather than sterile.
Published by Fishypedia · Sources last checked September 19, 2026
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
- Active times
- –
- Line
- –
- Hook sizes
- –
- Stocked in
- 8 states
- Peak in MI
- May
Identification
- Hybrid cross between lake trout and brook trout; unlike most hatchery hybrids, splake are fertile and can reproduce.
- Dark background with light spots; the tail is not as deeply forked as a lake trout's, sometimes nearly square like a brook trout's.
- Grows quickly, reportedly reaching about 18 inches within two years of being stocked as a fingerling.
- Coloration and habits vary fish to fish: some resemble drab, deep-holding lake trout, others bright, shallow-holding brook trout.
Sources: wildlife.utah.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , nas.er.usgs.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 19, 2026
Top lures
Sources: wildlife.utah.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , cpw.state.co.us, accessed September 19, 2026
Top baits
Fished near bottom or under a bobber.
Line & tackle
- Rod power
- Medium power spinning rod.
Sources: idfg.idaho.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , cpw.state.co.us, accessed September 19, 2026
Depth by season
Spring
Fish generally use nearshore areas, similar to brook trout habits.
Summer
Fish move to deeper, cooler water as the lake warms, similar to lake trout habits.
Fall
Fish return to nearshore areas as the lake cools, similar to the spring pattern.
Sources: nas.er.usgs.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Stocked behavior
Splake are maintained mostly through hatchery stocking as fingerlings, though the cross is unusual among hatchery hybrids in being fertile rather than sterile. They grow quickly once stocked, reportedly reaching about 18 inches within two years, and individual behavior varies between the deep-holding habits of a lake trout and the shallower, nearshore habits of a brook trout.
Sources: nas.er.usgs.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 19, 2026
Common mistakes
- Assuming a hybrid is sterile; at Hog Park Reservoir, Wyoming, splake accidentally stocked once in the 1980s still persist through natural spawning.
- Judging size by age; in the Intermountain West, splake grow much slower and live a very long time, with fish approaching 30 years old recorded in Wyoming.
Best time to fish Splake
Most commonly stocked in May in Michigan, based on 799 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in May in New York, based on 170 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in June in Utah, based on 123 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in July in Wyoming, based on 90 stocking events on record.
Where it's stocked
84 locations shown. Tap a pin for details. · Open this area in Google Maps
Idaho
Michigan
Minnesota
New York
South Dakota
Utah
Wisconsin
Wyoming
State records
| State | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 18.94 lbs | Robin Perkins | Island Lake (Delta County) | 1976 |
| Idaho | 10.78 lbs | Brian Allison | Ririe Reservoir | 2006 |
| Michigan | 17.5 lbs | – | Lake Michigan - Big Bay De Noc, Delta County | 2004 |
| Utah | 17 lbs. 4 oz. | Stacy S. Willden | Fish Lake | 2006 |
| Wisconsin | 17 lbs. 14.5 oz. | – | Green Bay, Marinette County | 2002 |
| Wyoming | 13.60 lbs. | Shawn Vanwey - Cheyenne, WY | North Crow Reservoir, Albany County | 2011 |
Common questions
What lures work for Splake?
Small spoon, a spoon in silver, gold, and orange. Small inline spinner, a spinner in silver and gold. Streamer fly, a fly in white, olive, and black.
What bait works for Splake?
Nightcrawler. Cut bait or dead minnow (where legal): Fished near bottom or under a bobber.
Where do Splake hold?
Spring: Fish generally use nearshore areas, similar to brook trout habits. Summer: Fish move to deeper, cooler water as the lake warms, similar to lake trout habits. Fall: Fish return to nearshore areas as the lake cools, similar to the spring pattern. Winter: Fish continue to use nearshore areas through the winter months.
How big do Splake get?
The Colorado record is 18.94 lbs from Island Lake (Delta County) in 1976. The Idaho record is 10.78 lbs from Ririe Reservoir in 2006. The Utah record is 17 lbs. 4 oz. from Fish Lake in 2006. 3 more state records are on this page.