However, the average weight in current catches is less than 4.54 kg. This species is native to northern North America. In Canada, it occurs from the Maritime Provinces and Labrador in the east to northern British Columbia in the west. It is widely distributed in the Yukon and Northwest Territories. Commercial fishermen catch lake trout winter and summer using gillnets.
Largest production comes from the lakes of northern Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories.
Anglers catch them in surface waters very early in the spring by fly or spin fishing. As the surface waters warm up, these fish retire to deep water making necessary the use of special, deep-water tackle. Only in far northern lakes are they caught in surface waters during the summer. The flesh of the lake trout varies in colour from pale ivory to deep pink and has an especially delicate, delicious flavour. It is principally marketed fresh or frozen as whole dressed fish and as fillets.