Classic lake trout patterns persist at first-ice or at season openings, which vary by state and province. One classic opener is the January 1 beginning to the season in Northwest Ontario, a date which I have missed only a few times during these past 20 years.

Several primary trout patterns continue throughout the season, along with secondary ones that develop as the season progresses. I’ve not found much difference in these patterns whether the environment is a western reservoir, a Canadian Shield lake, or a natural lake in the U.S. North Country. Fishing the Great Lakes is another story—although some of these patterns even work there.

Patterning lake trout is a matter of understanding them. They move around more than most fish under ice, although once they find a primary feeding area, they tend to stay there until the food gives out. In most waters most of the time, they don’t hug bottom, tending instead to suspend in their search for forage like ciscoes. When perch are the primary forage, on the other hand, they position closer to bottom.

Lake trout live in clear waters, so even when fish are holding 40 feet down, they can usually see baitfish above them just below the ice. I’ve dropped a lure into an ice hole to begin its descent into the depths and have seen via sonar a laker immediately begin to rise up from water 50 feet deep to intercept the lure. Those are the ones you’re looking for—super-aggressive fish.

But lake trout don’t see down from suspended positions quite so effectively—one reason lures presented near the bottom often don’t trigger fish so well as those suspended higher up. The exception is when fish are feeding on bottom-dwelling baitfish—or when they’re scavenging on dead bait right on the bottom.

One sure way to find a general depth pattern for any given day or portion of a day is to keep searching the entire water column until one develops. You might start with a lure two or three feet above the bottom in 50 feet of water, jig for about 3 minutes; move the lure up 10 feet and jig again; raise it another 20 feet and jig again. I’ve caught 80 percent of my lake trout in less than 60 feet of water, with my lure no more than 15 to 40 feet down. Another 10 percent have come from the same 15- to 40-foot depths over deeper water. The last 10 percent have been caught from deeper water, but 90 percent of those haven’t been deeper than 60 feet.

Perhaps the most overlooked pattern is current-based. One such pattern develops where a creek or small river enters a bay relatively near a portion of the main lake or large bay. Trout move over flats or along drop-offs near this current, which attracts baitfish. Key bottom depths usually are about 20 feet down to the more typical 40 to 60 feet in these areas, but it’s a mistake to think that lake trout won’t move shallow.

Necked-down lake or reservoir areas that also provide current are another key current pattern that gets overlooked. Watch out for skinny ice in these areas. Trout often move long distances to forage here and continue to stay until the baitfish are cropped. These are primary patterns during early season and again at later ice, although they can be important anytime during the season.

The other overlooked pattern is one based on perch. I haven’t often found this to be a primary pattern at first-ice or at season openings, probably because lakers prefer to feed on suspended ciscoes until they have them fairly well cropped. At that point they may push into shallower portions of secondary shallower bays attached to larger main-lake areas. This is a top mid-season pattern, although it’s something to consider all season long when perch are present. Key depths here continue to be 15 to 40 to perhaps as deep as 60 feet down.

When lakers are pursuing suspended forage, they patrol main-lake points—either primary points protruding from large visible islands or portions of the mainland, or points off sunken islands. In many cases, although the fish patrol points, they do most of their actual feeding in the “cups” or inside turns at the base of such points.

Lakers also patrol long steep drop-offs along islands and mainland areas, especially when the drop-off is so precipitous that at least 60 and better yet 80 feet of water push in extremely close to shore. Many of these areas can be found by looking closely at lake maps. This has been one of my primary big-fish patterns over the years.

Truth be told, if I had one final trip to make for fish through the ice, it would be for lake trout. It doesn’t get any better than big aggressive fish that like to eat lures jigged on light line. They’re beautiful fish, too, and great on the table when handled well in the field and prepared with care.

Lake trout fisheries generally are fragile because lakers live long and grow slowly. Handle the great majority of them quickly and release them gently. Celebrate with deep respect an occasional fish for the table.