Summer Trolling on Torch Lake for Lake Trout and Atlantic Salmon Over Deep Water

As summer settles into Northern Michigan and Torch Lake begins to warm, the fishing patterns for Lake Trout and Atlantic Salmon change dramatically. Fish transition away from shallow spring locations and begin relating to deep water structure, cold water temperatures, and the developing thermocline. This period creates some of the most technical — and rewarding — trolling opportunities of the season.

At Fish With Jim Outfitters, targeting Lake Trout and Atlantic Salmon over deep water on Torch Lake is all about precision trolling and covering multiple sections of the water column effectively.

During the summer months, Lake Trout commonly hold near the bottom in depths ranging from 150 to 280 feet of water. To consistently target these fish, heavy trolling equipment and deep presentations become essential. One of the most productive setups we run is downriggers positioned directly on or just above the bottom. These presentations allow us to keep baits in the strike zone where mature Lake Trout spend much of their time during the warm-water period.

In addition to downriggers, wire Dipsy Divers rigged with mag divers are a critical part of our spread. Wire line cuts through the water efficiently and allows mag divers to reach extreme depths while maintaining aggressive action. These rods often produce some of the hardest strikes of the day from large Lake Trout feeding tight to bottom structure and deep bait concentrations.

Our go-to deep-water presentation consists of 131 Custom Lures 8-inch flashers paired with Spin-N-Glows. This combination creates tremendous flash, vibration, and attraction in the deep water environment and consistently triggers Lake Trout throughout the summer season. The rotating flasher combined with the subtle action of the Spin-N-Glow is one of the most reliable setups for targeting big fish over Torch Lake’s deep basins.

While targeting Lake Trout deep, Atlantic Salmon are often suspended much higher in the water column around the thermocline. Catching these fish consistently requires a completely different approach happening simultaneously in the same spread.

To target Atlantic Salmon during the summer months, we run a wide range of lead core lines from 1-color all the way to 12-color setups. These lines allow us to efficiently cover the water above and below the thermocline, which on Torch Lake is typically found between 30 and 50 feet down depending on weather conditions and water temperatures.

Atlantic Salmon are constantly moving and feeding throughout this zone, so running multiple lead core lengths helps locate active fish and determine exactly where they are positioned on a given day.

For salmon presentations, bright-colored spoons are often the key to success. Some of our top producers include spoons from Silver Streak, Michigan Stinger, and Dreamweaver. Bright UV patterns, metallic finishes, and high-contrast colors tend to excel in Torch Lake’s clear water conditions, especially when targeting suspended fish feeding aggressively around the thermocline.

One of the most exciting parts about this style of fishing is the variety of action throughout the day. One moment you may be fighting a heavy Lake Trout from the bottom in 250 feet of water, and the next a screaming lead core rod starts ripping with an Atlantic Salmon high in the spread. Covering the entire water column allows us to target multiple species at once and maximizes opportunities throughout the trip.

Torch Lake Trips for Every Experience Level

Deep-water trolling on Torch Lake requires specialized equipment, advanced trolling systems, electronics, and a strong understanding of fish behavior throughout the water column. For many anglers, putting together a setup capable of fishing 200-plus feet of water while simultaneously targeting suspended salmon can be overwhelming and expensive.

That’s where Fish With Jim Outfitters comes in.

Our fully guided Torch Lake trolling trips are designed for everyone — from experienced anglers who already own boats and want to learn advanced Great Lakes trolling techniques, to beginners who simply want to experience the excitement of salmon and trout fishing without investing in all the equipment.

We provide the boat, rods, reels, lead core setups, downriggers, wire diver systems, tackle, electronics, and proven lure combinations needed to consistently target Lake Trout and Atlantic Salmon throughout the summer season. Our trips are hands-on, educational, and focused on helping anglers better understand trolling strategy, fish location, electronics, and presentation techniques.

Whether you are looking to sharpen your skills or simply spend a day on beautiful Torch Lake catching fish, Fish With Jim Outfitters offers a trip option built around your experience level and goals.

Summer trolling on Torch Lake is one of Northern Michigan’s premier fishing experiences. If you’re ready to chase deep-water Lake Trout and suspended Atlantic Salmon while learning proven Great Lakes trolling tactics, book a trip with Fish With Jim Outfitters and experience Torch Lake at its finest.