The Lake Trout is a member of the Salvelinus (Char) species. Other common names for the lake trout are lake char, mackinaw, touladi, togue, forktail trout, Great Lakes trout, laker, laker trout, land-locked salmon, Mackinaw, Mackinaw trout, mountain trout, namaycush, salmon trout, truite grise, truite de lac, omble gris, Canadaröding and grey trout. Names for lake trout specific to Lake Superior are siscowet, paperbellies and leans. The other subspecies of the Char species are arctic char, aurora trout, brook trout, bull trout, Dolly Varden trout, and silver trout. The scientific name for the lake trout is Salvelinus namaycush .

This trout is the largest in North American, with a typical weight range of eight to twelve pounds. The lake trout are typically 15 to 20 inches in length. This trout is torpedo shaped with a unique deeply forked tail. The forked tail is atypical when compared with this trout's other relative, the rainbow trout and brown trout. The lake trout has well developed teeth located on its jaws, tongue, and roof of its mouth. This fish's coloring is a darker gray or green back with pale spots and a lighter underbelly.

Lake trout are native and widespread throughout North America. Lake trout were originally found in lakes in Alaska, Canada, and the northeastern United States. The lake trout has been introduced into lakes throughout the world. These regions include Europe, South America, and certain areas of Asia. Lake trout only congregate and school during spawning season. Aside from this time of year, the lake trout is a solitary fish.

Lake trout prefer a cold climate. Their ideal lake temperature is 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideal water for the trout is clear, clean and oxygen rich. Lake trout can be found in shallow lakes and rivers, as well as deeper lakes, such as Lake Superior. The lake trout is the least tolerant species of the char family. Due to their affinity for cold temperatures the lake trout can typically be found in the depths of lakes (up to 100 feet) during the summer.

Lake trout spawn at an age of 5 to 6 years old. This commonly occurs in late autumn. The process starts with female trout releasing their eggs over the rocky lakebed. A female can lay anywhere from 400 to 1200 eggs. Once the eggs settle into the cracks and crevices the males fertilize the eggs. The eggs will hatch in approximately four to five months. Once the trout hatch their diet consist of plankton, crustaceans, and insects dwelling on the lake bottom. As the trout become adults they adjust their diets to include fish, typically ciscoes and smelt and sometimes small mammals.

Trout have many predators in their lake habitat. They are often eaten by large fish such as the sea lamprey. Birds, including mergansers and loons also eat lake trout.

Lake trout were originally a game fish and a commercial fish, especially in Lake Superior. However, with the introduction of the exotic sea lamprey to the lake, the lake trout populations have severely declined. Canada and the United States have been working as a team to reduce the population of the sea lamprey.