Scott,
I was intrested in makinaw also & had previously researched it. The 2 links I gave were the one's I had saved. Somewhere, If I remember correctly & I can't find it again I read growth rates were >= other trout with the same forage. The greater growth rates came from their ability to swallow larger fish than other trout. From what I read I was left with the understanding the Lake Trout would out grow & out compete any other trout given constant ample forage fish. They are however great survivors & will resort to eating plankton when nothing else is availiable. Here are 2 quotes reguarding their feeding habits:
"zooplankton, insect larvae, small crustaceans, clams, snails, leeches, several kinds of fish, mice, shrews, and even occasional young birds. When available, lake trout feed extensively on other fish such as whitefish, grayling, sticklebacks, and sculpins."
"In smaller lakes, with fewer forage species, lake trout tend to be planktivorous for much of the year. In these lakes, they tend to prey upon small crustaceans and several species of aquatic insects."
I'll probably be adding a few to my pond for the fun of someday maybe catching a REALLY BIG trout & the fact that they will occupy a mostly unused area of the pond.
Ric
