average laker

[younglogger2001]

what is your average laker that you catch..in maine..no fish storys

[Fishn'Rod]

Low 20's is a pretty average togue I think. Perfect eating size. 

[lunkahville]

Average is 5# 22"-28"

[JDK]

20-22 inches. 

[MG39]

Low 20's is a pretty average togue I think. Perfect eating size. 

That's about the average size, but as for eating, they aren't on my menu. I've been told that since they are feeding heavily on those alewives, it has affected their taste??  Before that, some have said they are good on the smoker.
I have tried a smoked pate that wasn't too bad.

[JDK]

I've been told that since they are feeding heavily on those alewives, it has affected their taste?? 

That is exactly what we have found, Bob.  Togue that are feeding primarily on smelt taste far better than those that are eating alewives.

[LilWeezy]

My largest was 20 inches.

[Fishn'Rod]

I haven't noticed a difference, but I think the last couple I had were smelt eaters. A lot of people don't like them. A lot of people don't like mackerel either but I love them. To each his own. 

[JoshRobbins]

20-23 is what I usually catch in the summer, I've never caught them through the ice though...everyone says the big ones are caught in winter.

Also, I think they taste great, I think maybe the salmon snobs are the ones that hate lakers...but I'll eat them all!

[TwoLightsKid]

I'd agree average about 20", at least on Sebago where I do most of my fishing.  Average seems a bit smaller in Jordan Bay, and a bit bigger on the big bay areas that often don't freeze and border on the main basin of the lake.  I'm sure the average varies a lot from lake to lake and depending on technique.  You'd probably average better size but fewer fish if you only fished 10-12" suckers for example, rather than the mid-sized jigs I mostly use.

As far as eating, I'm not sure of the smelt versus alewife diet issue.  Most I've caught seem to be full of smelt, but my most recent catch included one full of alewives, so I'll get a chance to test that theory once they're done in the smoker! 

[fishinguy165]

I fish a lot of lakes in the Bangor region and just about all I ever get is fish in the 16-20" range. anything that hits 21" I consider a whopper    First touge I ever saw come through the ice was 27" and I've never caught anything approaching that mark.

[kevinmaine3]

That's about the average size, but as for eating, they aren't on my menu. I've been told that since they are feeding heavily on those alewives, it has affected their taste??  Before that, some have said they are good on the smoker.
I have tried a smoked pate that wasn't too bad.

16-20in.. All last  year I fished a lake with the liberal touge limit. I kept a lot of small ones last year, put em on the smoker.. They were pretty good.

[jacksmelt71]

for eating the smaller the better. they're oily over 4lbs. i take the skin and belly meat off and they're excellent! id say my average is in the middle 20's but i use 6in. plus smelts so i don't get many below 20in.