They eat anything really.  Perch, cisco, smelt, alewives, other lakers, bass, ect.  Lakers are pelagic so most of what they eat are pelagic as well. 

I do a lot of 10" plastics and they dont shy away.

I know they are quite the predator fish. It's not usual for them to extirpate smelt when the smelt are in a down cycle in smaller lakes and reservoirs. Happened out here in Indiana when the state planted a butt load of lake trout in a 500 acre oligotrophic lake system. It's too bad as the smelt helped produce browns to 13 lbs,. but the smelt are gone and so are the big brown trout with rare exceptions. I was part of a trout org that wanted to import smelt fry from a hatchery in Maine, but the state nixed it citing the smelt are an "exotic species." Aren't rainbow and brown trout also exotic that are planted annually? 

i caught a few spawned out females prior to the close this spring wont be many eyes in creeks or the canal this yr, but seemed to be plenty of eyes feeding while i was perch fishing last few weeks . I wouldnt be fishing the normal opening day spots this yr i would start deeper unless your trying at night

I know its muddy still but anyone tried the lake recently for crappie? Its time for them to start heading toward the banks to spawn. Thinking about heading over this evening to give it a shot. Fished spillway twice in the last 2 weeks and probably caught 100 + crappie with 0 being keeper size so think ill try some spawning areas on the lake.

Fished the housy yesterday from 8 to 3. Double digits but they had dumped them in on Tuesday.  It was busy, lots of guys in the notable pools.  I stayed away from those spots and focused on pocket water and was really happy I did. I didnt have to fight crowds or be within earshot of anyone which was great.  Beautiful day too.  All trout were caught on a #8 pats and a caddis dropper.  Lots of hits on the swing.  The trout are looking up!

Getting back into the swing!