Lake Trout Near Missoula

[GrizzFire]

With the FWP water body info down, and being new still to Missoula, is there any lakes somewhat near that have Lakers? Any info is greatly appreciated, thank you

[albo]

flathead

[pmmpete]

Flathead, Swan, Holland, and Lindbergh.  If you're willing to drive further, Whitefish Lake and other lakes in the Whitefish area also have lake trout.  Flathead Lake has the biggest lake trout fishery, but the only portion of Flathead Lake which freezes over with any frequency is East Bay, and in many years the ice may only survive on East Bay for a couple of weeks before it gets busted up by waves coming from the north and/or warm weather.  East Bay is an unusual place to fish for lake trout because its's only 5 or 6 feet deep even a mile north of the Ducharme fishing access. The first quarter mile north of the Ducharme fishing access is a mud flat in the winter, so don't try to drill any holes until you're sure you're over water, or you'll drill into frozen mud and dull the heck out of your auger blades.

[CaptStripSet]

Hey Pmpete its josh your mac buddy.... as for lake trout most lakes are snowed in that have them at this point so you need a snow machine or be ready to walk about a mile in deep snow which sucks for anyone...or you have to know someone on private drives to access them and it is almost always like that every year as they do not plow most roads to lake trout bearing lakes near missoula... You're best bet is flathead but nobody is really catching anything because the water is crystal, shallow and the fish aren't actively in there at the moment as of this week.... If you do plan on hitting east bay you aren't going to hit the mother load of macks you may catch a fish or half a dozen on a great day there or anywhere for that matter other than say whitefish, mcgregor or swan and even then you are going to have to put in a lot of leg work and time to find them as they are always moving especially in winter when they don't have to rely on a thermocline to survive and stay active as they do outside of winter.

[pmmpete]

The only public access onto Lindbergh Lake is the state campground near the inlet.  There's a mile of road between Lindbergh Lake Road and the boat ramp which isn't plowed in the winter.  So to ice fish on Lindbergh Lake, you need to either (a) haul your gear on foot for a mile to the lake, (b) use a snowmobile or ATV to haul your gear a mile to the lake, or (c) get permission from a landowner on the lake (preferably a landowner with a relatively flat lot) to go through their property to the lake.

Lindbergh Lake frequently develops a lot of slush on top of the ice, and you can get a snowmobile or ATV real stuck in slush.  So before you drive a snowmobile or ATV out onto the lake, walk well out onto the ice to check for slush. 

[GrizzFire]

Thank you all for the info, I really appreciate it! Lindbergh sounds like a plan possibly, I don’t have a sled or ATV but a mile of snowshoeing sounds like a great PT day to me. For Lindbergh, is there any springs to watch out for Pete? With all this snow might get hard to see em

[CaptStripSet]

Just to give you a heads up Grizfire as I would want the same... most people dont catch anything there first couple times going out to lindbergh... there arent that many lakers to begin with and its one hell of a trip out of missoula there to not catch fish.... Good luck tho

[GrizzFire]

I appreciate the heads up Capt, good to know. May just have to accept that the Flathead area is where I should go, but any day on the ice sure beats a day in the house so might have to just make a trip and try it out