It’s a fishing day

Flathead Lake fishing conditions · Montana

Tonight 10 pm to tomorrow 11 amLake trout

The bite peaks at 68. Wind builds to 18 mph out of the south-southwest by tomorrow at 1:00 pm.

Log a trip here
Right now: 68 for lake trout, marginalTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Lake trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 682 pm
  2. 60
  3. 58
  4. 585 pm
  5. 58
  6. 58
  7. 608 pm
  8. 60
  9. 68
  10. 6811 pm
  11. 68Sun
  12. 68
  13. 682 am
  14. 68
  15. 68
  16. 685 am
  17. 68
  18. 68
  19. 688 am
  20. 68
  21. 68
  22. 6011 am
  23. 60
  24. 45
  25. 602 pm
  26. 60
  27. 68
  28. 685 pm
  29. 68
  30. 68
  31. 688 pm
  32. 68
  33. 68
  34. 6811 pm
  35. 68Mon
  36. 68
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Lake trout range 40–52°

Wind
5 mph

From the south-southeast

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:09 pm

Sky
Mostly Sunny

1% chance of rain

Air
53°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Montana Western District regulations for these waters.

Lake Trout

Lake trout

Salvelinus namaycush

68MarginalTonight 10 pm to tomorrow 11 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Lake trout bite in 40–52° water, best near 48°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 30–200 ft down.

Keep

100 a day

Release 30–36".

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 100 lake trout a day and in possession, only 1 over 36", and every fish from 30 to 36" must be released. The south half of the lake is on the Flathead Reservation and needs a tribal permit.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Flathead Lake north of the Flathead Reservation line

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Sep–Jun. More on lake trout

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

68MarginalTonight 10 pm to tomorrow 11 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Yellow perch bite in 45–70° water, best near 58°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No yellow perch limit, but only 10 a day may be over 10". No possession limit.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Flathead Lake north of the Flathead Reservation line

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Jun, Oct–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on yellow perch

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.17 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:09 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow7:32 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:40 pm–4:40 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:30 pm–12:30 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:50 am–7:50 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Montana FWP has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: Montana FWP · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

The largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi in the lower 48 — nearly 200 square miles of cold, clear water below the Mission and Swan ranges. A premier lake trout (mackinaw) fishery worked by deep trolling and jigging, with yellow perch and lake whitefish for lighter tackle. Native bull trout are fully protected.

North of the Flathead Reservation line: 100 lake trout a day, only 1 over 36", and fish from 30 to 36" must be released; no perch limit, but only 10 a day over 10"; cutthroat released. The south half of the lake needs a tribal permit and follows tribal rules.

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Bitterroot River106 mi · MontanaBest now until tomorrow 8 pm
70Worth the trip
Missouri River at Craig121 mi · MontanaBest now until 11 pm
80Worth the trip
Lake Coeur d’Alene124 mi · IdahoBest now until 5 pm
74Worth the trip
Georgetown Lake130 mi · MontanaBest today 3 pm–6 pm
78Worth the trip
Canyon Ferry Lake155 mi · MontanaBest now until 6 pm
90Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Flathead Lake?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Flathead Lake you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Flathead Lake?

Flathead Lake is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Lake Trout, Yellow Perch. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Flathead Lake?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Flathead Lake against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Flathead Lake have?

Flathead Lake has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. North of the Flathead Reservation line: 100 lake trout a day, only 1 over 36", and fish from 30 to 36" must be released; no perch limit, but only 10 a day over 10"; cutthroat released. The south half of the lake needs a tribal permit and follows tribal rules.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Flathead Lake?

state agency regulations apply at Flathead Lake. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Flathead Lake tidal water?

No. Flathead Lake is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.