Lake Trout Fishing On Flathead Lake: What you need to know.

Riverstone Outfitters

Flathead Lake isn’t just Montana’s largest natural lake—it’s home to some of the biggest lake trout (mackinaw) in the Lower 48. If you’re chasing trophies, you’ve come to the right water.

Why Fish for Lake Trout on Flathead?

Flathead Lake offers deep, cold water that lake trout love, with plenty of room to grow. Fish here routinely tip the scales at 10+ pounds, and 20- to 30-pounders are caught every year. This is big game angling with mountain views.

Best Time to Fish for Lake Trout

You can target lake trout on Flathead year-round, but spring and fall are prime. In the spring, lakers move up into shallower water and become more aggressive—perfect for jigging and trolling. Fall is spawning season, and it’s your best shot at a real tank.

Techniques We Use

At Riverstone Outfitters, we typically target lake trout using:

• Trolling with downriggers and planer boards
• Vertical jigging in 80–150 feet of water
• Heavy spoons, swimbaits, and cut bait rigs

We adjust depending on the season and the day’s conditions. Our boats are rigged and ready to adapt.

What to Expect on a Trip

A guided lake trout trip with us means a full day on the water chasing hard-pulling fish and soaking in Flathead’s views. We launch out of Bigfork or Lakeside depending on conditions and go where the fish are biting. We provide all the gear—you bring a license, layers, and a little luck.

Catch and Release or Take Some Home

Lake trout are great table fare, and Flathead Lake has a healthy population. If you want to keep a few eaters, we’ll clean them for you. If you're just in it for the fight, we’re all about CPR (catch, photo, release).

Ready to Book Your Trip?

We guide lake trout trips on Flathead Lake from early spring through late fall. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or just want to get out on the water, we’ll tailor the trip to you.

Book online now or shoot us a message—let’s get you on the water and into a monster mack.