Beaver Lake Fishing near Whitefish, Montana

• Overview

  Out in Flathead County, Montana, sits Beaver Lake. It lies 3,278 feet above sea level. It measures about 152 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The edge runs 2.8 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. On our Flathead County list it sits near the top for size. Whitefish lies 4.1 miles from the water. For a city, Lethbridge is 114 miles off. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Beaver Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name rainbow trout, sockeye salmon and largemouth bass. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. At Beaver Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 63°F in August and bottom out at 21°F in January. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early April. Climate averages put the opening at about early April and the closing near late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. The season on Beaver Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Public data has parking about half a mile from the shore. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Little Beaver Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. For Beaver Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.