Fishing Strawberry Lake in Flathead County, Montana

• Overview

  Look for Strawberry Lake in the Flathead County part of Montana. Country round the bank runs to lake country bush. The closest town, Bigfork, is 11 miles away. The big place round here is Lethbridge, 116 miles distant. Others worth noting: Wildcat Lake sits 1.5 miles out, Lamoose Lake out at 2.9 miles, Twin Lakes sits 2.9 miles out, Blackfoot Lake out at 3.1 miles and Clayton Lake sits 4 miles out. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Strawberry Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. 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. Public occurrence data for Flathead County names rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, largemouth bass and brook trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Take Strawberry Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 19°F in January and 58°F in August. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about mid November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. On Strawberry Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. If the gate is shut, Wildcat Lake at 1.5 miles is the nearest alternative. The position on Strawberry Lake is worth confirming on the day.