Fishing at Upper Fishtrap Lake, Sanders County, Montana

• Overview

  Upper Fishtrap Lake is listed under Sanders County, Montana. It lies 4,111 feet above sea level. At 5 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Thompson Falls lies 20 miles from the water. It is 104 miles to Spokane, the nearest city. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Upper Fishtrap Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Survey and observation records for Sanders County include rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Fish Upper Fishtrap Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August runs about 60°F on average, January about 22°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. After early April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Ice usually gives way near early April, and forms again about late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Upper Fishtrap Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Fishtrap Lake is 0.7 miles distant. For Upper Fishtrap Lake in particular, ask before you travel.