Fishing Wapiti Lake in Missoula County, Montana

• Overview

  Set in Missoula County, Wapiti Lake is a Montana water. The bank is 7,169 feet above sea level. At roughly 17 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Bonner-West Riverside lies 15 miles from the water. East Missoula follows at 15 miles, then Missoula at 16 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Wapiti Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Missoula County records list rainbow trout, brook trout, cutthroat trout, northern pike and sockeye salmon among the fish reported. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Wapiti Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 55°F and December about 19°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early May. Expect the water usable from around early May until roughly mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Wapiti Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Crazy Fish Lake, 1.5 miles out. Confirm before you fish Wapiti Lake.