Fishing at Wildcat Lake, Flathead County, Montana

• Overview

  Wildcat Lake is listed under Flathead County, Montana. It sits at 5,827 feet above sea level. Roughly 38 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The nearest town is Bigfork, 11 miles away. Somers follows at 15 miles, then Evergreen at 15 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules. Trees come down to the water on one side more than the other.

• Where to Fish on Wildcat 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. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Flathead County records list rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, largemouth bass, brook trout and yellow perch among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Wildcat Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 58°F at the top of summer and 19°F at the bottom of winter. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. The season between ice runs from about late April to mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. On Wildcat Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Twin Lakes, 1.5 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Ask locally about Wildcat Lake if anything is unclear.