Montana's Fort Peck lake trout

[Bauer]

Heading to Peck next week for my first attempt at some lakers. Anyone have any do's or don'ts or a favorite bait? We will be staying in a VRBO in Fort Peck and mainly using the marina for access unless weather says otherwise.

Thanks in advance.

 

[wslayer]

Nice . . . good luck !

 

[scrotcaster]

Good Luck,, Went two springs ago this same week and out of the same area. If you have a livescope bring it. it they chase,, Real as fast as you can.. cat and mouse type thing it seems. Good Luck!, its a blast.

 

[YCbtx]

Never been this early...always gone in July, August or October. Seems like a different bait is top dog every time, so bring lots of different things and rifle through them. Yes...paddletails, tubes, hair jigs... etc will always catch some but seems like one specific one each time out fishes the rest 4 to 1. Second the livescope...ran 2 of them last year...no problem seeing them down to 100ft and seemed like it was a timing thing when triggering a chase....don't be afraid to take it away from them way before you think...they will come from 40ft away in the snap of a finger and trash it.

 

[Wall-eyes]

They will be leaving shallows by now. Poke around 40 to 90 feet find humps, try Haxby point and York Island, 2D sonar is best look for big humps, 3/4" to 1" oz white paddle tails work good plus other check bait shop they are very helpful. Jig them hard work them hard have fun. I grew up and lived in Montana for along time the best time is July and August. If you hit them, they will wear out your arms. Enjoy trip.

 

[Rowdie]

Good LUCK that's one thing I'd really like to do!

 

[Vollmer]

Badass, good luck! Enjoy

 

[Wirehair]

Good luck! Planning on making a trip out there in July.

 

[CatDaddy]

Good luck! Looking forward to the report!

 

[Bauer]

Thanks everyone for the replies and private messages, I wanted to go early in the season to keep the stress on the fish to a minimum and from what I am being told, the heat wave, then cold snap is just what we needed to set them up for some fun. We will mainly be targeting the dry arm and of course York Island, but depending on wind/weather we may spend a day over near crooked creek. I will hopefully have some fun to share when we get back.

 

[zoops]

Seems like everybody and their brother goes out there anymore. Big lake, I know. Is it fairly busy?

 

[Rowdie]

Seems like everybody and their brother goes out there anymore. Big lake, I know. Is it fairly busy?

Google boat launches on Peck and see how much water there is between them.

 

[zoops]

Google boat launches on Peck and see how much water there is between them.

I'm aware. But isn't the laker fishing mostly near the dam?

 

[Lycanthrope]

are lake trout good to eat? Ive never had a trout I would pick over a walleye or pike on the table.

 

[Retired-Guy]

are lake trout good to eat? Ive never had a trout I would pick over a walleye or pike on the table.

I have eaten a lot of pan fried freshly caught lake trout while canoeing in the BWCA in MN but I am with you. I'd much rather eat walleye or pike. Lake trout smoke well because they are a little oily like salmon.

 

[scrotcaster]

I have eaten a lot of pan fried freshly caught lake trout while canoeing in the BWCA in MN but I am with you. I'd much rather eat walleye or pike. Lake trout smoke well because they are a little oily like salmon.

Any out of knife lake ? iam heading there in two weeks, never been to BWCA before and kinda excited

 

[Retired-Guy]

Not sure where Knife Lake is located so I guess none out of Knife. We accessed the BWCA off of the Gunflint Trail on Seagull Lake. Mainly fished Gabimichigami Lake that is about 8 or 9 portages SW of Seagull. Where are you accessing the BWCA from?

 

[svnmag]

are lake trout good to eat? Ive never had a trout I would pick over a walleye or pike on the table.

IME/O trout are trout. Species or size doesn't make a difference.

 

[scrotcaster]

Not sure where Knife Lake is located so I guess none out of Knife. We accessed the BWCA off of the Gunflint Trail on Seagull Lake. Mainly fished Gabimichigami Lake that is about 8 or 9 portages SW of Seagull. Where are you accessing the BWCA from?

Gotcha,, Moose Lake #25,, iam hoping to catch one so i can cross boundary waters laker off my list

 

[Twitch]

IME/O trout are trout. Species or size doesn't make a difference.

Speckled trout are super delicious…but to be fair the name is a bit misleading since they’re in the drum family