Best bass lakes in the West: 12 lakes to fish
The best bass lakes in the West: Fort Peck Lake, Lake Powell and Lake Mead and more, with where to start and how the fish move through the year.
Largemouth on the grassy flats, smallmouth on the rock: the West has lakes for both. Here are 12 lakes where bass are on record, with where to start on each.
The lakes
| Lake | State | Also holds |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Peck Lake | Montana | walleye, northern pike, lake trout |
| Lake Powell | Utah | striped bass, walleye |
| Lake Mead | Nevada | striped bass, catfish, crappie |
| Lake Tahoe | California | lake trout, trout, kokanee salmon |
| Flaming Gorge Reservoir | Wyoming | lake trout, trout, kokanee salmon |
| Coeur d'Alene Lake | Idaho | northern pike, kokanee salmon, trout |
| Shasta Lake | California | trout, kokanee salmon |
| Elephant Butte Lake | New Mexico | striped bass, crappie, catfish |
| Lake Berryessa | California | trout, kokanee salmon |
| Lake Chelan | Washington | lake trout, kokanee salmon, trout |
| Banks Lake | Washington | walleye, yellow perch |
| Lake Mohave | Nevada | striped bass, trout |
1. Fort Peck Lake, Montana
At some 245,000 acres, Fort Peck Lake is a huge piece of water. Expect smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike and lake trout. The deepest water is around 220 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank worth a first look.
Fort Peck Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
2. Lake Powell, Utah
Lake Powell spreads over 161,000 acres. Expect smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, striped bass and walleye. The deepest water is around 583 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work.
Lake Powell today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
3. Lake Mead, Nevada
Lake Mead spreads over 158,000 acres of water. It holds largemouth bass, striped bass, catfish and crappie. At about 532 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank worth a first look.
Lake Mead today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
4. Lake Tahoe, California
Lake Tahoe spreads over some 122,000 acres. Expect smallmouth bass, lake trout, trout and kokanee salmon. It goes down to about 1645 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look.
Lake Tahoe today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
5. Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Wyoming
At some 42,000 acres, Flaming Gorge Reservoir is a big lake. Smallmouth bass, lake trout, trout and kokanee salmon are the draw. The deepest water is around 436 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look.
Flaming Gorge Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
6. Coeur d'Alene Lake, Idaho
Coeur d'Alene Lake spreads over 31,900 acres of water. Largemouth bass, northern pike, kokanee salmon and trout are the draw. The deepest water is around 194 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.
Coeur d'Alene Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
7. Shasta Lake, California
Shasta Lake covers some 30,000 acres. Spotted bass, smallmouth bass, trout and kokanee salmon are the draw. It goes down to about 517 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look.
Shasta Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
8. Elephant Butte Lake, New Mexico
At about 27,300 acres, Elephant Butte Lake is a big lake. Largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie and catfish are the draw. The deepest water is around 197 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank to work.
Elephant Butte Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
9. Lake Berryessa, California
At 20,700 acres, Lake Berryessa is a big lake. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, trout and kokanee salmon are the draw. It goes down to about 275 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start.
Lake Berryessa today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
10. Lake Chelan, Washington
At 33,300 acres of water, Lake Chelan is a big lake. The fish here are smallmouth bass, lake trout, kokanee salmon and trout. At about 1486 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer.
Lake Chelan today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
11. Banks Lake, Washington
At some 26,900 acres, Banks Lake is a big lake. The fish here are smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye and yellow perch. It goes down to about 177 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank: good places to start.
Banks Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
12. Lake Mohave, Nevada
Lake Mohave covers 26,500 acres. Expect largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass and trout. The lake bed gives you four steep ledges and a wind-blown bank to work.
Lake Mohave today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed
Bass through the year in the West
The water temperature on the day matters more than the calendar: each lake page on LakeScope shows today's surface temperature and how the fish should react to it.
- Spring: Warming up. They move toward shallow flats on sunny afternoons.
- Summer: Active early and late. Head to shade, docks and grass in midday.
- Fall: Fall feed. They chase baitfish into creeks and coves.
- Winter: Cold and sluggish. Fish slow and deep near steep banks.
Questions
What is the best bass lake in the West?
Fort Peck Lake in Montana is our first pick; Lake Powell and Lake Mead are close behind.
When is the best time to fish for bass?
Warming up. They move toward shallow flats on sunny afternoons. Fall feed. They chase baitfish into creeks and coves.
Your lake every morning
Water temperature, level, wind and bite times on your phone.
