Best pike and muskie lakes in the West: 12 lakes to fish

The lakes

1. Fort Peck Lake, Montana

At some 245,000 acres, Fort Peck Lake is a huge piece of water. It holds northern pike, walleye, lake trout and smallmouth bass. At about 220 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.

Fort Peck Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Flathead Lake, Montana

Flathead Lake covers some 126,000 acres. Northern pike, lake trout, yellow perch and trout are the draw. At about 371 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look.

Flathead Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho

At 93,900 acres of water, Lake Pend Oreille is a huge piece of water. Northern pike, trout, lake trout and kokanee salmon are the draw. At about 1152 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove worth a first look.

Lake Pend Oreille today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Coeur d'Alene Lake, Idaho

At some 31,900 acres, Coeur d'Alene Lake is a big lake. The fish here are northern pike, largemouth bass, kokanee salmon and trout. At about 194 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Coeur d'Alene Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Lake Koocanusa, Montana

Lake Koocanusa covers some 46,500 acres. It lies about 5.2 miles southeast of Eureka. Northern pike, trout, kokanee salmon and largemouth bass are the draw. At about 350 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Lake Koocanusa is a transboundary reservoir that stretches from Montana north into British Columbia, Canada.

Lake Koocanusa today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Navajo Reservoir, Colorado

Navajo Reservoir covers some 15,600 acres. It lies near Bayfield. Navajo Dam holds it on the San Juan. Expect northern pike, bluegill, catfish and crappie. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Navajo Reservoir straddles the Colorado-New Mexico border and was formed by a dam on the San Juan River.

Navajo Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. McPhee Reservoir, Colorado

At some 4,470 acres, McPhee Reservoir is a good-sized lake. You will find it about 8.8 miles south of Cortez. It is the Dolores behind McPhee Dam. Northern pike, walleye, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass are the draw. It goes down to about 270 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. McPhee Reservoir is the largest reservoir in the San Juan National Forest, formed by a dam on the Dolores River.

McPhee Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Eleven Mile Reservoir, Colorado

At 3,400 acres, Eleven Mile Reservoir is a good-sized lake. You will find it near Cripple Creek. It holds northern pike, trout, kokanee salmon and smallmouth bass. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Eleven Mile Reservoir sits in South Park and is managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife as part of Eleven Mile State Park.

Eleven Mile Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Jordanelle Reservoir, Utah

Jordanelle Reservoir covers about 2,610 acres. You will find it about 22 miles west of Sandy Hills. The fish here are muskie, trout, kokanee salmon and smallmouth bass. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Jordanelle Reservoir on the Provo River supports a broader range of fish species than most other reservoirs in the area, including tiger muskie.

Jordanelle Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Pineview Reservoir, Utah

Pineview Reservoir is a reservoir of about 2,390 acres. It lies near Wolf Creek. The fish here are muskie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and crappie. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Pineview Reservoir is one of only a few lakes in Utah stocked with tiger muskie.

Pineview Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Yuba Lake, Utah

Yuba Lake is a reservoir of about 9,260 acres. The lake is about 60 miles north of Provo. Northern pike, walleye, smallmouth bass and yellow perch are the draw. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a steep ledge worth a first look. Sevier Bridge Reservoir, better known as Yuba Lake, is the fourth-largest man-made lake in Utah.

Yuba Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Payette Lake, Idaho

Payette Lake covers 5,060 acres of water. The lake is next to McCall. Muskie, trout, lake trout and kokanee salmon are the draw. The deepest water is around 304 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove to work. Payette Lake, at McCall, was formed by glacial activity and is stocked with tiger muskie as a trophy fishery.

Payette Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Pike and muskie through the year in the West

Use these as a starting point and let the water temperature decide: the lake pages show it every morning.

• Spring: Prime range. Weed edges and shallow bays.
• Summer: Warm water. Bigger fish move deeper; best early.
• Fall: Prime range. Weed edges and shallow bays.
• Winter: Prime range. Weed edges and shallow bays.