Best walleye lakes in the West: 12 lakes to fish

The lakes

1. Fort Peck Lake, Montana

Fort Peck Lake spreads over some 245,000 acres. The fish here are walleye, northern pike, lake trout and smallmouth bass. At about 220 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank to work.

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 of water. It holds walleye, striped bass, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. It goes down to about 583 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start.

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

3. Banks Lake, Washington

At 26,900 acres, Banks Lake is a big lake. The fish here are walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and yellow perch. The deepest water is around 177 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank to work.

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

4. Pathfinder Reservoir, Wyoming

Pathfinder Reservoir is a reservoir of 22,000 acres. You will find it near Rawlins. Pathfinder Dam holds it on the North Platte River. Expect walleye, trout, kokanee salmon and yellow perch. At about 192 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.

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

5. Lahontan Reservoir, Nevada

Lahontan Reservoir is a reservoir of 10,000 acres of water. You will find it within an easy drive of Sparks (about 31 miles). Expect walleye, white bass, catfish and largemouth bass. Lahontan Reservoir was formed by Lahontan Dam, completed in 1915 as one of the first U.S. Bureau of Reclamation dams, and is a popular warm-water fishery.

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

6. Bighorn Lake, Wyoming

At some 17,300 acres, Bighorn Lake is a big lake. It lies about 9.4 miles west of Lovell. Walleye, trout, yellow perch and catfish are the draw. It goes down to about 450 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove: good places to start. Bighorn Lake straddles the Wyoming-Montana border within Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, impounded by Yellowtail Dam.

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

7. Conchas Lake, New Mexico

At some 9,600 acres, Conchas Lake is a good-sized lake. The lake is near Mosquero. It holds walleye, largemouth bass, white bass and catfish. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Conchas Dam, completed in 1939 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, impounds the Canadian River.

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

8. Utah Lake, Utah

Utah Lake spreads over 95,000 acres. You will find it right by Saratoga Springs. The fish here are walleye, largemouth bass, white bass and catfish. It goes down to about 14 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs: good places to start. Utah Lake is a large, shallow freshwater lake whose biomass is dominated by common carp.

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

9. Noxon Reservoir, Montana

Noxon Reservoir spreads over 7,940 acres of water. It lies about 17 miles southeast of Thompson Falls. It is the Clark Fork River behind Noxon Rapids Dam. Expect walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike. It goes down to about 200 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Noxon Reservoir on the Clark Fork River is a top smallmouth and largemouth bass fishery in Montana.

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

10. Canyon Ferry Lake, Montana

At 33,500 acres, Canyon Ferry Lake is a big lake. You will find it near Townsend. It is the Missouri River behind Canyon Ferry Dam. It holds walleye, trout, northern pike and largemouth bass. It goes down to about 166 ft. Its bed shows three steep ledges and an upper arm worth a first look. Canyon Ferry Lake, near Helena, is one of Montana's most popular fishing and boating destinations.

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

11. Lake Pueblo, Colorado

Lake Pueblo covers 5,670 acres. You will find it about 4.8 miles north of Pueblo West. It is the Arkansas behind Pueblo Dam. The fish here are walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and spotted bass. The deepest water is around 135 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Pueblo Reservoir was built by the Bureau of Reclamation as part of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project.

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

12. Ute Lake, New Mexico

Ute Lake spreads over 8,200 acres of water. The lake is near Tucumcari. It is the Canadian behind Ute Dam. Expect walleye, largemouth bass, catfish and crappie.

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

Walleye 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: Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Summer: Warm surface. They go deep in the day; try evenings.
• Fall: Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Winter: Good cool-water bite, best at dusk and after dark.