Fort Peck? Lake Trout information?

I'm not sure how Peck is for Lakers as I've only fished it for walleye. This year would probably ok, but most years I'd worry about taking a trip that far that late in the year. Camped there on the ice in Jan. 3 times and never saw over 12 inches of ice on that lake.

Having fished for Lake Trout all my life, I'm guessing they would be the same there. Where I have fished, late ice is deep water fishing but usually suspended fish. We find the deepest water, have fished as deep as 125+ and found them suspended anywhere in that depth. All depends on the depth of the lake, just look deep. Depth finder is key for this. Other times of the year, they can be found anywhere from 20ft on up, just have to find em. Can be tight to the bottom or 10 feet from the top and everywhere in between. 30-70 feet of water, fishing on the bottom is never a bad place to start, if they're there, you should find them. Jig aggressively and they can hit hard. You can use all the same things you do for eyes, but pimples are my favorite. The difference is plastics can work well. Tube jigs especially, but plastic lizards, twisty tales etc. can all be good. A longer rod with some backbone doesn't hurt but just imagine hard hitting northerns in deep water, what would you use for that?

Good luck and let us know how you do.

Thanks for the information, we have been watching the weather very closely as ice was a concern.  We are still getting reports of 12-14 inches of ice.  We plan to run around with an ATV and vexilars will be in hand.  Thanks again.

what area of the lake are you going to fish?   we fished hell creek in early feb and the ice was fairly good, about 15 inches, but there are alot of methane pockets and we found open water in 4 spots, so watch out close for those.  fishing sucked!!!  we didnt catch much and what we did was small!!   good luck and let us how you did

We are also fishing out of Hell Creek.  We hope to find something, LOW's didn't treat me very good the last couple years so we are heading west.

Hell Creek, sounds like a nice place.  Sounds like you should bring your life jackets.

make sure if you bring tire chains!  you will need them to get in and out.  the marina has nice big frozen smelt and they have really nice minnows there to.

never been to fort peck but fish canada alot . i like to fish big points and bottle-necks such as where an island gets close to mainland. drill lots of holes then set tip-ups with live minnows or smelt with quick strike rig. then jig with one rod moveing from hole to hole. i like to free spool to the bottom jig a few times then crank up a few turns and jig again all the way to the top. i use a 6foot med/heavy rod, they hit like a freight train. vexilar is great but a high percentage of the time they come in so fast by the time you see them there smacking the lure. we start in 20-60 feet of water, use 1 ounce jigs with whole smelt and stinger hooks or airplane jigs.  been using live-target lately for walleyes through ice and anchored in summer cant wait to try for trout.

Can you even get into Hell Creck this year and if so can you get around on the ice and is it safe???  PM polekat he might know.

So far our reports have been good ice but the latest forecast doesn't look good with highs in the 40's all week.  I guess a boat in the tailrace isn't a bad backup plan!  Thanks for the info and I will pm polekat.

Well, looks like Ft. Peck isn't in the cards for this year on the ice.  They had rain last night and conditions have gotten very wet and sloppy.  With 50's in the cards for the next couple days, we decided to cancel the long drive.  Reports are northerns in hell creek have been good, but the walleye bit has slowed the last couple days and would require 3 mile trip on a ATV if you can get on the ice as the shoreline is beginning to open up today.

Again thanks for the information, and sorry I could not post a first hand report back.  We do have a plan B - so off to Bismarck for fun and fishing.  We are taking bass tackle, long rods, and ice gear so the options are endless.

What is the outlook for salmon on Fort Peck this year?

Being I was from Glendive and folks had cabin up there it use to be hot 15 years ago. Look up Ifishfortpeck.com good buddy and knows his stuff about all the fishing. His guide service is best too. Watch out for road to Hell creek it is all gravel and if you been in Badlands in ND can we say Gumbo Crap.Chains are must and good rig. Great Marina to fish out of. Man we caught alot of pig walleyes back than. Since drought dropped lake down many years ago it is on a turn aroung now.