Bootjack Lake (Flathead) Depth Map & Fishing Spots (MT)

Hatch outlook

Grasshoppers (east-side summer)Active window

Typical here: Jul 1 – Oct 15 · until the hard frosts of mid-October; on the Missouri, August hoppers fish mid-river, not the banks

adultall day in high summer, best when afternoon wind knocks bugs onto the water

Pulls fish to the windward grassy banks and edges for months — fish the bank the wind blows ONTO.

The friendliest crossover of the summer: on lakes, drift the windward bank with a bubble-and-foam-hopper — the bubble's splash doesn't hurt a hopper presentation. On rivers, the same rig dead-drifted along the undercut grass banks, or small gold spinners under the banks between rises.

The event happens over grassy banks, undercut edges and windward shorelines

Spruce MothActive window

Typical here: Jul 20 – Aug 31 · a conifer-forest event — it needs fir and lodgepole on the banks, so it's a Rock Creek / Blackfoot / upper Bitterroot specialty

adultmorning through midday — moths don't enter the water willingly — landings are sporadic and near the conifer banks; fish the imitation LOW in the film with minimal floatant, even fully drowned, with a little movement

When the moths show, just about every run produces — large trout key on them so hard that one pattern carries the whole box for two weeks.

Honest limit: a small drowned-surface moth has no lure analog. The workable rig is a casting bubble with a drowned moth pattern along the timbered banks in the morning; otherwise fish spinners early and late and leave the moth window to the film.

2–3 weeks at best, and day-to-day — fish key on the moths when they show and vanish with them

The event happens over banks under conifers — the moths rarely reach mid-river

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours here are interpolated from real agency depth surveys (state DNR / USACE). Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

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Recent catches at Bootjack Lake (Flathead)

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Fishing Bootjack Lake (Flathead): what the data says

45-acre lake in Flathead County, Montana. The lake tops out around 20 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:

Traced from the shoreline, Bootjack Lake (Flathead) runs 38 acres with 1.7 miles of edge. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.9) — enough points and pockets to pattern. About 50% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Figure 0.7 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.2 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Flathead County. For a second option, Murray Lake lies 2 mi northeast.

Rainbow Trout fishing at Bootjack Lake (Flathead)

In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Summer keeps them at 5 to 20 ft, and they winter in 4 to 20 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 14 ft, rated prime for winter rainbow trout. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon most summer days.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	5 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (7 ft)	Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon
Summer	5 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Break off the point (14 ft)	Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon
Fall	6 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (7 ft)	Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals
Winter	4 to 20 ft	dawn	Break off the point (14 ft)	Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white)

Cutthroat Trout fishing at Bootjack Lake (Flathead)

When the water first warms, cutthroat trout slide up into 3 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 20 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 14 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner rigged through the warm months.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	3 to 15 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (7 ft)	Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon
Summer	6 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Break off the point (14 ft)	Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner
Fall	4 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (7 ft)	Casting spoon, Inline spinner
Winter	5 to 20 ft	dawn	Break off the point (14 ft)	Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig

Notable structure

Structure-wise the chart holds 5 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 20 ft.

Deep basin: deep basin, around 20 ft
Break off the point: drop-off, around 14 ft
Secondary point: point, around 11 ft
Main-lake point: point, around 7 ft
Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft

Public access & boat ramps

Bootjack Lake — carry-in

Access data: Montana FWP — Fishing Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.

Bootjack Lake (Flathead) fishing regulations

Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Montana waters are set by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks — and special regulations can apply to Bootjack Lake (Flathead) specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Montana fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Bootjack Lake (Flathead)?

Bootjack Lake (Flathead) is about 20 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.

What fish are in Bootjack Lake (Flathead)?

Anglers target rainbow trout, cutthroat trout on Bootjack Lake (Flathead).

Where is the best fishing spot on Bootjack Lake (Flathead)?

Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.

When is the best time to fish Bootjack Lake (Flathead)?

For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.

What are the fishing regulations for Bootjack Lake (Flathead)?

Fishing on Bootjack Lake (Flathead) is regulated by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Check the official Montana regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.

Nearby waters

Murray Lake 2 mi · Tally Lake 3 mi · Beaver Lake 3 mi · Little Beaver Lake 4 mi · Spencer Lake 4 mi · Woods Lake 4 mi · Skyles Lake 4 mi · Whitefish Lake 5 mi · Blanchard Lake 6 mi · Lower Stillwater Lake 8 mi · Upper Martin Lake 11 mi · Moose Lake 15 mi

See how Bootjack Lake (Flathead) stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Montana · best cutthroat trout lakes in Montana

More water nearby: Flathead County fishing maps (55 charts). Browse all Montana fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.