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Fishing Lake Sutherlin: what the data says
482-acre lake near Montana. The lake tops out around 51 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 follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Lake Sutherlin
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 40 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 18 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Kokanee fishing at Lake Sutherlin
In spring, kokanee run shallow here, mostly 10 to 30 ft. By summer they slide out to 15 to 51 ft, and by winter most fish are in 13 to 51 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 51 ft, rated prime for summer kokanee. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 15 to 51 ft | dawn | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 13 to 51 ft | dawn | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Brook Trout fishing at Lake Sutherlin
In spring, brook trout run shallow here, mostly 2 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 3 to 20 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 18 ft, rated prime for summer brook trout. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Lake Whitefish fishing at Lake Sutherlin
Start shallow in spring: lake whitefish sit in 15 to 45 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 15 to 51 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 51 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 51 ft of water that rates prime for lake whitefish in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. A blade bait vertical or a small jigging spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 45 ft | midday & dawn | Small jig + waxworm, Blade bait (small) |
| Summer | 15 to 51 ft | dawn | Blade bait vertical, Small jigging spoon |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | dusk | Small spoon (gold), Jig + plastic larva |
| Winter | 15 to 51 ft | midday & dawn | Jigging spoon + bead chain, Tungsten jig + waxie |
Burbot fishing at Lake Sutherlin
In spring, burbot run shallow here, mostly 15 to 51 ft. Summer fish stay in 15 to 51 ft, and winter fish hold in 13 to 51 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 51 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is after dark and midday. Summer baits: a heavy jig + cut bait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 15 to 51 ft | night & dusk | Glow jigging spoon + cut bait, Rattle bait (dark) |
| Summer | 15 to 51 ft | night & midday | Heavy jig + cut bait |
| Fall | 15 to 51 ft | night & dusk | Glow spoon + minnow head, Blade bait (slow) |
| Winter | 13 to 51 ft | night & dusk | Glow tungsten + cut bait, Rattle spoon + minnow head |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 51 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 18 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 10 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 4 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 2 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft
Common questions
How deep is Lake Sutherlin?
Lake Sutherlin is about 51 ft 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 Lake Sutherlin?
Anglers target rainbow trout, brook trout, kokanee, lake whitefish, burbot on Lake Sutherlin.
Where is the best fishing spot on Lake Sutherlin?
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 51 ft of water that rates prime for kokanee in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Lake Sutherlin?
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.
Nearby waters
Newlan Reservoir · Kolar Reservoir 2 · Ackley Lake · Canyon Ferry Reservoir · Hound Creek Reservoir · Gollaher Reservoir
See how Lake Sutherlin stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Montana · best brook trout lakes in Montana · best kokanee lakes in Montana · best lake whitefish lakes in Montana
Browse all Montana fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.