Compare 1 documented access option before you commit to a shoreline or launch.
View access →Montana lake guide
Lake Five Fishing
Lake Five near West Glacier is a well-used fishery with kokanee, yellow perch, an official Montana FWP bathymetric map, and a developed public launch at Paul's Memorial Fishing Access Site.
LocationFlathead County, Montana
Primary targetsKokanee, Yellow Perch
Best seasonSpring through fall
Lake size151.8 acres
Max depth62 feet
Access1 documented option
Guide reviewed
Start here
Plan Lake Five in 60 seconds
Make the trip decisions first. Use the deeper lake science, surveys, stocking history, and source material below when you want more detail.
Start with the documented species list, then open a species guide for seasonal behavior and practical tactics.
Choose a fish →Use verified depth information to identify basins, breaks, points, channels, and other structure before you fish.
View depth information →Wind, rain, temperature, and changing access can alter the plan quickly. Check current conditions before leaving.
Check conditions →Lake details
Depth, size & key facts
Average depth18 feet
Max depth62 feet
Elevationabout 3,272 feet
Public launches1
Summer cautionHeat
Lake depth map
Depth contours may take a little time to load. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Contour line20 ft Visible depth label
Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Historical survey data may not reflect current water levels or underwater hazards. Informational only; not for navigation.
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Trip conditions
Current conditions
Loading the local forecast. Check access and official notices before leaving.
TodayLoading
WindLoading
GustsLoading
Rain chanceLoading
Four day outlook
Tools
Today's Lure Pick
Open Tools for species-specific lure guidance.
Official depth chart
Official static bathymetry
Interactive contours available
Lake Five official depth chart
Open the official depth publication to inspect the lake chart. This static survey complements interactive contours when available and should not be used as a navigation chart.
Fishery record
Documented fish species
These species come from the lake record. Open a species guide for identification, seasonal behavior, and practical tactics without confusing general species guidance with a lake-specific survey result.
Stocking information
Lake Five Fish Stocking
Recent stocking information summarized from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Dates and quantities can change. Always verify current fishing rules with the official agency before fishing.
Official stocking history
Five-year summary · 2022–2026
View agency record Fish stocked29,469
Stocking events6
Years stocked5
Species stocked2
Species in this period: Brook Trout, Kokanee
Most recent stockings
| Date | Species | Quantity | Size | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2026 | Brook Trout | 2,200 | 3.6 in avg length | Giant Springs Trout Hatchery · Montana FWP Fish Stocking Records |
| Apr 27, 2025 | Brook Trout | 2,000 | 3 in avg length | Giant Springs Trout Hatchery · Montana FWP Fish Stocking Records |
Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Last checked: Sep 5, 2026 9:54am
Fishery intelligence
Official fishery evidence
Agency survey records and measured fishery data, distilled for trip planning.
10
verified signals
Research & surveys
Official survey records available
Use the evidence
Turn records into a fishing plan
- Compare survey evidence with the seasonal guide.
- Use the map to connect depth, access, and structure.
- Confirm current rules and access before your trip.
Angler interpretation
How the fishery changes through the seasons
This is the practical layer: use it alongside the documented species, depth, stocking, survey, access, and regulation record above. The current season opens first.
Spring
kokanee- Start here
- Cooler water, recent stocking, fish moving shallow, and protected shorelines or inlets that warm first.
- Watch for
- Cold fronts, changing water levels, muddy inflow, and early-season ramp conditions.
Summer
panfish, kokanee early- Start here
- Fish early or late, then adjust toward deeper water, shade, vegetation, or comfortable temperature zones.
- Watch for
- Heat, weeds, algae, heat, and heavier boat traffic.
Fall
listed species- Start here
- Cooling water, shoreline structure, points, weed edges, and simple presentations that let you cover water.
- Watch for
- Wind on open water, rapidly changing weather, and shorter daylight windows.
Winter
perch- Start here
- Legal open-water or ice access, stable depth zones, and conservative cold-weather trip plans.
- Watch for
- Ice safety where relevant, ramps, road conditions, cold-water exposure, and current rules.
Know before you go
Rules and restrictions
Montana Western Fishing District lake and reservoir rules apply. Western District lakes are open all year unless a listed exception, emergency restriction, or closure applies. Check the current Montana FWP regulations before fishing.
Explore by region or target
More ways to explore this fishery
Use FishyNW fishing hubs to compare this water with other relevant lakes and rivers without starting another search.
Local angler stops
Nearby bait & tackle
Independent and locally owned shops near this water. Call ahead if you need a specific bait or item.
Lakestream Fly Shop
Independent fly shop and guide serviceWhitefish, Montana · Long-running independent Flathead Valley fly shop with gear, flies, reports, and guide service.
Chancy & Dave's Fish Camp
Independent bait and tackle shopEvergreen / Kalispell, Montana · Compact local tackle shop stocked for northwest Montana lakes and streams with bait, locally relevant tackle, and fishing advice.
Snappy's
Independent Montana sporting goods storeEvergreen / Kalispell, Montana · Long-running independent Montana outdoor store with a large fishing, marine and water-sports department.
Local-business listings can change. FishyNW does not rank shops by payment or sponsorship. Verify current hours and inventory before driving.
Keep exploring
Nearby waters
The four closest FishyNW lake guides by straight-line distance.
Blanchard Lake
15.3 miles away · Lake
Targets include Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch.
Whitefish Lake 16.7 miles away · LakeTargets include Lake Trout, Lake Whitefish, Mountain Whitefish.
Beaver Lake 18.5 miles away · LakeTargets include Kokanee, Rainbow Trout.
Bootjack Lake 22.0 miles away · LakeTargets include Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Burbot.
Did you know?
What makes Lake Five distinctive
Lake Five reaches about 62 feet at its deepest documented point.
Lake Five sits at roughly 3,272 feet in elevation, so seasonal access and water temperature can differ sharply from lowland lakes.
Lake Five has documented stocking context in the FishyNW research record, adding a managed-fishery component to its profile.
Research & monitoring
Water science & monitoring
Loading available public monitoring and fishery science. Use this as supporting research, not as a live fishing report.
Pass 3 · depth + water column
Seasonal Fish Habitat
Surface · 0 ft
How to read this data
Temperature, dissolved oxygen, clarity, nutrients, chlorophyll-a, pH, and conductivity are observations from public monitoring records and may be historical. Thermocline depth is shown only when FishyNW can derive a strong vertical temperature gradient from a measured profile. It is not treated as a permanent lake characteristic.
Trophic indication uses the Carlson Trophic State Index only when FishyNW can normalize a measured chlorophyll-a, Secchi, or total-phosphorus value. It is a derived ecological indicator, not an agency impairment determination.
Seasonal Fish Habitat is shown only when verified bathymetry overlaps a same-day, same-station temperature and dissolved-oxygen profile. It is a historical screening snapshot, not a live prediction of where fish are located.
For lake trout, FishyNW uses the broader USGS-tested screening combination of water at or below 15°C (59°F) and dissolved oxygen at or above 4 mg/L. For other coldwater species, FishyNW does not invent a preferred-temperature threshold; it shows only the observed thermocline-to-oxygenated-depth refuge when the evidence supports it.
Harmful-algae status is never inferred from missing data. Always check the linked state source for current advisories before contact recreation.
Open matched Water Quality Portal recordsSources & feedback
Verified resources
Official links for this lake
Open the source that matches what you are planning.
Community feedback
See something that needs an update?
Send the correction and, when possible, the source. FishyNW reviews submissions before changing the guide.