Alkali Lake in Meagher County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Meagher County, Montana, this is Alkali Lake. The bank is 5,102 feet above sea level. It covers about 13 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Townsend is the closest town at 26 miles. It is 130 miles to Billings, the nearest city. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Alkali Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Meagher County records list rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, white sucker and largemouth bass among the fish reported. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Take Alkali Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 64°F for July and 20°F for January. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Winter locks it down, and early April brings it back. Climate figures give an open season running early April to late November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It holds true on Alkali Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Hanson Reservoir at 3.2 miles is the sensible second choice. What applies at Alkali Lake may have changed since it was mapped.