Fishing at Alpine Lake, Powell County, Montana

• Overview

  In Montana, Alpine Lake belongs to Powell County. The ground round it is mixed forest. At roughly 22 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. The nearest town is Anaconda, 15 miles away. Beyond it, Deer Lodge at 16 miles and Warm Springs at 17 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Alpine Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Survey and observation records for Powell County include rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout and northern pike. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Work Alpine Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 53°F at the top of summer and 18°F at the bottom of winter. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Count the season from break-up, usually mid May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid May and starts locking again about early November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Anyone fishing Alpine Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Albicaulis Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. What applies at Alpine Lake may have changed since it was mapped.