Badger Reservoir in Valley County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Montana, Badger Reservoir belongs to Valley County. It stands 2,375 feet above sea level. A pocket of water where every cast reaches cover. Our Valley County list holds plenty of bigger water. 9.9 miles away sits Glasgow, the nearest town. Billings is the closest city, 180 miles away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Badger Reservoir

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Valley County cover Chinook salmon, northern pike, cisco and walleye. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Read Badger Reservoir before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 72°F and January near 13°F on the long-run figures. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The lid usually goes in early April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. In an average year the thaw lands around early April and the freeze near late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. At Badger Reservoir the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. 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. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. VR-167 Reservoir sits 1 mile off and takes the overflow. For Badger Reservoir, the notice at the access point is the final word.