Fishing Bass Lake in Ravalli County, Montana

• Overview

  Bass Lake stands in Ravalli County, Montana. It lies 6,795 feet above sea level. At about 123 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Roughly 1.8 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. Few waters listed in Ravalli County are bigger. Nearest place of any size is Stevensville, 11 miles away. Lolo follows at 15 miles, then Orchard Homes at 22 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Bass Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Open biodiversity records for Ravalli County list rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and brook trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Fish Bass Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 18°F to 55°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid May. Averages suggest open water from about mid May through to roughly mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. At Bass Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Sweeney Lake, 1.7 miles out. The position on Bass Lake is worth confirming on the day.