Fishing Beaver Lake in Missoula County, Montana

• Overview

  Beaver Lake stands in Missoula County, Montana. The surface lies 5,735 feet up. At 24 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Start from Seeley Lake, 14 miles down the road. Then Ronan, 24 miles, and Pablo, 27 miles. Within a short drive: Colt Lake within 1.1 miles, Summit Lake 2.9 miles away, Rainy Lake within 3.5 miles, Pierce Lake 3.8 miles away and Lake Marshall within 4.2 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Beaver Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Missoula County: rainbow trout, brook trout and cutthroat trout. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Beaver Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 60°F and January about 21°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. The season on Beaver Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. If the gate is shut, Colt Lake at 1.1 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the current arrangement for Beaver Lake.