Big Creek Lakes Fishing Guide, Ravalli County, Montana

• Overview

  Big Creek Lakes is set in Ravalli County, Montana. The water sits 5,860 feet up. The water covers some 238 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The edge covers about 4.3 miles, enough to hold several distinct areas. On our Ravalli County list it sits near the top for size. Stevensville sits 13 miles from the bank. Hamilton lies 20 miles off, Lolo another 23 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Big Creek Lakes

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Records held for Ravalli County cover rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout, brown trout and sockeye salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Big Creek Lakes the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 55°F at the top of summer and 18°F at the bottom of winter. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid May. On average, mid May opens the water and mid November closes it again. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Big Creek Lakes.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Pearl Lake is 2.4 miles distant. Nothing on Big Creek Lakes should be assumed from this page alone.