Big Fork Reservoir Fishing Guide, Valley County, Montana

• Overview

  Valley County, Montana, is where Big Fork Reservoir sits. It sits in dry rangeland. This is a pocket water of some 9 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Ground here is low by Montana standards. Some 12 miles away sits Glasgow, the nearest settlement. Then Wolf Point, 53 miles, and Malta, 54 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Big Fork Reservoir

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Fish documented in Valley County include Chinook salmon, northern pike and cisco. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Read Big Fork Reservoir for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 72°F at the top of summer and 13°F at the bottom of winter. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early April and starts locking again about late November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. At Big Fork Reservoir the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Last Reservoir sits 1.8 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing on Big Fork Reservoir should be assumed from this page alone.