Black Lake, Montana: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Lake County, Black Lake is a Montana water. The surface lies 3,251 feet up. The water covers some 60 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The bank runs about 1.5 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. 12 miles away sits Lakeside, the nearest town. It is 144 miles to Lethbridge, the nearest city. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Black Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Open biodiversity records for Lake County list rainbow trout, sockeye salmon and smallmouth bass. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Anyone new to Black Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 26°F in January to roughly 65°F in August. Some winters cap it and some do not. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Plan any trip to Black Lake around it. Spring fish sit shallower than most people expect.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Mikes Pond at 1.8 miles is the nearest alternative. Signs at Black Lake carry more weight than any list.