Fishing Bryan Lake in Ravalli County, Montana

• Overview

  Set in Ravalli County, Bryan Lake is a Montana water. The surface lies 6,781 feet up. Small at around 12 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The closest town, Stevensville, is 15 miles distant. Hamilton follows at 16 miles, then Lolo at 27 miles. Within a short drive: 0.7 miles away is Garnet Lake, Two Lakes the better part of 1.1 miles, 1.7 miles away is Bear Lake, South Fork Lake the better part of 2.1 miles and 2.1 miles away is Parachute Lake. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Bryan Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Ravalli County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout and brown trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Bryan Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between December at about 18°F and August at about 55°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid May. From about mid May to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. On Bryan Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Failing this one, try Garnet Lake, 0.7 miles away. What applies at Bryan Lake may have changed since it was mapped.