Bynum Reservoir Fishing in Teton County, Montana

• Overview

  Bynum Reservoir is a Teton County water, in Montana. This is mixed forest country. It covers about 4.4 sq miles, which means weather matters as much as tactics. With 10 miles or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. Few waters listed in Teton County are bigger. Choteau lies 15 miles from the water. Conrad follows at 27 miles, then Shelby at 47 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Bynum Reservoir

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Fish documented in Teton County include rainbow trout, yellow perch and northern pike. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Bynum Reservoir the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 66°F, with January the cold end at about 23°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. After late March the shallows warm and the fish move up. Climate averages put the opening at about late March and the closing near early December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Bynum Reservoir runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Harvey Lake at 2.2 miles is the sensible second choice. For Bynum Reservoir in particular, ask before you travel.