Fishing at Canyon Lake, Ravalli County, Montana

• Overview

  Montana holds Canyon Lake, in Ravalli County. Pine and birch runs right down to the water. The water covers some 31 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Size puts it in the front rank of our Ravalli County list. The town to know is Hamilton, 8.2 miles out. After that come Stevensville at 22 miles and Lolo at 37 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Canyon Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name 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. Canyon Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 19°F to 56°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early May. From about early May to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. It sets the rhythm of the year at Canyon Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Wyant Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Where Canyon Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.