Fishing Chilled Lakes in Madison County, Montana

• Overview

  Chilled Lakes sits within Madison County in Montana. Elevation runs to 9,554 feet. It covers about 6 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Montana listings. Big Sky is the closest town at 6.2 miles. Four Corners lies 22 miles off, Bozeman another 27 miles. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Chilled Lakes

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Madison County include rainbow trout, brown trout, mountain whitefish and brook trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. At Chilled Lakes the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 52°F and December about 17°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late May. Climate averages put the opening at about late May and the closing near early November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. It holds true on Chilled Lakes more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Thompson Lake sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. For Chilled Lakes, the notice at the access point is the final word.