Fishing Cody Lake in Pondera County, Montana

• Overview

  Set in Pondera County, Cody Lake is a Montana water. It sits at 4,685 feet above sea level. About 22 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. South Browning sits 27 miles from here and is the nearest stop. For a city, Lethbridge is 106 miles off. What else is close: Howes Lakes a shade over 0.6 miles, Fish Lake within 1.3 miles, Hidden Lake a shade over 1.3 miles, Deep Lake within 1.3 miles and Waddel Lakes a shade over 1.4 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Cody Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Open biodiversity records for Pondera County list rainbow trout, northern pike, yellow perch, walleye and brook trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The shape of Cody Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 23°F in January to roughly 63°F in August. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early April. Open water usually runs from early April until about late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. That shapes the year on Cody Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Howes Lakes is 0.6 miles off. For Cody Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.