Collins Reservoir Fishing in Valley County, Montana

• Overview

  Collins Reservoir lies in Valley County, Montana. The water sits 2,264 feet up. Surface area is around 58 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. It ranks high for size among our Valley County listings. The nearest town is Glasgow, 24 miles away. The big place round here is Billings, 165 miles distant. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Collins Reservoir

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Records held for Valley County cover Chinook salmon, northern pike, cisco, walleye and yellow perch. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Collins Reservoir that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 72°F at the top of summer and 15°F at the bottom of winter. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid usually goes in early April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Climate figures give an open season running early April to late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It holds true on Collins Reservoir more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Public mapping marks it as seasonal water rather than permanent. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Beast Reservoir at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Treat access at Collins Reservoir as something to verify.