Eagle Lake Fishing Guide, Missoula County, Montana

• Overview

  Set in Missoula County, Montana, this is Eagle Lake. The water sits 6,867 feet up. The water measures roughly 17 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. The closest town, Ronan, is 18 miles distant. After that come Seeley Lake at 19 miles and Pablo at 22 miles. Within a short drive: Beanhole Lake about 0.5 miles, Skylark Lake out at 0.6 miles, Sleeping Elk Lake about 1.1 miles, Glacier Lake out at 1.5 miles and Crystal Lake about 1.7 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Eagle Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Public occurrence data for Missoula County names rainbow trout, brook trout, cutthroat trout and northern pike. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The shape of Eagle Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 58°F in August and bottom out at 19°F in December. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early May. Ice usually gives way near early May, and forms again about mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. The season on Eagle Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Beanhole Lake at 0.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Eagle Lake before loading the car.