Fishing at East Fork Reservoir, Deer Lodge County, Montana

• Overview

  The Deer Lodge County end of Montana holds East Fork Reservoir. It stands 6,047 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to roughly 380 acres, so plan for one area rather than the whole. Some 4.3 miles of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. It ranks high for size among our Deer Lodge County listings. For a base, Anaconda sits 21 miles out. Warm Springs follows at 29 miles, then Deer Lodge at 36 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on East Fork Reservoir

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Survey and observation records for Deer Lodge County include rainbow trout, brook trout, Arctic grayling, brown trout and california golden trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On East Fork Reservoir that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August near 56°F and December near 20°F on the long-run figures. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly mid November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. On East Fork Reservoir that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Lion Lake is 4.4 miles distant. Nothing here settles the position at East Fork Reservoir for certain.