Falling Leaf Lake in Glacier County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Glacier County end of Montana holds Falling Leaf Lake. It stands 6,614 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 13 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. The closest town, North Browning, is 32 miles distant. Browning lies 33 miles off, South Browning another 33 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Falling Leaf Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Reported across Glacier County: brook trout, northern pike and longnose sucker. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Take Falling Leaf Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 56°F in August and bottom out at 17°F in January. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Winter locks it down, and early May brings it back. Ice clears near early May and comes back about mid November in a typical year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Falling Leaf Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. The nearest alternative is Snow Moon Lake, 0.2 miles out. Check the position at Falling Leaf Lake before loading the car.