Fishing Fatty Lake in Lake County, Montana

• Overview

  Fatty Lake sits within Lake County in Montana. Elevation runs to 5,883 feet. This is a pocket water of some 22 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. 11 miles away sits Polson, the nearest town. The nearest city of size is Lethbridge, 147 miles away. Close by you also have: Rainbow Lake 1.4 miles off, Cedar Lake 2.6 miles away, Hellroaring Reservoir 4.2 miles off, Shay Lake 4.5 miles away and Piper Lake 4.7 miles off. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Fatty Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Lake County: rainbow trout, sockeye salmon and smallmouth bass. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. At Fatty Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 57°F, while January sits near 20°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Look for the thaw near late April; the fishing lifts straight after. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about mid November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Fatty Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. For a change of water, Rainbow Lake is 1.4 miles distant. Where Fatty Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.