Fishing at Fish Lakes, Lincoln County, Montana

• Overview

  Fish Lakes sits within Lincoln County in Montana. The surface lies 3,642 feet up. About 16 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Eureka at 24 miles is the nearest place to stop. Spokane sits 120 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Fish Lakes

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Species logged across Lincoln County include rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, brook trout and northern pike. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Fish Lakes responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 18°F and August at about 58°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Ice clears near late April and comes back about mid November in a typical year. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. At Fish Lakes the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Failing this one, try Mount Henry Lakes, 2.9 miles away. Check the position at Fish Lakes before loading the car.