Flesher Lakes Fishing in Lewis and Clark County, Montana

• Overview

  Flesher Lakes is a Lewis and Clark County water, in Montana. The surface lies 4,915 feet up. Small at around 11 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The closest town, Lincoln, is 9.5 miles distant. The big place round here is Lethbridge, 187 miles distant. Nearby alternatives: Silver King Lake sits 6 miles out, Snowbank Lake just 7.7 miles, Smith Lake sits 10 miles out, Herrin Lakes just 11 miles and Heart Lake sits 12 miles out. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Flesher Lakes

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Lewis and Clark County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, brown trout, yellow perch and brook trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Flesher Lakes the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 20°F in January up to 61°F in July. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. The season on Flesher Lakes follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Silver King Lake is 6 miles distant. Where Flesher Lakes is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.