Fool Hen Lake Fishing Guide, Ravalli County, Montana

• Overview

  The Ravalli County entry here is Fool Hen Lake, in Montana. The land about it is lake country bush. Small at around 4 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is a small entry by Ravalli County standards. The closest town, Hamilton, is 14 miles distant. Stevensville follows at 19 miles, then Lolo at 35 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Fool Hen Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Reported across Ravalli County: rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and brook trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. The near bank of Fool Hen Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 54°F and December about 18°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early May. On average, early May opens the water and mid November closes it again. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That is the shape of the year on Fool Hen Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Kneaves Lake, 0.5 miles out. Where Fool Hen Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.