Fishing at Gibson Reservoir, Lewis and Clark County, Montana

• Overview

  Gibson Reservoir lies in Lewis and Clark County, in Montana. The surroundings are lake country bush. At some 1,281 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The margin runs to about 11 miles in total. It is among the larger waters listed here for Lewis and Clark County. Choteau at 32 miles is the nearest place to stop. Seeley Lake follows at 44 miles, then Lincoln at 45 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Gibson Reservoir

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Across Lewis and Clark County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, brown trout and yellow perch. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. The near bank of Gibson Reservoir is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 21°F to 59°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Ice-out usually falls in mid April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. The season on Gibson Reservoir rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Bear Lake, 9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Where Gibson Reservoir is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.