Fishing at Goat Lake, Glacier County, Montana

• Overview

  Look for Goat Lake in Glacier County, Montana. The bank is 6,460 feet above sea level. With some 70 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. 27 miles away sits North Browning, the nearest town. Browning is 28 miles away, with South Browning at 28 miles. Within a short drive: Lost Lake at 1.2 miles, Otokomi Lake out at 1.5 miles, Saint Mary Lake at 2.6 miles, Cracker Lake out at 4.3 miles and Red Eagle Lake at 4.7 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Goat Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Glacier County, recorded fish include brook trout, northern pike, longnose sucker and yellow perch. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The shape of Goat Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 56°F, the coldest about 17°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early May. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly mid November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. It holds true on Goat Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Lost Lake at 1.2 miles is the sensible second choice. For Goat Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.