Fishing Grace Lake in Flathead County, Montana

• Overview

  In Montana, Grace Lake falls inside Flathead County. It lies 3,960 feet above sea level. Roughly 79 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Shoreline comes to about 1.8 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Supplies mean a trip to Columbia Falls, 30 miles off. It is 83 miles to Lethbridge, the nearest city. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Grace Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Flathead County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, largemouth bass and brook trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. At Grace Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put August at about 55°F and January near 14°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. After mid May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Climate averages put the opening at about mid May and the closing near early November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Plan around that when you fish Grace Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A campsite lies half a mile away for anyone staying over. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Nahsukin Lake is 3 miles distant. Check the position at Grace Lake before loading the car.