Green Lake, Montana: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Green Lake stands in Granite County, Montana. Height above sea level is 7,835 feet. About 18 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Anaconda lies 13 miles from the water. Further out sit Warm Springs (16 miles) and Deer Lodge (18 miles). Alternatives close at hand: Big Pozega Lake lies 0.6 miles on, Little Pozega Lake (0.7 miles), Meadow Lakes lies 1.2 miles on, Porcupine Lake (1.5 miles) and Fisher Lake lies 1.7 miles on. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Green Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Granite County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout and california golden trout. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Take Green Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 18°F in December up to 53°F in August. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. The lid usually goes in mid May, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Break-up near mid May, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. It sets the rhythm of the year at Green Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Big Pozega Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Green Lake.