Hackney Lake Fishing Guide, Ravalli County, Montana

• Overview

  Hackney Lake falls in Ravalli County, part of Montana. The land about it is mixed forest. At 10 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Start from Hamilton, 18 miles down the road. Further out sit Stevensville (34 miles) and Lolo (50 miles). Also on the doorstep: Lookout Lake 0.9 miles, Lost Horse Lake sits 1.1 miles out, Fish Lake 1.5 miles, Upper Bear Lake sits 1.5 miles out and Coquina Lake 1.6 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Hackney Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Public occurrence data for Ravalli County names rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout and brown trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Hackney Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 55°F, the coldest about 17°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid May. Averages suggest open water from about mid May through to roughly mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. That is the shape of the year on Hackney Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. If the gate is shut, Lookout Lake at 0.9 miles is the nearest alternative. For Hackney Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.