Hearst Lake Fishing in Deer Lodge County, Montana

• Overview

  Look for Hearst Lake in Deer Lodge County, Montana. Elevation runs to 8,202 feet. It measures about 42 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Around 1.2 miles of margin, front to back. Size puts it in the front rank of our Deer Lodge County list. The nearest place of any size is Anaconda, 6.6 miles away. Warm Springs lies 15 miles off, Deer Lodge another 26 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Hearst Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Deer Lodge County cover rainbow trout, brook trout, Arctic grayling and brown trout. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At Hearst Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 57°F in July and bottom out at 20°F in January. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Look for the thaw near early May; the fishing lifts straight after. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly mid November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. That is the shape of the year on Hearst Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. 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. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Haggin Lake sits 1.1 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Hearst Lake before loading the car.