Hicks Lake near Anaconda: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Hicks Lake is set in Deer Lodge County, Montana. This is pine and birch country. Small at around 14 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. 21 miles away sits Anaconda, the nearest town. Warm Springs lies 30 miles off, Butte another 39 miles. Others within reach: LaMarche Lake roughly 2.5 miles, Sauer Lake sits 2.9 miles out, Lost Lakes roughly 3.3 miles, Flower Lake sits 3.5 miles out and Spruce Lake roughly 3.6 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Hicks Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Across Deer Lodge County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, brook trout, Arctic grayling and brown trout. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. At Hicks Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 52°F in July and bottoms out near 17°F in December. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid May. From about mid May to around early November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Hicks Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, LaMarche Lake is 2.5 miles distant. Check the current arrangement for Hicks Lake.