Hidden Lake Fishing in Flathead County, Montana

• Overview

  Hidden Lake is a Flathead County water, Montana side. What surrounds it is pine and birch. At 274 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. At about 4.7 miles of edge, most people work one arm at a time. Few waters listed in Flathead County are bigger. Some 29 miles away sits Columbia Falls, the nearest settlement. After that come Whitefish at 33 miles and North Browning at 34 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Hidden Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Reported across Flathead County: rainbow trout, sockeye salmon and largemouth bass. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Treat Hidden Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 54°F and January reads 15°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid May. From about mid May to around early November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Hidden Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There are toilets half a mile off. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Mary Baker Lake sits 1.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm before you fish Hidden Lake.