Hidden Lake Fishing near Townsend, Montana

• Overview

  Meagher County, Montana, is where Hidden Lake sits. Country round the bank runs to rolling bush. About 10 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Townsend sits 16 miles from here and is the nearest stop. For a city, Billings is 139 miles off. Nearby alternatives: Grace Lake lies 0.4 miles on, Upper Baldy Lake some 0.7 miles off, Edith Lake lies 1.4 miles on, Gipsy Lake some 3.9 miles off and Alkali Lake lies 10 miles on. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Hidden Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Meagher County cover rainbow trout, brook trout and brown trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. At Hidden Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 55°F, the coldest about 18°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early May. Climate figures give an open season running early May to mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Hidden Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Grace Lake, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Ask locally about Hidden Lake if anything is unclear.