Fishing at Hidden Lake, Missoula County, Montana

• Overview

  Hidden Lake sits in Missoula County, out in Montana. Elevation runs to 4,245 feet. Around 31 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. Seeley Lake lies 4.7 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is Lethbridge, 180 miles away. Close by you also have: Tuppers Lake some 2.3 miles off, Placid Lake 2.6 miles off, Seeley Lake some 4.4 miles off, Spook Lake 4.8 miles off and Onemile Pond some 6 miles off. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Hidden Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name rainbow trout, brook trout, cutthroat trout and northern pike. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The shape of Hidden Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 20°F in January and 62°F in August. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. Climate figures give an open season running early April to late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. The season on Hidden Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Tuppers Lake at 2.3 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to Hidden Lake locally before you travel.