Higgins Reservoir Fishing in Meagher County, Montana

• Overview

  Look for Higgins Reservoir in Meagher County, Montana. What surrounds it is rolling bush. It runs to roughly 101 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The edge runs 1.6 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. It ranks high for size among our Meagher County listings. For a base, Townsend sits 37 miles out. The nearest city of size is Billings, 113 miles away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Higgins Reservoir

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Across Meagher County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, white sucker and largemouth bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. The near bank of Higgins Reservoir is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 62°F, the coldest about 20°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about late November in an average year. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. That is the shape of the year on Higgins Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Hamen Reservoir is 1.6 miles off. Treat access at Higgins Reservoir as something to verify.