Fishing at Kreger Reservoir, Rosebud County, Montana

• Overview

  In Montana, Kreger Reservoir falls inside Rosebud County. Height above sea level is 2,838 feet. Ground here is low by Montana standards. Some 33 miles away sits Miles City, the nearest settlement. For a city, Billings is 134 miles off. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive. The character changes with the season more than with the year.

• Where to Fish on Kreger Reservoir

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Rosebud County records list largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, green sunfish and northern pike among the fish reported. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Kreger Reservoir the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 71°F and January reads 17°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early April. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Kreger Reservoir runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Failing this one, try Clear Water Reservoir, 17 miles away. Confirm access to Kreger Reservoir locally before you travel.