Fishing at Lake Evangeline, Flathead County, Montana

• Overview

  Set in Flathead County, Montana, this is Lake Evangeline. It lies 5,269 feet above sea level. At about 75 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. A shoreline of some 1.3 miles keeps the choices simple. The closest town, Columbia Falls, is 29 miles distant. Lethbridge is the closest city, 82 miles away. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Lake Evangeline

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Flathead County include rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, largemouth bass, brook trout and yellow perch. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Lake Evangeline a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 15°F and August at about 56°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early May. Ice usually gives way near early May, and forms again about mid November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. On Lake Evangeline the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Ruger Lake sits 0.8 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Lake Evangeline before loading the car.