Lake Frances Fishing near Conrad, Montana

• Overview

  Lake Frances sits in Pondera County, out in Montana. The surroundings are pine and birch. Surface area runs to some 8.2 sq miles, so a boat and a plan are both worth having. Around 15 miles of bank, which is a long day on foot. Of the waters listed here in Pondera County, this is the largest. 18 miles away sits Conrad, the nearest town. Beyond it, Cut Bank at 23 miles and Shelby at 24 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Lake Frances

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Records held for Pondera County cover rainbow trout, northern pike, yellow perch, walleye and brook trout. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Work Lake Frances in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 66°F; the cold one sits at 21°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late March. The lid tends to go about late March and return around early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. The season on Lake Frances rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. A slipway half a mile out gives trailer access. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Alkali Lake, 11 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. For Lake Frances, the notice at the access point is the final word.