Little Grizzly Lake near Hamilton: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Ravalli County in Montana is where Little Grizzly Lake sits. Country round the bank runs to rolling bush. This is a pocket water of some 10 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Hamilton is the closest town at 22 miles. Further out sit Stevensville (38 miles) and Lolo (54 miles). The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Little Grizzly Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Ravalli County records list rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout, brown trout and sockeye salmon among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Work Little Grizzly Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 17°F in December up to 55°F in August. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid May. Break-up near mid May, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Little Grizzly Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Milepost Lake, 0.2 miles out. Rules at Little Grizzly Lake are worth checking on the day.