Lower Saint Mary Lake Fishing in Glacier County, Montana

• Overview

  You will find Lower Saint Mary Lake in Glacier County, Montana. The setting is mixed forest. Roughly 3.4 sq miles of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. At about 15 miles of edge, most people work one arm at a time. It is among the larger waters listed here for Glacier County. North Browning at 24 miles is the nearest place to stop. Beyond it, Browning at 25 miles and South Browning at 25 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lower Saint Mary Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Glacier County records list brook trout, northern pike, longnose sucker, yellow perch and mountain whitefish among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Fish Lower Saint Mary Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 58°F, the coldest about 19°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lower Saint Mary Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Flatton Lake, 1.7 miles out. The position on Lower Saint Mary Lake is worth confirming on the day.