Fishing Margo Lake in Madison County, Montana

• Overview

  Margo Lake falls in Madison County, part of Montana. It stands 8,606 feet above sea level. You can fish the entire water from one spot if you pick it well. On size it sits at the modest end of our Madison County list. The closest town, Big Sky, is 8.7 miles distant. Billings is the closest city, 145 miles away. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Margo Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. County-wide records name rainbow trout, brown trout and mountain whitefish. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Margo Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 54°F and December near 18°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Winter locks it down, and mid May brings it back. Expect the water usable from around mid May until roughly mid November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Time your trip to Margo Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Upper Falls Creek Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing on Margo Lake should be assumed from this page alone.