Meadow Lake Fishing in Missoula County, Montana

• Overview

  The Missoula County end of Montana holds Meadow Lake. It sits at 6,257 feet above sea level. The whole thing is a single swim; walk it in a minute. Most waters listed here for Missoula County are larger. The town to know is Seeley Lake, 18 miles out. It is 170 miles to Spokane, the nearest city. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Meadow Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Across Missoula County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, brook trout and cutthroat trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Fish Meadow Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 55°F in August and bottom out at 19°F in December. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Winter locks it down, and early May brings it back. Expect the water usable from around early May until roughly mid November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. On Meadow Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Records show it does not hold water year-round. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. White Horse Lake sits 0.5 miles off and takes the overflow. The position on Meadow Lake is worth confirming on the day.