Middle Fork Lakes, Montana: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Montana, Middle Fork Lakes falls inside Ravalli County. It sits in mixed forest country. Surface area runs to about 18 acres — small enough to read in one session. Head to Stevensville, 11 miles away, for anything you forgot. Lolo is 19 miles and Hamilton 22 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge. The character changes with the season more than with the year.

• Where to Fish on Middle Fork Lakes

  We hold no depth figure for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. County-wide records name rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout, brown trout and sockeye salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Anyone new to Middle Fork Lakes should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 55°F at the top of summer and 18°F at the bottom of winter. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid May. The open-water window runs from around mid May to about mid November in an average year. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. It holds true on Middle Fork Lakes more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is North Kootenai Lake, 0.5 miles out. Where Middle Fork Lakes is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.