Mud Lake Fishing in Lincoln County, Montana

• Overview

  Mud Lake lies in Lincoln County, Montana. It sits at 2,238 feet above sea level. The whole thing is a single swim; walk it in a minute. Our Lincoln County list holds plenty of bigger water. Libby lies 14 miles from the water. It is 90 miles to Spokane, the nearest city. If this one is busy: Milnor Lake (1.4 miles), Savage Lake about 1.7 miles, Throop Lake (2.1 miles), Duck Lake about 2.7 miles and Shannon Lake (3 miles). The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Mud Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, brook trout, northern pike and largemouth bass. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Mud Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 25°F in January to roughly 65°F in July. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Anyone fishing Mud Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. A picnic spot sits half a mile from the bank. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Milnor Lake at 1.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at Mud Lake are worth checking on the day.