Fishing at Noxon Reservoir, Sanders County, Montana

• Overview

  Noxon Reservoir is one of the Sanders County listings for Montana. Height above sea level is 2,336 feet. At roughly 12.3 sq miles it ranks among the larger waters in the region. You have roughly 45 miles of edge to choose from, which rewards a scouting trip. Of the waters listed here in Sanders County, this is the largest. Thompson Falls is the closest town at 24 miles. After that come Osburn at 29 miles and Kellogg at 31 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Noxon Reservoir

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Fish documented in Sanders County include rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Noxon Reservoir repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 65°F, the coldest about 26°F. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. At Noxon Reservoir the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Baree Lake, 8.8 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. What applies at Noxon Reservoir may have changed since it was mapped.