Ole Lake in Glacier County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Ole Lake lies in Glacier County, Montana. Everything around it is pine and birch. At 4 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Glacier County. South Browning lies 20 miles from the water. Lethbridge sits 94 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Ole Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Glacier County cover brook trout, northern pike and longnose sucker. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Ole Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 56°F and January about 17°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early May. Climate figures give an open season running early May to mid November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Ole Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Overnight stays are possible about 100 yards out, where camping is mapped. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Jackstraw Lake sits 2.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at Ole Lake are worth checking on the day.