Fishing at Parrot Lake, Phillips County, Montana

• Overview

  Within Phillips County, Montana, you have Parrot Lake. The water sits 2,759 feet up. It measures some 281 acres, and wind has room to build across it. The outline is close to a simple bowl, without much in the way of bays. It is low-lying compared with other Montana water we list. Some 30 miles away sits Malta, the nearest settlement. Further out sit Fort Belknap Agency (40 miles) and Chinook (60 miles). One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Parrot Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish documented in Phillips County include black crappie, northern pike, rainbow trout, walleye and yellow perch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Take Parrot Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 69°F; by January the average is down near 18°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Plan around that when you fish Parrot Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Should this one be busy, Little Warm Reservoir is 6.2 miles off. For Parrot Lake in particular, ask before you travel.