Pitamakan Lake near South Browning: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Glacier County, Montana, is where Pitamakan Lake sits. It lies 6,808 feet above sea level. At about 49 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Shoreline comes to about 1.1 miles, small enough to learn in a day. For supplies, South Browning is 20 miles out. Browning follows at 21 miles, then North Browning at 21 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Pitamakan Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. 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. County-wide records name brook trout, northern pike, longnose sucker, yellow perch and mountain whitefish. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The shape of Pitamakan Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 54°F, the coldest about 16°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid May. Ice clears near mid May and comes back about early November in a typical year. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. At Pitamakan Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Overnight stays are possible about half a mile out, where camping is mapped. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Seven Winds of the Lake sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at Pitamakan Lake for certain.