Reservoir Lake near Lincoln: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Reservoir Lake sits in Lewis and Clark County, out in Montana. It sits at 5,463 feet above sea level. At 8 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Most waters listed here for Lewis and Clark County are larger. The town to know is Lincoln, 8 miles out. The big place round here is Lethbridge, 185 miles distant. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Reservoir Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Survey and observation records for Lewis and Clark County include rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, brown trout and yellow perch. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Reservoir Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 57°F; the cold one sits at 18°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. After early May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Expect the water usable from around early May until roughly mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Reservoir Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Copper Lake, 4.4 miles out. Nothing here settles the position at Reservoir Lake for certain.