Reservoir Number One Hundred Forty-seven Fishing in Valley County, Montana

• Overview

  Look for Reservoir Number One Hundred Forty-seven in the Valley County part of Montana. The bank is 2,323 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 4 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Ground here is low by Montana standards. Nearest town is Glasgow, 10 miles off. For a city, Billings is 181 miles off. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Reservoir Number One Hundred Forty-seven

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Fish documented in Valley County include Chinook salmon, northern pike, cisco, walleye and yellow perch. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Reservoir Number One Hundred Forty-seven that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 72°F and January at 13°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early April. Average temperatures cross freezing around early April in spring and again near late November in autumn. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. The season on Reservoir Number One Hundred Forty-seven rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Badger Reservoir is 1.2 miles distant. The position on Reservoir Number One Hundred Forty-seven is worth confirming on the day.