Rice Lake Fishing Guide, Powell County, Montana

• Overview

  Rice Lake is one of the Powell County waters in Montana. What surrounds it is rolling bush. This is a pocket water of some 9 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Most waters listed here for Powell County are larger. The town to know is Seeley Lake, 16 miles out. After that come Lincoln at 25 miles and Clinton at 34 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Rice Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Powell County include rainbow trout, brown trout and brook trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Fish Rice Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 20°F to 61°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. The season on Rice Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Shoup Lake at 0.3 miles is the nearest alternative. The position on Rice Lake is worth confirming on the day.