Sauer Lake, Montana: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  You will find Sauer Lake in Deer Lodge County, Montana. Everything around it is lake country bush. This is a pocket water of some 5 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Anaconda at 22 miles is the nearest place to stop. After that come Warm Springs at 31 miles and Hamilton at 40 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Sauer Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Open biodiversity records for Deer Lodge County list rainbow trout, brook trout and Arctic grayling. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Read Sauer Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between December at about 17°F and July at about 52°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid May. The lid tends to go about mid May and return around early November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Sauer Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Spruce Lake at 0.8 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at Sauer Lake are worth checking on the day.