Schmitz Lakes in Sanders County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  You will find Schmitz Lakes in Sanders County, Montana. What surrounds it is open valley. This is a pocket water of some 6 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. The town to know is Plains, 15 miles out. After that come Polson at 22 miles and Pablo at 22 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Schmitz Lakes

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Reported across Sanders County: rainbow trout, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Schmitz Lakes gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 68°F in July and bottoms out near 25°F in January. Some winters cap it and some do not. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Expect Schmitz Lakes to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Rainbow Lake at 8.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing here settles the position at Schmitz Lakes for certain.