Shadow Lake in Ravalli County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Shadow Lake lies in Ravalli County, Montana. Lake country bush runs right down to the water. Surface area runs to about 7 acres — small enough to read in one session. Hamilton is the closest place, 25 miles off. For a city, Boise is 206 miles off. Others close at hand: Charity Lake at 1 mile, Hope Lake at about 1.1 miles, Faith Lake at 1.2 miles, Lake Abundance at about 1.3 miles and Fish Lake at 1.9 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Shadow Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Ravalli County records list rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and brook trout among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Anyone new to Shadow Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 54°F and December about 17°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Once it clears, about mid May, the fishing comes on quickly. Expect the water usable from around mid May until roughly early November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Shadow Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, Charity Lake is 1 mile distant. Confirm access to Shadow Lake locally before you travel.