Short Creek Reservoir, Montana: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Short Creek Reservoir is listed under Valley County, Montana. Elevation runs to 2,293 feet. About 15 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It lies lower than most water we list in Montana. 25 miles away sits Glasgow, the nearest town. It is 163 miles to Billings, the nearest city. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Short Creek Reservoir

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Across Valley County, recorded fish include Chinook salmon, northern pike, cisco, walleye and yellow perch. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. At Short Creek Reservoir the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 15°F to 72°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. Ice usually gives way near early April, and forms again about late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Short Creek Reservoir runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. It is recorded as intermittent, which means the basin empties in dry spells. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Forrest Reservoir is 0.4 miles off. Signs at Short Creek Reservoir carry more weight than any list.