Fishing at Shotgun Reservoir, Roosevelt County, Montana

• Overview

  You will find Shotgun Reservoir in Roosevelt County, Montana. Elevation runs to 1,985 feet. It lies lower than most water we list in Montana. 29 miles away sits Williston, the nearest town. Further out sit Sidney (32 miles) and Plentywood (44 miles). Water in the same corner: Duck Lake (13 miles), Capeneys Lake the better part of 20 miles, Lake Trenton (21 miles), Homestead Lake the better part of 21 miles and Katy Lake (24 miles). The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Shotgun Reservoir

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Reported across Roosevelt County: largemouth bass, common carp, northern pike, rainbow trout and walleye. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Shotgun Reservoir the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 71°F and January at 9°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early April. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Shotgun Reservoir runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. If the gate is shut, Duck Lake at 13 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Shotgun Reservoir.