Smeller Lake, Montana: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Montana, Smeller Lake belongs to Sweet Grass County. The land about it is pine and birch. Surface area runs to about 21 acres — small enough to read in one session. For a base, Big Timber sits 20 miles out. It is 88 miles to Billings, the nearest city. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Smeller Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Reported across Sweet Grass County: rainbow trout, california golden trout, brown trout, brook trout and yellow perch. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Smeller Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 52°F and January near 17°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid usually goes in late May, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. On average, late May opens the water and early November closes it again. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Plan any trip to Smeller Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Crazy Lake, 0.9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Ask locally about Smeller Lake if anything is unclear.