Smith Lake near Lincoln: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  This water sits in Lewis and Clark County, Montana. What surrounds it is lake country bush. At roughly 23 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Head to Lincoln, 1.7 miles away, for anything you forgot. The nearest city of size is Lethbridge, 189 miles away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off. Expect roughly 17 inches of rain across the year, peaking in May.

• Where to Fish on Smith Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Lewis and Clark County cover rainbow trout, sockeye salmon and brown trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Smith Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August near 62°F and January near 21°F on the long-run figures. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early April. Climate figures give an open season running early April to late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Smith Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Herrin Lakes at 3.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Ask locally about Smith Lake if anything is unclear.