Spruce Lake Fishing in Deer Lodge County, Montana

• Overview

  This water sits in Deer Lodge County, Montana. The ground around here is pine and birch. This is a pocket water of some 6 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Anaconda is the closest place, 22 miles off. Warm Springs follows at 31 miles, then Hamilton at 39 miles. If this one is busy: Sauer Lake about 0.8 miles, Lion Lake 3.3 miles away, Hicks Lake about 3.6 miles, Lower Carpp Lake 3.7 miles away and Carpp Lake about 3.9 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Spruce Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name rainbow trout, brook trout, Arctic grayling and brown trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Spruce Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 52°F, the coldest about 17°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid May and starts locking again about early November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Spruce Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. 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. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Sauer Lake is 0.8 miles off. Signs at Spruce Lake carry more weight than any list.