Stephens Reservoir Fishing in Granite County, Montana

• Overview

  Montana holds Stephens Reservoir, in Granite County. It sits in mixed forest country. About 5 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It is a small entry by Granite County standards. The closest town, Hamilton, is 28 miles away. The nearest city of size is Spokane, 208 miles away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Stephens Reservoir

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Across Granite County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, brook trout and brown trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Fish Stephens Reservoir where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 20°F to 55°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Ice-out usually falls in early May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Averages place the thaw at early May and the freeze at mid November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Stephens Reservoir runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Milo Lake is 2.9 miles distant. Nothing here settles the position at Stephens Reservoir for certain.