Fishing at Stewart Lake, Granite County, Montana

• Overview

  Look for Stewart Lake in Granite County, Montana. The surroundings are mixed forest. Surface area runs to about 18 acres — small enough to read in one session. For a base, Anaconda sits 21 miles out. Then Deer Lodge, 24 miles, and Warm Springs, 25 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications. Ground round the water is easy walking in most parts.

• Where to Fish on Stewart Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Records held for Granite County cover rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout and california golden trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Stewart Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 57°F in July and bottom out at 21°F in January. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late April. The season between ice runs from about late April to mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Stewart Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what 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. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. The nearest alternative is Copper Creek Lakes, 3.6 miles out. Check the position on Stewart Lake before loading the car.