Sureshot Lake in Madison County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Sureshot Lake in Madison County, Montana. The country round it is lake country bush from end to end. Surface area runs to about 12 acres — small enough to read in one session. 24 miles away sits Whitehall, the nearest town. Beyond it, Three Forks at 29 miles and Big Sky at 32 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Sureshot Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Madison County include rainbow trout, brown trout and mountain whitefish. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Sureshot Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 58°F in July and bottoms out near 21°F in January. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early May. Break-up sits around early May on average, with the water closing again about mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Sureshot Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Toilets are half a mile away, which matters on a long session. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Upper Sureshot Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat access at Sureshot Lake as something to verify.