Fishing at Swan Lake, Toole County, Montana

• Overview

  Swan Lake stands in Toole County, Montana. The country round it is mixed forest from end to end. Small at around 9 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. 37 miles away sits Shelby, the nearest town. Beyond it, Cut Bank at 46 miles and Conrad at 60 miles. Within a short drive: Jones Lake 0.4 miles away, Moltz Lake at about 3.9 miles, Fitzpatrick Lake 10 miles away, Perkins Lake at about 11 miles and Bingham Lake 16 miles away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Swan Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Toole County: rainbow trout, white sucker and Iowa darter. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At Swan Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 19°F in January and 64°F in August. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. The season between ice runs from about early April to late November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Time your trip to Swan Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Jones Lake, 0.4 miles away. The position on Swan Lake is worth confirming on the day.