Sweeney Lake Fishing Guide, Ravalli County, Montana

• Overview

  Within Ravalli County, Montana, you have Sweeney Lake. The bank is 7,359 feet above sea level. Small at around 14 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. 11 miles away sits Stevensville, the nearest town. Beyond it, Lolo at 14 miles and Orchard Homes at 20 miles. More in the same country: Bass Lake lies 1.7 miles on, Holloway Lake roughly 1.7 miles, Mills Lake lies 1.8 miles on, Duffy Lake roughly 2.2 miles and Peterson Lake lies 2.5 miles on. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Sweeney Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Reported across Ravalli County: rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout, brown trout and sockeye salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Sweeney Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 55°F, the coldest about 18°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid May. Climate averages put the opening at about mid May and the closing near mid November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Time your trip to Sweeney Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Bass Lake is 1.7 miles distant. Check the position on Sweeney Lake before loading the car.