Tally Lake in Flathead County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Flathead County, Montana, is where Tally Lake sits. The water sits 3,353 feet up. At 1,212 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. The shoreline runs about 7.9 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. Size puts it in the front rank of our Flathead County list. Whitefish lies 10 miles from the water. Lethbridge is the closest city, 119 miles away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Tally Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Public occurrence data for Flathead County names rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, largemouth bass, brook trout and yellow perch. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. The shape of Tally Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 60°F and January about 20°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. The season between ice runs from about mid April to late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Plan any trip to Tally Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Chinook Lake at 2.5 miles is the nearest alternative. The position on Tally Lake is worth confirming on the day.