Target Detention Reservoir in Valley County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Target Detention Reservoir is a Valley County water, in Montana. What surrounds it is open dry country. It measures about 49 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Size puts it in the front rank of our Valley County list. For supplies, Glasgow is 20 miles out. Beyond it, Wolf Point at 54 miles and Malta at 58 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Target Detention Reservoir

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Open biodiversity records for Valley County list Chinook salmon, northern pike, cisco and walleye. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Target Detention Reservoir the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 72°F; the cold one sits at 14°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early April. Expect the water usable from around early April until roughly late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Target Detention Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Records show it does not hold water year-round. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Seventeen Reservoir, 3.4 miles out. Check the current arrangement for Target Detention Reservoir.