Trinkus Lake Fishing near Bigfork, Montana

• Overview

  This water sits in Lake County, Montana. The setting is lake country bush on every side. About 12 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. 17 miles away sits Bigfork, the nearest town. Lethbridge is the closest city, 129 miles away. Not far off: Bond Lake the better part of 0.9 miles, Hall Lake at 3.5 miles, Crevice Lake the better part of 6 miles, Weed Lake at 6 miles and Bunker Lake the better part of 6.7 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Trinkus Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Species logged across Lake County include rainbow trout, sockeye salmon and smallmouth bass. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Trinkus Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 19°F and August at about 58°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. On average, late April opens the water and mid November closes it again. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. On Trinkus Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Bond Lake is 0.9 miles distant. Confirm before you fish Trinkus Lake.